Franklin County, Virginia
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Franklin County, Virginia Facts

When was Franklin County, VA Created?
Franklin County was established on November 29, 1785 from Bedford County and Henry County .

What is the County Seat of Franklin County, VA?
The County Seat is located in Rocky Mount also, the county government website is www.franklincountyva.org/ .

What counties are adjacent to Franklin County, VA?
Bordering Counties are Bedford County, Pittsylvania County, Henry County, Patrick County, Floyd County, Roanoke County.

Franklin County, VA Vital Records

Where can find Franklin County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Franklin County vital records can be found at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has Birth and Death Records since June 14, 1912 and copies of Marriage and Divorce Records since 1918 to present. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Virginia for current fees and application process.

You can search online for Franklin County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also order Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for copies of Franklin Co. Virginia Birth, Marriage, Divorce, Death Certificate Applications to mail.

The Archives Division has copies of surviving birth and death records for the period 1853 to 1896 and marriage records prior to 1936. Another resource is the Franklin County Health Department, 365 Pell Ave., P.O. Box 249, Rocky Mount, VA 24151; 540-484-0292

• Franklin County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1786-1858
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• USGenweb Archives Virginia Marriage Project
• Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1917
• Virginia Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers
• Virginia Birth and Marriage (Husband-Wife) Indexes
• Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
• Early Virginia Marriage Records
• Early Virginia Marriage Records – Research Notes Number 26.
• Henley Marriage/Obituary Index to Virginia Newspapers
• Index to Virginia Marriage Records
• Marriage Index for Richmond Enquirer/Richmond Visitor
• Virginia Death Records Indexing Project
• Virginia Death Certificates, 1912-1939
• Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912

Franklin County, VA Census Records

What Franklin County, VA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Franklin County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Franklin Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Franklin Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Franklin Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Virginia Census Records Research Guide

• Search The U.S. Federal Census Collection
• Franklin County, VA Census Records Links
• Franklin County Usgwarchives Census Records

Franklin County, VA Courthouse and Government Records

Franklin County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Franklin County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Franklin County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.

• Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court
  • Address: P.O. Box 567, 275 South Main Street, Suite 212, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
  • Phone: (540) 483-3065
  • Marriage Records: 1785
  • Land Records: 1786
  • Court Records: 1785
  • Probate Records:1786
• An old Virginia court : being a transcript of the records of the first court of Franklin County, Virginia, 1786-1789
• Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850
• Using County and City Court Records in the Archives at the Library of Virginia
• County and City Research in Virginia Guides and Indexes
• Virginia County Records, Volume, VI, VII , IX, X – The records in these series were compiled as part of a series known as the Virginia County Records . The volume includes wills, land grants, and marriage bonds as well as other miscellaneous information on early Virginia settlers.
• BLM Land Records

Franklin County, VA Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Franklin County, VA?
A list of Franklin County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

• Virginia-North Carolina Piedmont Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2272, Danville 24541-0272
• Franklin County Public Library, 138 East Court Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151; (540) 483-3098
• Franklin County Heritage Society, Cheryl Ramsey, Secretary, 810 Holley Road, Henry, VA 24102; (540) 365-2302. Open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. , closed Wednesday, Sunday. We provide research service for a requested $20 per hour plus copying fees (25 cents, 50 cents per page). All the money collected goes into our operating fund. Membership dues $15 for an individual, $25 family (husband/wife), $75 patrons.
• Franklin County Historical Society, Box 905, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
• The Library of Virginia, Archives And Research Services , 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
• The Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
• Virginia Genealogical Society, 5001 West Broad Street, Suite 115, Richmond, Virginia 23230-3023 Telephone (804) 285-8954
• Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220, Phone: 804.358.4901
• Franklin County microfilmed holdings at The Library of Virginia (lva.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Heritage – Guides to manuscript and Archival Collections in Franklin Co. Virginia

Where can I connect with other Franklin County, VA Researchers through message boards and forums?

• Virginia Genealogy Network
• Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Franklin County, Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Franklin County
• Franklin County, Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)

What other genealogical resources are available in Franklin County, VA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Franklin County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a fee. This is just a listing which has been compiled or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.

Franklin Co. VA Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Virginia Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Virginia historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Virginia (1784 – 1922 ) (genealogybank.com) Immediately locate names and keywords in over 450 million content articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth notices and other items written and published in over 2,800 historic U.S. newspapers. Brand new articles and other content added each month!
• Franklin County, Virginia Books (amazon.com)
•  Search Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Virginia County Obituaries (usgwarchives.net)

Franklin Co. VA Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards

• Franklin Co., Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
• Franklin County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Franklin Co., Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Franklin Co., Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Franklin County, Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)

Franklin Co. VA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
• Virginia Penny Postcards (usgwarchives.net)
• Franklin County Pictures (usgwarchives.net)

Franklin Co. VA General and History Websites

• Franklin County Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
• Franklin County, Virginia : historical and industrial — past, present and future (search.ancestry.com)
• A discourse suggested by the burning of the old Lutheran church (search.ancestry.com)
• The white man comes to stay (search.ancestry.com)
• Franklin County, Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Franklin County, Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Franklin Co. VA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Franklin County History (usgwarchives.net)
• Franklin County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
• Franklin County, Virginia (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Virginia – Counties – Franklin (cyndislist.com)
• Franklin Co. VAGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Franklin County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Franklin Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Franklin Co. VA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Virginia Links and Information
• 1895 Franklin County Map (livgenmi.com)

Franklin Co. VA Military Records

• Virginia Military Records Research Guide
• Virginia Revolutionary War Units (revolutionarywar101.com)
• Virginia Military Records (Fold3.com) gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Virginia both women and men which served. Ideal for genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.