The History of Johnson County and Franklin, Indiana

Johnson County was created on Dec. 31, 1822, when Indiana Governor William Hendricks signed a bill. It was officially platted in 1823 and named after Indiana’s first Supreme Court Chief Justice John Johnson.

Franklin was founded in 1823 and named after Benjamin Franklin. Its historic courthouse square is one of the most photogenic in the state, and the downtown district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s still stand today, including:

• Main & Madison Market Café, which resides in a 1906 building that was previously the only hospital in Johnson County until after World War II

• The Historic Artcraft Theatre built in 1922

• The Johnson County Museum of History, which opened in 1931

• RFD Franklin, located in a former post office built in 1936 and serves as a premier event center

As of the 2024 census, Franklin’s population is 26,158, making it the second-largest of seven incorporated towns/cities in Johnson County behind Greenwood (68,175). It ranks as the 40th-largest city in Indiana.

Things to Do In or Near Franklin, Indiana

Explore Franklin’s walkable and historic downtown district, including the Johnson County courthouse which was built in 1881 and the single-screen Historic Artcraft Theatre which shows classic movies year-round, hosts special events, and offers free refills on popcorn. For more history, check out the Johnson County Museum of History.

If you want to get outdoors, head to Province Park complete with trails, a rose garden, rentable shelters, gazebo, dog park, playgrounds, and more. There’s also the 17-mile Franklin Greenway Trail, which winds through nine parks and is perfect for biking or walking while enjoying views of Youngs Creek and murals under the Home Street and South Main Street bridges.

There are plenty of shops to explore downtown as well, mostly along Jefferson Street and Madison Street. Salvage Sisters Antique Market, Madison Street Salvage, Wild Geese Bookshop, and Hoosier Cupboard Candy, Snacks & Ice Cream are favorites among locals, and they’re all within a few blocks of each other.

For entertainment, Urban Air Adventure Park is a popular spot for hosting events and birthday parties, along with 10 Pins, which has six bowling lanes and an arcade. If you have your clubs with you, there’s an 18-hole course you have to play – The Legends Golf Club. 

Places to Eat or Drink in Franklin, Indiana

Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Main & Madison Market Café is located in a historic 1906 building that once served as Johnson County’s lone hospital. Group bookings are available for a trio of unique spaces, and guests rave about the overall atmosphere. Menu favorites include cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, lattes and coffee, making it an ideal breakfast or brunch spot.

Hometown Nutrition Franklin is another great place to energize your day. In addition to serving coffee, they whip up smoothies, protein shakes, herbal teas, and acai bowls locals love. They’ve got more than 250 reviews on Google and a perfect 5.0 star rating.

There’s also Coffeehouse Five, a popular morning joint serving house-roasted coffee, pastries, and top-of-the-line breakfast sandwiches.

For lunch or dinner, head to The Willard, one of Franklin’s most iconic restaurants. Housed in a historic 1860s building just steps from the courthouse, it’s known for its pizza, sandwiches, wings, and Hoosier hospitality. It’s casual, friendly, and perfect for families or groups.

A great dinner-only option open Tuesday through Saturday is Richard’s Brick Oven Pizza, serving locals since 2009. The restaurant blends rustic charm with creative wood-fired pizza combinations. Visitors praise their handcrafted crusts and house-made sauces.

Franklin College

Originally known as the Indiana Baptist Manual Labor Institute, Franklin College was founded by Baptist ministers and laymen on June 5, 1834. In 1842, it became Indiana’s first co-ed college when it admitted 28 women to a Women’s Department. Today, it is known as a private liberal arts college with a beautiful campus that spans 207 acres, with a portion designated by the National Park Service in January 2025 as a National Register Historic District.

Additionally, Franklin College’s athletic teams are known as the Grizzlies. The first reference appeared in 1929 by student writers at “The Franklin” newspaper as a tribute to legendary basketball coach Ernest “Griz” Wagner, who graduated from the college in 1912 and led the men’s team from 1922-33. His teams won the 1923 and 1924 state collegiate championships, and in 1980, the school proclaimed the 1923 team as national college champions after it finished 17-0.

Before becoming the Grizzlies, the teams were known as the Fighting Baptists, the Deacons, and the Blue and Gold.

Franklin Community High School

Franklin Community High School was established in 1871 and is home to the Grizzly Cubs. Franklin Community has claimed five IHSAA state titles in school history, with the two most recent being a boys golf championship in 1938 and boys cross country title in 2001. The most historic of them all, however, was a three-peat in boys basketball in 1920, 1921, and 1922, making Franklin Community the first of three Indiana high schools to win three consecutive state titles in IHSAA boys basketball history. Decades later, Marion (1985-87) and Lawrence North (2004-06) three-peated as well.

The head coach during that historic basketball run was the aforementioned Ernest “Griz” Wagner, and his cast of players was known as the “Wonder Five” – led by 1975 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Robert “Fuzzy” Vandivier. After the 1922 title was secured, “Griz” left to coach at Franklin College, and many of his players joined him there where they continued their success.

Not only did Franklin College become known as the Grizzlies, but Franklin Community became the Grizzly Cubs for the same reason – all in honor of “Griz.”

That’s it for small town breakdown No. 44 of 2025. Where should we head next?