This county got it's name from Benjamin Franklin, philosopher, statesman, diplomatist, author, printer, a member of the Continental Congress, Ambassador to France, and (before the Revolution) Deputy Postmaster General of the British Colonies in America. It was established on January 2, 1818. The State Park in Franklin County is Franklin Creek. There is a Historic Jail Museum, a Frankfort area Historical Museum and a Veterans' Museum. The first settlers that came to Franklin County were in 1804. The court house is in Benton Illinois.