About Franklin County

The County seat is home to Louisburg College, which was founded in 1787 making it the oldest junior college in the United States. The Franklin County campus of the Vance-Granville Community College offers technical, vocational, college-transfer, and continuing education programs.

Franklin Regional Medical Center is an 85-bed, acute care medical/surgical hospital with a new state-of-the-art staffed emergency department, with inpatient medical, surgical, intensive care and psychiatric services. Franklin Regional offers a full range of hospital services from minor emergencies to trauma. Franklin County has a diverse business climate from non-profit and start-up companies to large, world-renowned, international companies. Local industry includes wood products, enzymes, telecommunications, software development, and plastics recycling.

Franklin County consists of five municipalities: Bunn, Centerville, Franklinton, Louisburg, and Youngsville.

BUNN

Old Bunn was a small village located on the southeastern end of current Bunn. In the early part of the century, the Montgomery Lumber Company Railroad added service to the Bunn area from Spring Hope. Because Old Bunn had to be bypassed for geographical reasons, the current downtown area was settled as the center of town. The town was chartered in 1913 and named for Mr. Green Walker Bunn who settled the area.

Bunn is located at the intersection of NC 39 and NC 98 in southeastern Franklin County. Bunn offers a warm and friendly small town atmosphere.

FRANKLINTON

The Town of Franklinton was incorporated in 1872 and is located just off US 1, and is less than twenty minutes to north Raleigh. Franklinton’s quality of life is very desirable due to a peaceful and rural setting, progressive leadership, and the town’s efficient provision of its many municipal services.

LOUISBURG

Established in 1779 as the county seat of Franklin County, Louisburg is a thriving community located in the geographic center of the county. It offers exceptional educational, business, medical, recreational, and cultural opportunities in a charming village setting on the banks of the Tar River.

YOUNGSVILLE

The Town of Youngsville was established as a community in 1848 called “Pacific,” reflecting the quiet and peaceful site on which it was located. The town, incorporated on March 17, 1875, was named Youngsville, in honor of the Young family, who donated land to the railroad for a train depot. Cotton and tobacco markets flourished in the early 1900s and were located in a three-block business area on Main Street. Brick buildings, still standing today, housed businesses such as Youngsville Bottling Works, two lumber yards, and a cotton gin.

Youngsville is located in the extreme southwestern part of Franklin County contiguous to US 1 and Hwy 96, adjacent to Wake County and Raleigh.