About Franklin County

Franklin County is located in Northeast Georgia in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Its border with South Carolina is on Lake Hartwell. The county has received the designation of being an All-Georgia Community, an honor awarded to the citizens of Franklin County by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Interstate-85 is the main transportation artery serving the county. It links Atlanta’s metro area with Greenville, South Carolina, and with Charlotte, North Carolina. Atlanta’s center is 80 miles to the southwest, while Greenville is 49 miles and Charlotte is 146 miles to the northeast.

The county seat is located in the center of Franklin County at Carnesville. Other incorporated cities and their direction from Carnesville include: Lavonia (9 miles northeast), Canon (10 miles east), Royston (10 miles southeast), and Franklin Springs (8 miles southeast).

Annual rainfall varies from under 50 inches along the southeastern county line to almost 56 inches in the northwest corner, a distance of less than 20 miles.

Highways serving Franklin County besides I-85 include: US-29, GA 8, 17, 51, 59, 77, 105, 106, 145, 164, 174, 184, 198, 281, 320, 326, 327, 328, and 403. Total public road mileage is 652.