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 – Red River County
E – Titus County and Camp County
S – Wood County
W – Hopkins County and Delta County
Created: March 6, 1875 
County Seat:
Mount Vernon 1875 – present
County Courthouse – Mount Vernon
Location: 200 Kaufman Street North / Dallas Street East
Built: 1911 – 1912
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: L L Thurmon & Company of Dallas
Contractor: L R Wright & Company of Dallas
Description: The building faces south and is a three story white colored brick and sandstone and concrete structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Mount Vernon. The building has a raised basement and is an “H” shape. The south side has a portico supported by four large columns with pediment above. On the west side is a larger portico supported by six large columns with pediment above. The building has decorative white colored brick molding. On the center of the roof is a dome with clock at the top. In the interior, the main hall on the first story has a north-south corridor and a double stair leading to the courtroom on the second story. The courtroom has a pressed metal ceiling and a balcony on the third story. The building houses the State District Court, Constitutional County Court and County Justice Court. On the north side is the two story County Jail.
See: The architect, L L Thurmon & Company of Dallas also designed curthouses in Henderson County, Jeff Davis County and Kinney County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Franklin County Courthouse
History: The county was created in 1875 and Mount Vernon was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a wooden storehouse at the corner of Houston Street and Dallas Street donated by L E Brooks. The second courthouse was a brick structure built by W J Carter of Mount Pleasant in 1878 at a cost of $5,500. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1911 to 1912 at a cost of $42,000.
County Courthouse – Mount Vernon
Photos taken 2010