Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin is a town of 4,268 people in Macon County, North Carolina, founded in 1820.
Why visit Franklin
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 29 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Albert Swain Bryson House and Franklin Terrace Hotel.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Franklin
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Franklin
Franklin is a town in and the county seat of Macon County, North Carolina, United States. It is situated within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was reported to be 4,175 in the 2020 census, an increase from the total of 3,845 tabulated in 2010.
From the Wikipedia article Franklin, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks9
Albert Swain Bryson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Franklin Terrace Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Hotel in Franklin, United States of America
Jesse R. Siler House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Nikwasi
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Pre-Columbian archaeological site in North Carolina
Pendergrass Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in North Carolina, US
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Greenway Park
Park · 0.6 mi
Greenway Park - Playground, Dog park, Cycle path, entrance to the Greenway.
Restaurants and cafes29
El Charro Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.7 mi
201 Highlands Road, Franklin
Haywood Smokehouse
Diner · American · 1.6 mi
33 State Road 1575, Franklin
Los Tamalitos
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.7 mi
549 Highlands Road, Franklin
Lucio's Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian · 0.7 mi
313 Highlands Road, Franklin
Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi
788 East Main Street, Franklin
Rico's Tacos La Comadre
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi
712 Highlands Road, Franklin
Vito's Pizza & Italian Tavern
Restaurant · Italian · 0.7 mi
607 Highlands Road, Franklin
Asian King Chinese Buffet and Sushi Bar
Restaurant · Asian · 1.2 mi
109 Commons Drive
17 more on the map.
Where to stay5
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Franklin
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
81 Allman Drive, Franklin
Churches and places of worship13
Franklin Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
St. Agnes Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
All Saints Episcopal Church - Saint Agnes Chapel
Church · Episcopal
66 Church Street, Franklin
All Saints Episcopal Church - Saint Cyprian Chapel
Church · Episcopal · 1.5 mi
216 Roller Mill Road, Franklin
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 2.2 mi
70 Trimont View Drive, Franklin
Grace Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 1.1 mi
360 1st Street, Franklin
Shopping13
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare5
Nantahala Physical Therapy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
96 Macon Center Drive, Franklin
Map of Franklin
100 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 26°F | 5.3 in | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 53°F | 29°F | 4.4 in | 0.7 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 35°F | 4.9 in | 0.2 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 42°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 51°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 33°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 51°F | 29°F | 5.2 in | 0.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Franklin (1 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
Macon County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Angel Medical Center Heliport (93NC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Cullowhee 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Bryson City 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
- Mountain City 18 mi south, about 29 min by car
- Clayton 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
- Cherokee 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Andrews 25 mi west, about 41 min by car
- Hiawassee 26 mi southwest, about 42 min by car
- Waynesville 30 mi northeast, about 49 min by car
- Clyde 36 mi northeast, about 58 min by car
- Brevard 37 mi east, about 1 h 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
- Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 11, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 02, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 13, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 03, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 05, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54037578507, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038698243, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038441411, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 06, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038891210, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54037578287, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The clock tower of the old Macon County Courthouse (1881–1972) in Franklin NC 02, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- The clock tower of the old Macon County Courthouse (1881–1972) in Franklin NC 03, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Confederate Monument, Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Confederate Monument, Town Square, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038697948, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Macon County Courthouse in Franklin, North Carolina 02, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Macon County Courthouse, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038768774, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Macon County Courthouse, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038441256, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Macon County Courthouse, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC - 54038698183, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Macon County Courthouse, Main Street and Iotla Street, Franklin, NC, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 04, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 01, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- The Macon County Courthouse in Franklin, North Carolina 03, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- The Macon County Courthouse in Franklin, North Carolina 04, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- The Macon County Courthouse in Franklin, North Carolina 05, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- The Macon County Courthouse in Franklin, North Carolina 06, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- The clock tower of the old Macon County Courthouse (1881–1972) in Franklin NC 01, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Main Street, Franklin, NC - 54037578472, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 03, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Main Street, Franklin, NC, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Franklin, NC - 54038768724, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Franklin, NC - 54038768744, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Franklin, NC - 54038698188, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Franklin, NC - 54038768654, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 05, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Old Scott-Griffin Hotel, Main Street, Franklin, NC, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Old Scott-Griffin Hotel, Main Street, Franklin, NC - 54038768619, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 06, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
- Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 02, Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
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