Your Guide to Franklin County, Ohio
Looking for trusted businesses, services and local resources in Franklin County, Ohio? FindItOhio.com helps residents and visitors discover local companies, professionals and community information across Franklin County, including Columbus, the county seat.
Quick answer: Franklin County is one of Ohio’s 88 counties. Its county seat is Columbus, it was established in 1803, and it has an estimated 1,361,536 residents as of 2025.
At a Glance
- County seat: Columbus
- Established: Apr 30, 1803
- Formed from: Ross and Wayne Counties
- Named for: Benjamin Franklin (1706 to 1791), Founding Father, author, printer, political theorist, scientist, inventor, and statesman
- Estimated population (2025): 1,361,536
- Total area: 539.87 sq mi
- FIPS code: 39049
About Franklin County
Franklin County is located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,323,807, making it the most populous county in Ohio. Most of its land area is taken up by its county seat, Columbus, the state capital and most populous city in Ohio. The county was established on April 30, 1803, less than two months after Ohio became a state, and was named after Benjamin Franklin. Originally, Franklin County extended north to Lake Erie before it was subdivided into smaller counties. Franklin County is the central county of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Franklin County, particularly Columbus, has been a centerpiece for presidential and congressional politics, most notably the 2000 presidential election, the 2004 presidential election, and the 2006 midterm elections. Franklin County is home to one of the largest universities in the United States, Ohio State University, which has about 60,000 students on its main Columbus campus.
History of Franklin County
On March 30, 1803, the Ohio government authorized the creation of Franklin County. The county originally was part of Ross County. Residents named the county in honor of Benjamin Franklin. In 1816, Franklin County’s Columbus became Ohio’s state capital. Surveyors laid out the city in 1812, and officials incorporated it in 1816. Columbus was not Ohio’s original capital, but the state legislature chose to move the state government there after its location for a short time at Chillicothe and at Zanesville. Columbus was chosen as the site for the new capital because of its central location within the state and access by way of major transportation routes (primarily rivers) at that time. The legislature chose it as Ohio’s capital over a number of other competitors, including Franklinton, Dublin, Worthington, and Delaware.
On May 5, 1802, a group of prospective settlers founded the Scioto Company at the home of Rev. Eber B. Clark in Granby, Connecticut, for the purpose of forming a settlement between the Muskingum River and Great Miami River in the Ohio Country. James Kilbourne was elected president and Josiah Topping secretary. On August 30, 1802, James Kilbourne and Nathaniel Little arrived at Colonel Thomas Worthington’s home in Chillicothe. They tentatively reserved land along the Scioto River on the Pickaway Plains for their new settlement.
Cities and Villages in Franklin County
Cities
Bexley, Canal Winchester, Dublin, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Groveport, Hilliard, New Albany, Obetz, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, Worthington
Villages
Brice, Harrisburg, Lithopolis, Lockbourne, Marble Cliff, Minerva Park, Riverlea, Urbancrest, Valleyview
Find Local Businesses in Franklin County
Browse the FindItOhio.com business directory to find restaurants, contractors, professional services, shops and more serving Franklin County. Own a business here? Add your free business listing so local customers can find you.
Background Checks, Process Serving and Private Investigations
Residents and employers in Franklin County can get BCI and FBI LiveScan fingerprinting, FD-258 fingerprint cards, process serving and licensed private investigations from these Ohio providers:
- Ohio Security & Investigations, Youngstown: licensed private investigations and fingerprinting. Call (888) 341-6960 or visit ohioinvestigators.com.
- 10-8 Protective Services, Columbus: investigations, fingerprinting and process serving. Call (800) 949-8521 or visit 10-8protectiveservices.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the county seat of Franklin County, Ohio?
Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County, Ohio.
When was Franklin County established?
Franklin County was established on Apr 30, 1803. It was formed from Ross and Wayne Counties.
Who or what is Franklin County named for?
Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin (1706 to 1791), Founding Father, author, printer, political theorist, scientist, inventor, and statesman.
How many people live in Franklin County, Ohio?
Franklin County has an estimated population of 1,361,536 as of 2025.
What cities are in Franklin County, Ohio?
Cities in Franklin County include Bexley, Canal Winchester, Dublin, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Groveport, Hilliard and others.
Where can I find local businesses in Franklin County?
Search the FindItOhio.com business directory to find local businesses and services in Franklin County, Ohio.
How do I list my Franklin County business on FindItOhio.com?
Visit the free business listing page on FindItOhio.com and submit your business name, address, phone number and website.
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County background adapted from the Wikipedia article Franklin County, Ohio, available under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 license.