West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city of 7,118 people in Franklin County, Illinois, founded in 1810.
Why visit West Frankfort
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 1 park or trail, 5 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Morthland College and West Frankfort City Hall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in West Frankfort
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Frankfort
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois. The population was 7,275 at the 2020 census. The city is well known for its rich history of coal. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.
From the Wikipedia article West Frankfort, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks1
West Frankfort City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Rathaus in Illinois, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes5
History
Although one might associate the name "West Frankfort" with the city "Frankfurt" in Germany, or Frankfort in Kentucky, the truth is far more local. Around 1810, early Tennessee settler Francis ("Frank") Jordan and his seven brothers began the construction of a fort atop a hill in present-day Franklin County. Completed in 1811, the fort was named "Frank's Fort," in Jordan's honor.
Frank's Fort was built in today's Williamson County, Ill., near Corinth. A few miles to the east, Francis' brother, Thomas Jordan, built "Jordan's Fort" in Cave Township, Franklin County, Ill., near the town of Thompsonville.
The construction of these forts was in response to the danger of attack during Tecumseh's War, which culminated in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Then-governor of the Illinois Territory, Ninian Edwards, actively encouraged the construction of these forts and offered the services of the Saline Militia in their erection. Thus, both Jordan family forts were built with the help of the Illinois Militia for the safety of the civilians.
From the History section of West Frankfort, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship23
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.6 mi
703 East Main Street, West Frankfort
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Map of West Frankfort
52 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 3.0 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 28°F | 2.8 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 37°F | 4.3 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 46°F | 5.2 in |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 4.7 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.3 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 3.7 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 3.5 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 46°F | 3.7 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 37°F | 4.0 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 28°F | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Benton 2 N (9 mi away), rain and snow from W Frankfort, 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
Franklin County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-06-07: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2009-07-02: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2005-02-01: Record/Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Johnston City 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Benton 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Christopher 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Herrin 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Royalton 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Energy 10 mi southwest, about 16 min by car
- Marion 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Crainville 12 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Carterville 13 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Cambria 13 mi southwest, about 21 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
- West Frankfort City Hall, Nyttend, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.