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 – Stephens County
E – Oconee County, South Carolina and Hart County
S – Madison County
W – Banks County
Created: February 25, 1784 
County Seat:
Warren Philpot Home 1784 – 1787
Benjamin Acles Home 1787 – 1805
Carnesville 1805 – present
County Courthouse – Carnesville
Location: 9492 Lavonia Road / Central Avenue
Built: 1906 – 1907
Style: Neo-Classical Revival
Architect: Walter Chamberlin of Knoxville, Tennessee
Contractor: M T Lewman & Company of Louisville, Kentucky
Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building sits on the highest point on edge of a wide ravine on landscaped grounds in the center of Carnesville. The building is a Greek Cross plan with entrances on four sides. The entrances on each side are extended from the building and have two large white colored Doric columns each having a full entablature with triglyphs and metopes and a pediment. A wide horizontal band runs below the protruding cornice at the roof line. On the center of the roof is a large square white colored dome with clock and black colored roof. In the interior, wood paneling has been used on the plaster walls and acoustical tile ceilings are used throughout. The courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the Superior Court of the 10th Judicial District. The building was renovated in 1997. The contractor was Bowen & Watson Inc, of Toccoa.
See: The architect, Walter Chamberlin ( Chamberlain ) of Knoxville, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama, designed courthouses in Alabama in Dallas County and Lamar County; in Georgia in Berrien County, Jeff Davis County, Macon County and Warren County; in Kentucky in Logan County; in Mississippi in Holmes County, Quitman County and Yalobusha County; in Tennessee in Cumberland County, Gibson County, Morgan County and Rhea County; and in Texas in Deaf Smith County and San Saba County.
See: The architect, Walter Chamberlin of Knoxville, Tennessee also designed the courthouse in
See: The contractor M T Lewman and Company of Louisville, Kentucky.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Franklin County Courthouse
See: The 10th Judicial District includes Banks County, Barrow County, Burke County, Clarke County, Columbia County, Elbert County, Glascock County, Hart County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Madison County, McDuffie County, Newton County, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County, Richmond County, Taliaferro County, Walton County, Warren County and Wilkes County.
History: The county was created in 1784. The first county meetings were held at the home of Warren Philpot. In 1787, the county used the home of Benjamin Acles. The first courthouse was built in 1793 at an unknown location. In 1805, Carnesville was selected as the county seat. The second courthouse was built in 1826 to 1827. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1906 to 1907.
County Courthouse – Carnesville
County Superior Court courtroom
Photos taken 2008 and 2020