More historic than 9% of U.S. towns · #696 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of Franklin was built recently: 0.7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1987. Below: maps from 1918 on and old-book passages.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Franklin is more historic than 9% of U.S. towns, #696 of 847 in California. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Franklin’s overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Franklin’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share (±1.1 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Franklin’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Franklin. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1918Atwater sheet · 1:31,680
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Franklin.
The story so far
Franklin, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Franklin yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Franklin (also referred to as Franklin-Beachwood) is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States, sitting at an elevation of 161 feet (49 m). As of the 2020 census the population was 6,919, up from 6,149 in 2010. Franklin-Beachwood is administered by Merced County as one of its unincorporated urban communities.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 6,149 to 6,919 (+13%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about Franklin in 1855
Passages that mention Franklin, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of western Massachusetts. The counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire. Embracing an outline aspects and leading interests, and separate histories of its one hundred towns1855 · page 501Read the page →
Read the text
Franklin Academy, at Shclburne Falls, was incorporated in 1833. It luis been more largely patronized than any other literary institution m the county, in the same length of time. It is under the direction of the Baptist denomination. Rev. John Alden, from its commencement and for many years, was its principal. It became embarrassed by an effort to erect new buildings to provide for the increasing number of students, and to connect with it
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of western Massachusetts. The counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire. Embracing an outline aspects and leading interests, and separate histories of its one hundred towns1855 · page 500Read the page →
Read the text
Franklin County, a part of Hampshire until 1812, bears a close resemblance in its educational features to those already described. Its inhabitants are industrious, love tlieir home, and cherish every privilege tending to increase their enjoyment and enhance its attractions.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
Franklin is more historic than 9% of U.S. towns, #696 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Franklin?
0.7% of Franklin’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.1 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1987.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
