Franklin County Conservation District
"Conserving our Natural Resources for the Future"
Franklin County Historical Information and Physical Characteristics
The history of agriculture in Franklin County began with the first white
settlers who were mostly farmers. Prior to 1845, a few trappers, hunters and
traders lived in intervals in the district. Franklin County was originally a
part of the Osage Indian Reservation. In July 1855, Franklin County was
established by the first territorial legislature as one of the original 33
counties in the territory. The county was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
After the mid 1850's white settlers, mostly from eastern agricultural states,
swarmed into the district to take up land as the federal government began to
move the Indians out to new reservations in Oklahoma. Some of the land was
purchased from Indian owners and a few tracts were filed as homesteads. Nearly
all of the principal towns were founded between 1850 and 1880. Ottawa was
organized in 1864 and was named in honor of the Ottawa Indians. The principal
railroads through the county were built between 1865 and 1895.
Major Land Resource Area: Franklin County is
located in Major Land Resource Area 112- Cherokee Prairie. The Cherokee Prairies
are gently sloping to rolling dissected plains that are underlain by sandstone,
limestone and shale. Thin loess mantles the northern part. Elevation in the
Cherokee Prairies is 700-1200 feet above sea level. Average annual precipitation
is 35-42 inches. Average freeze period is 185-200 days.
Location: Franklin County is in the
east-central part of Kansas. It has a total area of 269,280 acres, or 576 square
miles. In 1997, Franklin County had a population of 23, 260; about 50% of which
lives in Ottawa, the county seat. Ottawa is near the center of the county and is
located along the Marais des Cygnes River. Marais des Cygnes interpreted
means- Marsh of the Swans.
Geology: Rocks exposed in Franklin County
have an aggregate thickness of about 700 feet and all are sedimentary. Bedrock
of Late Pennsylvanian age comprises mostly shale, sandstone, limestone and
siltstone; the section extends from Chanute Shale at the base to the Doniphan
Shale Member of the Lecompton Limestone at the top. Theses strata are nearly
flat lying; dips approximate 10 to 30 feet per mile.
Franklin County lies within the Forest City Basin. Strata exposed in the county
are a small part of the Prairie Plains Monocline, which dips west and northwest
away from the Ozark Dome area of Missouri. Faulting is uncommon but two faults
affecting the upper part of the Lawrence Shale, the Oread Limestone, and the
lower part of the Kanwaka Shale, were mapped in the northwest part of the
county. Vertical displacement ranges from approximately 15 to 400 feet.
Alluvial deposits in the Marais des Cygnes and Pottawatomie River valleys yield
large supplies of ground water and constitute the most important aquifers in the
area. Bedrock aquifers are scant in eastern Franklin County bur Douglas Group
sandstone beds are commonly suitable aquifers in western Franklin County. Oil,
limestone, sand, gravel, coal, and shale are other mineral resources exploited
in Franklin County.
Topography: Topography of Franklin County is
that of rolling prairie with low hills and occasional steep bluffs in the
vicinity of the principal streams. The major topographic features are the east
trending valley of the Marias des Cygnes River and the northeast trending valley
of the Pottawatomie Creek.
The Marais des Cygnes River and its tributaries drain all of the county. The
highest elevation of the county is in the northwestern part of the county and is
about 1,145 feet above sea level. The lowest point is located along the Marais
des Cygnes River in eastern Franklin County and is about 840 feet above sea
level. The average gradient of the Marais des Cygnes River is about two feet per
mile.
Climate: The climate is variable and is
considered to be typical of eastern Kansas. Sudden temperature changes may occur
during any month of the year. Sunshine is prevalent throughout the year. Wind is
usually mild but March and October are considered windy months. The cold months
are December, January and February and highest temperatures usually occur
between June and August. The growing season averages 191 days.
The total expected annual rainfall is about 38.6 inches. Of this 70% falls April
through September, or during the normal growing season. An average of 23 inches
of snow may be expected during January, February and March.
County Economic Base: Farming is still one
of the principal economic enterprises. Livestock and cash grain farming are of
equal importance to the local economy. Soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum and corn
are the major crops. Approximately 19% of the acreage in the county is rangeland
and 14% is considered pasture/hay land and seeded to cool season grasses. Also
important for the local economy are various industries, Ottawa University and a
satellite campus of Neosho County Community College.
Information was taken from the Franklin County Conservation District Long
Range Plan: 1980 and is provided as an information service only, for more
complete history of Franklin County other sources should be consulted. The Long
Range Plan was originally compiled by Ms. Pauline Willford.
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