# Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Franklin Township is a second-class township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,433 at the 2020 census.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34 km$^2$), all land.
The mailing addresses for the township include Landenberg, Lincoln University, and Kemblesville. The township abuts Maryland on its southern border, near the Fair Hill equestrian trails and grounds.

## History

The southernmost part of the township was originally disputed territory between Pennsylvania and Maryland, resolved eventually by the Mason–Dixon line. The southernmost section of the township formed the northern section of New Munster, a large settlement tract established by Maryland and named after the southern province of Munster in Ireland. New Munster acted as an early genesis point and catalyst for large Scotch-Irish settlement and expansion into Chester County and points west in Pennsylvania. The Wooleston Grist Mill, also known as Tweed's Mill or Mackey's Mill, formed part of the New Munster tract and settlement.
Part of the township was in the London Tract, land owned by a business association known as the "London Company" from a land grant by William Penn in 1699. In 1723, the area was part of the newly established New London township, out of which Franklin Township was created in 1852. The township was so named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who had owned land in the area.

## Demographics

At the 2010 census, the township was 92.3% non-Hispanic White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, and 1.6% were two or more races. 6.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.
At the 2000 census, there were 3,850 people, 1,210 households and 1,038 families living in the township. The population density was 290.7 inhabitants per square mile (112.2/km$^2$). There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 93.4 per square mile (36.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the township was 96.73% White, 1.12% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 1,210 households, of which 53.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.2% were non-families. 10.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.45.
34.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median household income was $81,085 and the median family income was $89,718. Males had a median income of $55,208 and females $36,250. The per capita income was $28,057. About 0.6% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,456 | 48.94% | 1,483 | 49.85% | 36 | 1.21% |
| 2020 | 1,414 | 48.00% | 1,489 | 50.54% | 43 | 1.46% |
| 2016 | 1303 | 50.04% | 1127 | 43.28% | 174 | 6.68% |
| 2012 | 1353 | 56.92% | 979 | 41.19% | 45 | 1.89% |
| 2008 | 1234 | 51.74% | 1135 | 47.59% | 16 | 0.67% |
| 2004 | 1195 | 56.31% | 912 | 42.98% | 15 | 0.71% |
| 2000 | 957 | 56.43% | 693 | 40.86% | 46 | 2.71% |
| 1996 | 615 | 51.42% | 424 | 35.45% | 157 | 13.13% |
| 1992 | 226 | 51.36% | 155 | 35.23% | 59 | 13.41% |
| 1988 | 628 | 67.31% | 302 | 32.37% | 3 | 0.32% |
| 1984 | 578 | 73.07% | 211 | 26.68% | 2 | 0.25% |
| 1980 | 472 | 65.37% | 189 | 26.18% | 61 | 8.45% |
| 1976 | 323 | 57.99% | 222 | 39.86% | 12 | 2.15% |
| 1972 | 332 | 69.89% | 135 | 28.42% | 8 | 1.68% |
| 1968 | 208 | 57.46% | 92 | 25.41% | 62 | 17.13% |
| 1964 | 196 | 51.31% | 186 | 48.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 236 | 66.67% | 117 | 33.05% | 1 | 0.28% |
| 1956 | 188 | 62.88% | 110 | 36.79% | 1 | 0.33% |
| 1952 | 163 | 56.40% | 123 | 42.56% | 3 | 1.04% |
| 1948 | 125 | 44.17% | 155 | 54.77% | 3 | 1.06% |
| 1944 | 133 | 53.20% | 116 | 46.40% | 1 | 0.40% |
| 1940 | 156 | 52.17% | 143 | 47.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 191 | 58.05% | 137 | 41.64% | 1 | 0.30% |
| 1932 | 120 | 51.28% | 103 | 44.02% | 11 | 4.70% |
| 1928 | 183 | 83.56% | 33 | 15.07% | 3 | 1.37% |
Franklin Township is administered by a five-member Board of Supervisors, each of whom serve overlapping six-year terms.
As of April 12, 2024:
| Official | Party | Position | First elected | Seat up |
| David Gerstenhaber | Democratic | Chair | 2019 | 2025 |
| Donna Dea | Republican | Vice Chair | 2009 | 2027 |
| Jim Johnston | Republican | | 2015 | 2027 |
| Dawn Dowling | Democratic | | 2023 | 2029 |
| Betsy Odgers | Democratic | | 2023 | 2025 |
Like most of Chester County, Franklin Township was a Republican Party stronghold throughout the 20th century but has trended Democratic in recent years. In 2019, it elected a Democratic-majority Board of Supervisors. At the 2020 United States Presidential Election, it voted for a Democratic nominee for president for the first time since 1948.

## Transportation

As of 2020, there were 54.86 miles (88.29 km) of public roads in Franklin Township, of which 16.89 miles (27.18 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 37.97 miles (61.11 km) were maintained by the township.
Pennsylvania Route 841 and Pennsylvania Route 896 are the numbered highways serving Franklin Township. PA 841 follows Chesterville Road and Wickerton Road along a southwest-northeast alignment through western, central and northern parts of the township. PA 896 follows New London Road along a northwest-southeast alignment through central portions of the township.