Why visit Franklin
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 46 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Donalds Knoll, Johnson County Museum of History, August Zeppenfeld House and Hillview Country Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 18°F.
Weather in Franklin
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Franklin
Franklin is a city in Johnson County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Franklin had a population of 25,313. Located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Indianapolis, the city is the county seat of Johnson County. The site of Franklin College, the city attracts numerous regional sports fans for the college teams, as well as audiences for its art events.
From the Wikipedia article Franklin, Indiana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
The Historic Artcraft Theatre
Cinema and theater · 1.0 mi
57 North Main Street, Franklin
Museums and landmarks14
Johnson County Museum of History
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Museum in Indiana, United States of America
135 North Main Street, Franklin
Tu-Fr 09:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
August Zeppenfeld House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Indiana, United States
Franklin College Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Library in Franklin, IN
Franklin Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Franklin, Indiana, NRHP-listed in Indiana
Greenlawn Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Cemetery in Franklin, Indiana
Herriott House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Indiana, United States
Johnson County Courthouse Square
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Franklin, IN, listed on the NRHP in Indiana
Martin Place Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic district in Indiana, United States
Old Main
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
University building in Indiana, United States of America
Franklin Senior High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Van Nuys Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Restaurants and cafes46
34 more on the map.
History
Franklin was platted in 1823. It was named after Benjamin Franklin. The Franklin post office was established in 1824. Franklin was incorporated as a city in 1861.
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Franklin College Library (Shirk Hall), Franklin College-Old Main, Franklin Commercial Historic District, Franklin Senior High School, Greenlawn Cemetery, Herriott House, Johnson County Courthouse Square, Martin Place Historic District, Masonic Temple, and August Zeppenfeld House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of Franklin, Indiana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Churches and places of worship16
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Hopewell Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries21
Healthcare3
Map of Franklin
125 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 18°F | 3.0 in | 6.3 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 2.5 in | 4.2 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 29°F | 3.6 in | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 4.9 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 73°F | 51°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 61°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 41°F | 3.3 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 31°F | 3.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 23°F | 3.4 in | 3.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Franklin Wwtp (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Johnson County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2023-04-15: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-04-22: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)
- 2008-06-08: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Columbus Municipal Airport (CLU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Whiteland 4 mi north, about 7 min by car
- New Whiteland 5 mi northwest, about 8 min by car
- Greenwood 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Trafalgar 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Bargersville 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Edinburgh 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Prince's Lakes 11 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Southport 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
- Shelbyville 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Beech Grove 15 mi north, about 25 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Johnson Indiana courthouse, User:Mingusboodle, Public domain
- Franklin Bethel AME, Nyttend, Public domain
- Hopewell Presbyterian Church from southeast, Nyttend, Public domain
- Johnson County Museum of History in Franklin, Nyttend, Public domain
- Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin from west, Nyttend, Public domain
- Jackson and Jefferson in Franklin, Indiana, Nyttend, Public domain
- Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, Nyttend, Public domain
- Martin Place in Franklin, Nyttend, Public domain
- Shirk Hall, Franklin College, Nyttend, Public domain
- August Zeppenfeld House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Old Main at Franklin College, User:Mingusboodle, Public domain
- Herriott House in Franklin, Nyttend, Public domain
- Franklin Senior High School, Indiana, Nyttend, Public domain
- Van Nuys Farmhouse, Nyttend, Public domain
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