Franklin County Was Named for a Judge, Not the President

The Texas Legislature created Franklin County in March 1875, carving it out of Titus County. It was named for Judge Benjamin C. Franklin, an early Texas jurist who served as a district judge in the Republic of Texas. Mount Vernon was chosen as county seat in an election on April 30, 1875, winning by a large majority.

The county lies in the post oak belt of northeast Texas. The Sulphur River forms the northern border, and Big Cypress Creek runs through the south. White settlement began in the late 1830s. Cotton and corn drove the early economy. By the late 20th century, livestock production had become dominant. A railroad crossed the southeastern corner of the county in 1876, but Mount Vernon did not get direct rail service until 1887, when the St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway built across the center of the county. That connection turned Mount Vernon into a regional trade hub and major shipping point.