Franklin, Massachusetts

Town of Franklin
Main Street in 2010
Main Street in 2010
Official seal of Town of Franklin
Motto: 
Industry Need Not Wish
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Town of Franklin is located in the United States
Town of Franklin
Town of Franklin
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 42°05′N 71°24′W / 42.083°N 71.400°W / 42.083; -71.400
Country United States
State Massachusetts
CountyNorfolk
Settled1660
Incorporated1778
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • Town
   Administrator
Jamie Hellen
Area
 • Total27.03 sq mi (70.00 km2)
 • Land26.64 sq mi (68.99 km2)
 • Water0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2)
Elevation
300 ft (91 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,261
 • Density1,248.58/sq mi (482.08/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
02038
Area code508/774
FIPS code25-25100
GNIS feature ID0611686
Websitewww.franklinma.gov

The Town of Franklin is a city[2] in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Franklin is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "The town of" in their official names.[3] As of 2022, the city's population was 36,745, with a growth rate of 15.38% since 2015. It is home to the country's first public library, the Franklin Public Library with its first books donated by Benjamin Franklin in 1790. It also contains the largest Catholic parish in the Boston Archdiocese, St. Mary's Catholic church, with some 15,000 members.

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Although it is called the "Town of Franklin," it is a statutory city of Massachusetts. See Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  3. ^ Office of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts, sec.state.ma.us. Accessed November 18, 2022.