Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and who lived from 1706 to 1790.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Warren County and St, Charles County
E – St. Louis County and Jefferson County
S – Washington County and Crawford County
W – Gasconade County
Created: December 11, 1818 
County Seat:
Dundee 1818 – 1826
Newport 1826 – 1827
Union 1827 – present
County Courthouse – Union
Location: 300 East Main Street / East Locust Street
Built: 1922 – 1923
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Bonsack and Pearce of St. Louis
Contractor: George H Gassman Construction Company
Description: The building faces south and is a three story Carthage and Bedford gray colored stone structure. The building was 90 square feet. The south front has a portico with three arches on the first story and four columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story and with a large header above at the roof line. A similar portico is on the north side. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 20th Judicial Circuit.
See: The architect, Fred C Bonsack and Harvey J Pearce of St. Louis also designed the courthouse in Audrain County, Dade County, Franklin County and St. Francois County.
See: The 20th Judicial District covers Franklin County, Gasconade County and Osage County.
History: The county was created in 1818 and Dundee was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built James by McDonald in Newport in 1819 at a cost of $3,700. The county seat was moved to Newport in 1826 and then to Union in 1827. A temporary courthouse was built by Ambrose Ranson in Union in 1827. The second courthouse was also built in 1827 at a cost of $844.79. The third courthouse was built by Henry H Wright in 1847 to 1849 at a cost of $7,720. A west wing and vaults were begun in 1891 and completed in February 1892 at a cost of $6,604.75. The present and fourth courthouse was constructed at a cost of $200,000.
County Judicial Center – Union
Location: 401 East Main Street / Church Street
Built: 2007 – 2008
Style: Modern
Architect: Treanor Architects of Kansas City
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces southwest and is a three story red colored brick, stone, concrete and glass structure. The southwest corner has a circular three story concrete tower with glass panel entrance. The rest of the building is faced with red colored brick. The roof line is flat.
County Government Center – Union
Location: 401 East Main Street / Church Street
Built: 2005 – 2006
Style: Modern
Architect: Treanor Architects of Kansas City
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick, stone, concrete and glass structure. The northwest corner has a circular two story concrete tower with glass panel entrance. The rest of the building is faced with red colored brick. The roof line is flat.
County Courthouse – Union
Photos taken 2009