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Community Profile

One of Virginia's most dynamic counties is a community that honors its past, values its progress, and looks ahead to a strong future. The Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise, together with Ferrum College and one of the state's highest rated school systems, demonstrates the county's commitment to building a skilled, prepared workforce. Thanks to its workforce, natural resources, low costs of living, and access to the mid-Atlantic markets, it is not only a great place to live, but a great place to run your business.

Technology

Franklin County is uniquely positioned to support technological operations through the availability of fully redundant, multi-provider fiber on the US 220 E-Corridor, affordable and dependable energy through Appalachian Power, proximity to Virginia Tech (www.vt.edu), the Research Triangle, and two nearby full service airports (ROA and GSO).

Utilities:

Franklin County is uniquely positioned to support technological operations through the availability of fully redundant, multi-provider fiber on the US 220 E-Corridor, affordable and dependable energy through Appalachian Power (AEP), provision of a low visibility site in Franklin County Commerce Center, proximity to Virginia Tech (www.vt.edu), the Research Triangle, and two nearby full service airports (ROA and GSO).

Franklin County is eight miles south of Roanoke; 173 miles southwest of Richmond, and 70 miles north of Greensboro, NC. The Port of Virginia is within a half-day's drive, and the County is served by Port of Entry #1412 and FTZ #238.

  • Electric
  • Appalachian Power
  •  
  • Telecommunications
  • Embarq, JetBroadband, B2X,
  • Mid-Atlantic Broadband
  •  
  • Water
  • Western Virginia Water Authority
  •  
  • Waste Water Treatment
  • Ferrum Water & Sewer Authority Town of Rocky Mount
  • Town of Boones Mill
  •  
  • Solid Waste Disposal
  • Franklin County Landfill
Why

Transportation:

  • Interstates
NameDistance
I-5814.9 miles(8.0 km)
I-818.1 miles(13.0 km)
I-7729.7 miles(47.7 km)
I-6438.1 miles(61.3 km)
I-4047.3 miles(76.1 km)
Note: Measured from border of locality / region.
  • Highways
  • Highway 116, Highway 122, Highway 220, Highway 40, Highway 48

Commercial Air Service

  • Roanoke Regional Airport, Roanoke 9.5 miles (15.2 km)
  • Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, Northwest Airlink, United Express, US Airways
  • Lynchburg Regional Airport, Lynchburg 28.0 miles (45.1 km)
  • Delta Connection, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, US Airways Express
  • Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro, NC 47.3 miles (76.1 km)
  • American Airlines, Comair / Delta Connection, Continental Airlines / Continental Express
  • Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines / United Express,
  • US Airways / US Airways Express
  • Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV 51.0 miles (82.1 km)
  • Delta Air Lines, US Airways
  • Mercer County Airport, Bluefield, WV 60.7 miles (97.7 km)
  • Note: Within 75 miles of nearest locality/region boundary.
  • Colgan Air (US Airways Express)

General Aviation Service

Name RunwayLength
Smith Mountain Lake Airport, Moneta3,050 ft (930 m)
  • Freight Rail Service
  • Norfolk Southern Railway Company
  • Ports
  • Name Distance

Population & Labor Market:

Gender Distribution (2006)

PortsName Distance
Port Of Richmond139.0 miles (223.7 km)
Virginia Inland Port At Front Royal166.0 miles (267.2 km)
Norfolk International Terminals198.0 miles (318.7 km)
Note: Measured from center of locality/region
Area Male Female
Franklin County 49.4% 50.6%

Race/Ethnicity (2006)

Classification Profile Area Labor Area
White 45,631 684,465
Black 4,427 66,405
Two or More 425 6,375
Asian 196 2,940
American Indian or Alaska Native 93 1,395
Pacific Islander 12 180
Hispanic 835 12,525
  • Median Age (2006)
  • 41 years
  • Civilian Labor Force (2006)
  • Franklin County 26,117
  • Surrounding Labor Area 315,221
  • Total 341,338
  • Labor Force Participation (2000 Census)
  • Franklin County 63.0%
  • Surrounding Labor Area 62.0%

Employment:

  • Unemployment Rate (September 2007)
  • Franklin County 3.86%
  • Labor Area 3.69%
  • Statewide 2.82%
  • Unemployed (2006)
  • Franklin County 813
  • Labor Area 12,159
  • Total 12,972
  • Underemployed (2nd Quarter 2007)
  • Franklin County 1,986
  • Labor Area 28,611
  • Total 30,597
Commuting Patterns (2000 Census)
Live and work in Franklin County: 13,182 53.8%
Total In-Commuters: 2,022 8.3%
Total Out-Commuters: 9,288 37.9%
Net Out-Commuters: 7,266  

In-Commuters From:    
Roanoke Co. VA 476 29.8%
Bedford Co. VA 309 19.3%
Henry Co. VA 282 17.6%
Roanoke City VA 274 17.1%
Pittsylvania Co. VA 257 6.1%

Out-Commuters To:    
Roanoke City VA 3,810 48.5%
Roanoke Co. VA 1,656 21.1%
Henry Co. VA 1,264 16.1%
Salem City VA 691 8.8%
Martinsville City VA 435 5.5%
  • Additional Labor Resources
  • High school graduates not continuing (2006-2007) 145
  • Two-year college graduates (Spring 2005) 1,652
  • Two-year college enrollees (Fall 2005) 12,554
  • Other college and university graduates (Spring 2005) 888
  • Total 15,239
  • Workers Comp & Wages by Category
  • Per Capita Personal Income (2005)
  • $27,584
  • Median Family Income (2005)
  • $53,900
Why
  • Educational Attainment
  • Percentage of Franklin County 2003-2004 ninth graders graduating in 2006-2007 74.3%
  • Percentage of Franklin County population age 25+ who are high school graduates 72.2%
  • Percentage of Franklin County population age 25+ who have earned a Bachelor's Degree or higher 14.8%

Workforce Advantages & Education:

The community that gave the nation Booker T. Washington (www.nps.gov/bowa/) understands that a highly skilled and continuously trained employee team is the most important element for business success today. To meet this challenge, locating in Franklin County grants businesses access to:

  • A new 33,000 square foot Franklin Center for Advanced Learning and Enterprise that brings together four higher education entities under one roof with one goal – giving you and your team members the resources necessary to remain on top of your industry – www.thefranklincenter.org.
  • Ferrum College, Virginia's fastest growing private liberal arts college – www.ferrum.edu.
  • The Franklin County Public School System – ranked as one of the top 12 in Virginia – www.frco.k12.va.us.

Taxes:

Localities in Virginia collect a 1% sales tax. They do not tax other items taxed at the State level.

Counties and cities in Virginia are separate taxing entities. Therefore, a company pays taxes to either a county or to a city.

If a company is located in a town, it pays town and county taxes except for utility taxes which are paid only to the town and the license tax which is paid only to the town unless town law permits the additional collection of a county tax.

Manufacturers pay real estate, machinery and tools, truck and automobile, utility, and sales taxes.

Nonmanufacturers pay real estate, tangible personal property, truck and automobile, utility, and sales taxes. They also may pay either a merchants' capital or a license tax.

Real Estate Nominal Tax
Rate/$100		 Assessment
Ratio 		Effective Tax
Rate/$100
Franklin County .53 100% .53
Town of Rocky Mount .14 100% .14
Town of Boones Mill .10 100% .10
Personal Property Nominal Tax
Rate/$100		 Assessment
Ratio		 Effective Tax
Rate/$100
Franklin County 1.67 100% 1.67
Town of Rocky Mount .51 100% .51
Mobile Homes Nominal Tax
Rate/$100		 Assessment
Ratio		 Effective Tax
Rate/$100
Franklin County .53 100% .53
Machinery & Tools Nominal Tax
Rate/$100		 Assessment
Ratio		 Effective Tax
Rate/$100
Franklin County $0.60 100%- 1st Year .60
90%-2nd Year .54
80%-3rd Year .48
70%-4th Year .45
60%-5th Year .36
50%-6th Year .30
40%-7+ Years .24
       
Town of Rocky Mount $0.17 100%-1st Year .17
90%-2ndYear .15
80%-3rd Year .14
70%-4th Year .12
60%-5th Year .10
50%-6th Year .8
40%-7+ Years .7
       
Town of Boones Mill $0.10 100%-1st Year .10
90%-2ndYear .09
80%-3rd Year .08
70%-4th Year .07
60%-5th Year .06
50%-6th Year .05
40%-7+ Years .04

Major Employers:

Manufacturing
Company Product/Service Est. Employment
Fleetwood Homes of Virginia Manufactured housing 100 - 299
McAirlaids Life Sciences 50-99
Mod-U-Kraf Homes, Inc. Modular homes 100 - 299
MW Manufacturers Wood window/door units 1,000 - 1,499
NewBold Corporation Credit card imprinting 50 - 99
North American Housing Modular homes 100 - 299
Ronile Incorporated Processed carpet yarn 300 - 599
Trinity Packaging Packaging 300 - 599
Nonmanufacturing
Company Product/Service Est. Employment
Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Hospital 100 - 299
Ferrum College Higher education 300 - 599

Union Activity (1/2004 - 6/2007)

Virginia is a right to work state, there are no unions in Franklin County.

Climate:

  • Average Temperatures
  • January 37°F (3°C)
  • July 75°F (24°C)
  • Average Annual Precipitation
  • Rainfall 44.00" (111.76 cm)
  • Snowfall 14.00" (35.56 cm)

History

Formed in 1785, Franklin County remains a vibrant community with a storied past. The county was home to civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington, whose home has been transformed into a beautiful and educational national park. Franklin County was also home to Confederate General Jubal Early. The region's music has deep cultural roots in the area and the Crooked Road Music Trail, which begins its western journey in Franklin's county seat of Rocky Mount, highlights the past as music is performed almost nightly among the county's many musicians. The area's museums, including the Franklin County Historical Society and the Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum at Ferrum College, follow the region's transformation by agrarian settlers to a land of lake prosperity and innovation.