Following LaSalle's trip down the Mississippi River, the Franklin County area was recognized as being populated by the Natchez Indians.

    The French built their second settlement at Fort Rosalie (now Natchez) in 1716 and other settlements followed quickly.  The growth of the area was slow.   Notable land deals, like the speculative Mississippi Company's deal, led to the financial panic in 1720, known as the "bursting of the Mississippi Bubble".

    The Natchez Indians grew restless as French settlers began to take over their lands.  They attacked Fort Rosalie in 1729, killing many settlers.   Following this attack, the French retaliated by virtually destroying almost all of the Natchez Indians.

    With the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763 - after the French and Indian War - France ceded its territory east of the Mississippi River except New Orleans.   This Mississippi area, which included present day Franklin County, became a part of British West Florida and was known as the Natchez District.  The northern boundary extended to the mouth of the Yazoo River.  This area witnessed a large influx of Anglo-Americans from the Atlantic Seaboard Colonies.

    During the American Revolution, Spain seized the Natchez District and the remainder of British West Florida.  When the American Revolution ended in 1783, Britain transferred the claim to the territory north of the 31 degree latitude to the United States; however, Spain refused to recognize the American claim to West Florida.   It was not until 1795, that the Spanish agreed to the 31 degree north boundary.   It was not until 1798, that the Spanish actually relinquished control of the Natchez District to the United States.

    In the meantime, the state of Georgia complicated matters by asserting a claim to the area. Georgia had actually sold land to three companies of eager speculators.  Georgia passports were issued to settlers who would travel by land through the Creek Indian territory to the western Mississippi River settlements.

    In 1798, the United States Congress created the Mississippi Territory which included all the land between Georgia and the Mississippi River - which was located north of the 31 degree latitude and south of a line running due east of the mouth of the Yazoo River.  In 1804, this territory was expanded to include the land northward to Tennessee.  In 1812, the rest of West Florida was included.

    Franklin County was established December 21, 1809, eleven years following organization of the Mississippi Territory, and eight years before admission to the Union.

    David Holmes of Virginia was Territorial Governor and Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States.  The county was named for publisher-statesman-philosopher, Benjamin Franklin.  The county was formed from a part of Adams County.  Later, the eastern boundaries were changed to form Lincoln and Lawrence counties from Franklin territory.

    Early civil officers included:  Bailey Chancy, Daniel Cameron, Bartlett Ford, Joseph Robertson, David Thompson, John Thompson, Jesse Guice, and George Knox, Justices of the quorum (1818-1821); John Shaw and James Knox represented the county at the constitutional convention of 1817.

    There were 2,000 people living in the newly formed county.   The 1810 census lists 1,268 whites, 735 slaves, and 13 free inhabitants.   Pioneer settlers came mainly from the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with a few being from France and Spain.

    Population grew for a hundred years reaching a peak of 15,193 in 1910.  Since that time, it has reversed and according to the latest census, we have 8, 209 people.

    The first county seat was at Franklin, about 2 1/2 miles west of Meadville, presently the county seat.  Meadville became the county seat about 1819.   The town was named for Cowles Mead, the second secretary of the Mississippi Territory.

    The other two principal towns in Franklin County are Bude and Roxie.  Bude was formed about 1912 and was named by Mrs. F.L. Peck, wife of one of the founders, for her home, Bude, England.  Roxie was formed about 1886 and was named for Miss Roxie Graves, daughter of the man who owned the land.

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     Franklin County is located in southwest Mississippi.  From I-55, take exit 38 in Brookhaven or exit 20B in Summit/McComb.  From Hwy. 61 S, take Hwy. 84 exit in Natchez.  Franklin County is centrally located about 30 minutes away from the three cities of Brookhaven, McComb, & Natchez.

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