Looking for city info on Franklin, OH (Columbus, Cincinnati: middle-class, insurance)

[hey_ynotme]

Greetings!

As it's winter, I'm not much for traveling with the unpredictable weather and all, but at the same time I'm trying to research Ohio cities. After doing a Google search for possible scene locations for my novel I've come to like Franklin (county of Warren), near Cincinnati and I'd like more information about the quality of life there. Franklinohio.org is a very informative site about the workings of the city itself but it's lacking the personal quality I was hoping to find. I'd like to know about the little shops on Main Street (if there are any little shops on Main Street), is there an old feed store or farming equipment supply in town... you know, the nitty-gritty of non-urban life. With a po****tion of around 12,000 I don't expect to find Small Town, USA living but I'd like to get to know the place. I'd like to research this city as if I was planning to move there (and if I like it enough, who knows, maybe I will). Although I have city search maps available and many other research tools at my disposal I really do prefer talking to residents or at least those who know something about the workings of the city.

If anyone can give me additional info or point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Franklin does seem to be a nice town. I've only been there a couple of times (I live in Cincinnati, no real reason to drive 45 minutes to Franklin), but here are some sites that might help you out:

http://www.franklinohio.org (official website)
http://www.city-data.com/city/Franklin-Ohio.html
http://www.ohio4fun.org (Warren County Convention and Visitors' Bureau)

Also, you can contact the Franklin Chamber of Commerce at (937) 746-8547. They should be able to provide you with lots of information on the city.

[shutter_bug1977]

This may be a bit late, but then again, maybe not. As a person with strong family roots in Franklin, going back to at least my great-great grandparents on my father's side, and having lived the majority of my 29 years here, I guess I can try to help you out some.

You asked about the quality of life here. Franklin has predominately been a white, middle-class community. Like everywhere else, we have some that are quite poor and some that are quite well-to-do. Over the last five years, Franklin, along with all of Warren County has seen major growth, both in residential and in business. I know of 4-5 subdivisions that have been built with hundreds of homes in just the last few years. Also, we they have just started construction on the new Super-Wal-Mart just of the exit along with the new McDonalds. I am not sure if the Walgreen’s is still a go or not, but that could also be starting up soon.

Currently, Franklin has five elementary schools (K-5), one sixth grade school, one junior high school (7-8) and one senior high school (9-12). The schools finally got the levy to pass this past spring, so that may change a bit. There was talk of possibly a new school.

You asked if there was “an old feed store or farming equipment supply”. As far as I know, there is not anything like that today as there is not that much in the way of farming in Franklin in the past ten years. If anyone needs any of that, they probably look at to some local chain store. As for Main Street, there are a couple of banks, a few insurance places, a few churches, a pawn shop, and a few restaurants. Pisanello's Pizza is probably the most popular place on Main Street, except maybe the license bureau.

As for jobs, up until about five years ago, I would say most of the people who live in Franklin worked outside the city. Even today, many people still do. Myself, I travel 20 miles south for an administrative job. With the growth of newer business, mostly manufactures, there are the availability of more jobs in Franklin, but it will probably still be another 5 years or so before more people living in Franklin actually work in Franklin.

Well, it is a bit late and I am rambling. If you still have questions, just ask specifically, I will try to answer.

[cyberdasher]

a little late too, but the Franklin, Springboro, Waynesville corridor is a great historical setting and might provide some creative inspiration

[browneyedrn@hotmail.com]

I live on the line of Franklin and Springboro and LOVE the location! We're in the country but close to everything. 5 minutes to the quaint shops that line Main Street and 2 minutes to I-75 which will get you to downtown Dayton in 12 minutes, Cincinnati in 40 and Columbus in 90. We have a Quality Farm & Fleet in Springboro for tack.
The taxes are cheap and the houses in this area range from a neighborhood of new cottages on small lots that provide for great walking and family interaction to the largest house in our city...7,000 sqaure feet. There are many farms that dot Beal Rd which leads to Springboro.

[Mid Century Mod]

This may be a bit late, too, but this thread interested me quite a bit. I was raised in Franklin.....lived there from the mid-1950's till the early 1970's. I saw such things as the opening of the Sharonville-to-West Carrollton segment of Interstate 75, in July, 1960, Franklin's first shopping center (LAYNECREST PLAZA, East 2nd Street/Millard Drive) in October, 1961, one of the city's first "fast food" restaurants (BURGER CHEF, East 2nd Street/Charles Street) autumn, 1967, and the advent of the area's first regional shopping mall (DAYTON MALL) in 1970.

I do not know how far back in Franklin time that the prospective novel author cares to go in the setting of the prospective writing project......but I would be more than glad to relate what Franklin was like in the 1960's and 1970's.

Cheers,