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Franklin Township is a diverse community of approximately 46 square miles. It has rural, agricultural, suburban
and urban residential areas, as well as substantial industrial and commercial areas. The Township is located between
New Brunswick and Princeton Township in Somerset County, named as one of 16 of the "most liveable communities"
in the United States by the Partners for Liveable communities.
One of Franklin's unique qualities is its distinctive communities, each with its own flavor and history. the
Township's earliest development and important historical heritage was in villages which still exist today. There
the majopr portion of the population lived until the post World War II suburban development. In the villages of
East Millstone, Middlebush, Griggstown, Franklin Park, Kingston, Zeraphath, Weston, Blackwells Mills, and Little
Rocky Hill, there are numerous examples of homes built in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It was not until the building boom of the 1950s that the Township started changing its traditional rural character.
The Somerset area received substantial growth due to its proximity to major transportation facilities and New Brunswick.
In the 1960s, the sewers were extended into the more rural areas and large subdivisions were developed. Additionally,
during this period the agricultural land decline started as small subdivisions and farmland sales became increasingly
frequent. Franklin went through a significant transformation in the 1980s. Within its 46 quare miles, modern offices
and industrial parks prospered. Housing developments also contributed to Franklin's growth with construction of
luxury homes and townhouse developments.
Today, the Township's population is estimated to be slightly in excess of 45,000 residents.
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