# Franklin, Quebec

Franklin is a Canadian municipality located in the Montérégie region of Quebec along the Canada–US border. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 1,635.

## Geography

The municipality is situated along the border with the United States.
Geological features include an east-west forested ridge Covey Hill, a foothill to the northern Adirondack Mountains of New York State, from which the skyscrapers of Montreal are visible to the northeast. Streams run from its northern flank to the Châteauguay Valley where tributaries feed the Châteauguay River that drains into the St. Lawrence River.

### Communities

The following locations reside within the municipality's boundaries:
* Dorea (45°00′21″N 73°55′43″W﻿ / ﻿45.00583°N 73.92861°W﻿ / 45.00583; -73.92861﻿ (Dorea, Franklin, QC)) – a hamlet situated in the southern portion.
* Franklin Centre (45°01′42″N 73°55′29″W﻿ / ﻿45.02833°N 73.92472°W﻿ / 45.02833; -73.92472﻿ (Franklin Centre, Franklin, QC)) – a hamlet located at the junction of Route 202 and Route 209. Named for Arctic explorer John Franklin.
* Saint-Antoine-Abbé (45°03′03″N 73°53′21″W﻿ / ﻿45.05083°N 73.88917°W﻿ / 45.05083; -73.88917﻿ (Saint-Antoine-Abbé, Franklin, QC)) – a village located along Quebec Route 209.

## History

The first settler, Asa Smith, came to this area circa 1788. He was followed by American, Irish, and English settlers that arrived in the beginning of the 19th century. In 1857, the Township Municipality of Franklin was founded, named after John Franklin. On June 8, 1860, Franklin lost part of its territory when the Parish Municipality of Saint-Antoine-Abbé was formed (which was renamed in March 1969 to Saint-Antoine-Abbé (Partie Nord-Est)). The Franklin post office opened in 1868.
In 1973, the current municipality was formed when the Township Municipality of Franklin and the Parish Municipality of Saint-Antoine-Abbé-Partie-Nord-Est were merged.

## Demographics
### Population

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1976 | 1,552 | — |
| 1981 | 1,725 | +11.1% |
| 1986 | 1,630 | −5.5% |
| 1991 | 1,736 | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 1,640 | −5.5% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2001 | 1,603 | −2.3% |
| 2006 | 1,651 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 1,688 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 1,636 | −3.1% |
| 2021 | 1,635 | −0.1% |
Source: Statistics Canada :

### Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Franklin, Quebec :
| Census | Total | French | French | French | English | English | English | French & English | French & English | French & English | Other | Other | Other |
| Year | Responses | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % |
| 2011 | 1,685 | 1,210 | 0.8% | 71.81% | 390 | 13.0% | 23.14% | 35 | 250.0% | 2.08% | 50 | 33.3% | 2.97% |
| 2006 | 1,650 | 1,220 | 5.2% | 73.94% | 345 | 2.8% | 20.91% | 10 | 60.0% | 0.61% | 75 | 200.0% | 4.54% |
| 2001 | 1,565 | 1,160 | 1.7% | 74.12% | 355 | 9.0% | 22.68% | 25 | 25.0% | 1.60% | 25 | 37.5% | 1.60% |
| 1996 | 1,630 | 1,180 | n/a | 72.39% | 390 | n/a | 23.93% | 20 | n/a | 1.23% | 40 | n/a | 2.45% |

## Economy

Apple orchards and maple sugar groves are the principal agriculture near the village of Franklin Centre, Quebec and on the hill while around the village of St. Antoine Abbe in the flat valley there are fertile croplands and dairy farms.
Leahy Orchards is a major employer and exporter of applesauce and Applesnax label products.

## Local government

List of former mayors since formation of current municipality:
* Joseph Faille (1973–1974)
* Jean Guy Latreille (1974–1981)
* Joseph Wilfrid Huet (1981–1982)
* Joseph Jean Gilles Wilbrod Bourdeau (1982–1988)
* Jean Laplante (1988–1996)
* Georges Daigle (1996–1997)
* Pierre Barrière (1997–2005)
* Suzanne Yelle Blair (2005–2017)
* Douglas Brooks (2017–2021)
* Yves Métras (2021–present)

## Attractions

"Chemin de Covey Hill" (Covey Hill road) is considered to be one of the premier cycling roads in southern Quebec. This is due to the impressive climb between Havelock and Franklin Centre, the breath-taking views of the St. Lawrence and Richelieu river valleys, as well as a surprisingly good quality road surface. This is the first road north of the US-Canada border.