Franklin

Welcome to Franklin, Tennessee Where Progress and History Give You a Unique Sense of Place.

Franklin, Tennessee has a unique blend of history and new growth. Founded in 1799 and named after Benjamin Franklin. One of the bloodiest wars in the Civil War took place here, bringing thousands of historic tourists each year to visit the site of the Battle of Franklin, Carnton Plantation, the Carter House and many other historic locations throughout the City. In 2009, The National Trust of Historic Preservation awarded Franklin the prestigious title of Distinctive Destination for offering an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture and a strong commitment to historic preservation. In the same year the American Planning Association named the downtown Franklin area a Top Ten Great Neighborhood for the Downtown Franklin’s outstanding historic character and architecture and meaningful protection measures the City has adopted to ensure Franklin’s unique sense of place is not compromised by future growth and development.

Approximately 62,000 people live in Franklin. The Cool Springs area is a business, dining and shopping hub with many Fortune 500 companies located here. Business Week Magazine named Franklin one of the Top 50 Cities to start a Small Business. Some of the other awards we have received recently include:

• Top 10 Cities to Start a Company-Bloomberg/Businessweek
• Money Magazine Top 20 Places to Retire
• Money Magazine Top 100 Best Places to Live
• Clean Cities Award (TN Dept. Transportation)
• Tree City USA
• Great American Main Street Award
• Preserve America Award
• Number One Small Town in Tennessee
• One of Five Best Places in America to Antique Shop
• Five National Register Historic Districts

Downtown Franklin is well known for its annual festivals and parades including: The Main Street Festival in Spring; Fourth of July in Summer: PumpkinFest in October: The Veterans Day Parade in November; and Dickens of a Christmas in December. Thousands of tourists visit Franklin each year to attend these festivals and many more throughout the year. Visitors enjoy the beautiful 15 block historic district that offers true southern hospitality. The uniquely elegant shops downtown offer a variety of restaurants, clothing, gifts and galleries.