Franklin County, Massachusetts

Franklin County lies along Massachusetts' northern border with Vermont and New Hampshire and spans both sides of the Connecticut River, covering an area of about 650 square miles. It was carved from the northern third of what was Hampshire County in 1811 and was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. The county was primarily agricultural until the creation of manufacturing centers at Turners Falls, Millers Falls, Greenfield, and Shelburne in the 1860s and after. Its rural population shrank steadily after peaking in the 1820s, but has rebounded in the decades after the 1960s. Consequently, its overall population has grown remarkably, from 59,210 in 1970 to a projected 73,556 in 2000, however, compared to the rest of the state the county is sparsely populated. The county is noted for natural beauty, with dramatic views across the broad Connecticut Valley, the rugged hills of Buckland or Leyden, the forested hollows of New Salem or Conway, or the dramatic falls of its rivers, interspersed with charming New England towns.