Franklin Township is one of the nine townships of Marion County, Indiana, United States. Located in the southeast corner of the county, it has been subsumed into the city of Indianapolis along with most of the rest of the county. It contains the communities of Acton, Wanamaker, and the eastern portion of the excluded city of Beech Grove.
Franklin Township Marion County | |
|---|---|
 Franklin Township's water tower in 2022. | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 39°40′49″N 86°1′39″W / 39.68028°N 86.02750°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Marion |
| Named for | Benjamin Franklin |
| Government | |
| • Type | Indiana township |
| Area | |
• Total | 42.1 sq mi (109.1 km2) |
| • Land | 42.1 sq mi (109.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 65,788 |
| • Density | 1,600/sq mi (600/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 46107, 46203, 46237, 46239, 46259 |
| Area code | 317 |
| FIPS code | 18-25504[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0453308[2] |
Franklin Township was organized in the 1820s.[3] Franklin Township is one of the last areas in Marion County to see heavy suburban land development from the outward expansion of Indianapolis. This is primarily because of a history of family farms in the area, but is also due to various civic efforts to maintain a rural atmosphere in the area over time.
The population of the township as of the 2020 census was 65,788[4] up from 32,080 in 2000.[5] The twofold increase in population ranks Franklin Township as the fastest growing of Marion County's nine townships during that timeframe.
The township has a median income of $70,000.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 2,256 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,178 | −3.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,337 | 7.3% | |
| 1920 | 2,459 | 5.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,918 | 18.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,225 | 10.5% | |
| 1950 | 4,596 | 42.5% | |
| 1960 | 7,357 | 60.1% | |
| 1970 | 10,241 | 39.2% | |
| 1980 | 16,477 | 60.9% | |
| 1990 | 21,458 | 30.2% | |
| 2000 | 32,080 | 49.5% | |
| 2010 | 54,594 | 70.2% | |
| 2020 | 66,271 | 21.4% | |
| Source: US Decennial Census[7] | |||
Education
editFranklin Township Community School Corporation is the public school district that serves all of Franklin Township. The area high school is Franklin Central High School.
In recent years, Franklin Township has seen a population explosion leading to a heavy reliance on residential property taxes in particular for funding of the Franklin Township Community Schools. Also, as the Indiana Property Tax caps have been phased in from 2008 to 2011, revenue for the schools in the township has dropped more than 19.8%.[8] After two referendums failed to close the $13 million gap in school funding, the school board proposed cuts to close the gap, including cutting teachers and halting most student busing.[9] The shortfall is larger in Franklin Township because of the demographics being extensively residential, while the tax burden with the aforementioned property tax caps has shifted more to farms and businesses which now have a capped rate of 2% and 3% respectively.
In 2012, the Franklin Township School Corporation was able to again offer student bussing without additional fees by restructuring its debt.
Local media
editNewspapers
edit- Informer, a publication of the Franklin Township Civic League
- Pilot Flashes, newspaper of Franklin Central High School
Radio
edit- 91.5 WRFT "Flash FM", radio station of Franklin Central High School
State legislators
editThe following legislators represent the districts which contain parts of Franklin Township.
Indiana House
edit| Representative | Party | District |
|---|---|---|
| Mitch Gore | Democratic | 89 |
| Michael Speedy | Republican | 90 |
Indiana Senate
edit| Senator | Party | District |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Freeman | Republican | 32 |
Geography
editMunicipalities
edit- Beech Grove (southeast third)
- Indianapolis (partial)
Communities
edit- Acton
- Gallaudet
- I-65 / South Emerson (east half)
- Poplar Grove
- Wanamaker
References
edit- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Bodenhamer, David J.; Barrows, Robert G. (November 22, 1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indiana University Press. p. 598. ISBN 0-253-11249-4.
- ^ "Franklin township, Marion County, IN". Census Reporter. April 1, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2000 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Franklin township, Marion County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^ "Median income".
- ^ "Township Census Counts: STATS Indiana".
- ^ "Franklin Township Community School Corporation Cash Flow Analysis Summary" (PDF). Franklin Township Community School Corporation. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
- ^ "Franklin Township school district faces $13M shortfall". WTHR. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
External links
edit