Franklin County is a county in Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico coast of the Florida Panhandle. It had a population of 12,451 at the 2020 census and covers 1,026 square miles (2,660 km2), of which roughly half is water, centred near 29°48′N 84°49′W.
Apalachicola is the county seat, and its postal code is 32320. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 1 census-designated place, and a scatter of unincorporated communities along the coast and inland pine forest. Franklin County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Franklin County
Franklin County has just two incorporated municipalities — Apalachicola and Carrabelle — plus the census-designated place of Eastpoint and a long list of small unincorporated communities and beach settlements strung along U.S. Route 98 and the barrier islands. “CDP” below marks a Census Bureau statistical place with no city government; “Unincorp.” marks a named locale with no formal incorporation or Census-recognised boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apalachicola | City · seat | 2,341 | 32320 |
| Carrabelle | City | 2,606 | 32322 |
| Eastpoint | CDP | 2,614 | 32328 |
| St. George Island | CDP | — | 32328 |
| Lanark Village | Unincorp. | — | 32323 |
| Alligator Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bald Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| St. Teresa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dog Island | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carrabelle Beach | Unincorp. | — | 32322 |
| Fort Gadsden (Prospect Bluff) | Unincorp. · historic site | — | — |
| Sumatra | Unincorp. | — | 32335 |
Several names from older lists for Franklin County — Bay City, Beverly, Big Blackjack Landing, Brickyard, Carrabelle Lighthouse, Creels, Eleven Mile, Franklin, Green Point, Hays Place, High Bluff, Magnolia Bluffs, McIntyre, Morgan Place, Nine Mile, Pine Log, Sun N Sand Beaches, Tilton, Two Mile and Yent Place — are minor GNIS map labels, road junctions, or subdivisions inside the unincorporated communities above rather than distinct settlements with their own population or ZIP data, so they are omitted here rather than listed with unverifiable figures.
ZIP Codes
- 32320 — Apalachicola (also serves the county’s western unincorporated coast)
- 32329 — Apalachicola (alternate/PO box ZIP)
- 32322 — Carrabelle (also serves Carrabelle Beach)
- 32323 — Lanark Village
- 32328 — Eastpoint (also serves St. George Island)
- 32335 — Sumatra
Alligator Point, Bald Point, St. Teresa and Dog Island have no dedicated ZIP of their own and are served by neighboring post offices along U.S. 98.
Geography
Franklin County stretches along the Gulf of Mexico between Apalachicola Bay and St. George Sound, taking in the barrier islands of St. George Island, Dog Island and part of St. Vincent Island. The Apalachicola River, one of the largest rivers in Florida, empties into the bay at the county’s western edge, and the northern half of the county lies inside the Apalachicola National Forest. Franklin County borders Liberty County to the north, Wakulla County to the northeast, and Gulf County to the west, with the Gulf of Mexico forming its entire southern boundary.
Demographics
The county’s 2020 population of 12,451 makes it one of Florida’s least populous counties. Its two largest communities, Carrabelle (2,606) and Eastpoint (2,614), each outsize the county seat, Apalachicola (2,341). Median household income in Franklin County runs below the Florida median of $73,311, reflecting the local economy’s reliance on seasonal tourism and commercial fishing wages. With 535 square miles of land, county-wide density is roughly 23 people per square mile, though nearly all residents live in the coastal strip rather than the inland forest.
Economy & Local Life
Franklin County’s economy has historically centered on Apalachicola Bay’s oyster, shrimp and blue crab fisheries, with Apalachicola long known as Florida’s oyster capital, though bay closures in recent years have hit that industry hard. Tourism, second-home real estate, and retirement living now drive much of the local economy along the beaches of St. George Island and Carrabelle. Timber and forestry remain active in the inland Apalachicola National Forest tracts. Apalachicola’s historic downtown and working waterfront are the county’s main visitor draw, along with the annual Florida Seafood Festival held there each fall.
History
Franklin County was created in 1832 and named for Benjamin Franklin. Apalachicola grew in the 19th century as a cotton-shipping port at the mouth of the Apalachicola River, one of the busiest Gulf Coast ports before the Civil War. Fort Gadsden, at Prospect Bluff on the Apalachicola River, was originally a British-built fort seized by formerly enslaved and Native American defenders in 1816 before its destruction by U.S. forces later that year, and is preserved today as a historic site within the national forest.
Getting There
U.S. Route 98 runs the length of the county along the coast, linking Apalachicola, Eastpoint and Carrabelle; State Road 65 runs north through the Apalachicola National Forest toward Liberty County.
- Tallahassee — about 75 miles northeast
- Panama City — about 65 miles west
- Blountstown (Calhoun County) — about 40 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City; Tallahassee International Airport also serves the county from the northeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin County, Florida?
It is on the Gulf of Mexico coast of the Florida Panhandle, between Panama City and Tallahassee.
What is the population of Franklin County?
12,451 people, at the 2020 census.
How big is Franklin County?
1,026 square miles (2,660 km2) total, including about 492 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Franklin County?
Apalachicola is the county seat.
How many towns are in Franklin County?
Two incorporated cities — Apalachicola and Carrabelle — plus the CDPs of Eastpoint and St. George Island and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Franklin County?
32320 and 32329 (Apalachicola), 32322 (Carrabelle), 32323 (Lanark Village), 32328 (Eastpoint and St. George Island), and 32335 (Sumatra).
Why was Apalachicola known as Florida’s oyster capital?
Apalachicola Bay’s brackish, nutrient-rich waters historically supported one of the most productive oyster fisheries in the United States, and the city was for decades the leading source of Florida’s wild oyster harvest.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.