Franklinton Historical Society
192 South Princeton Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43223
www.chncolumbus.org • cjstewart@aol.com
614-279-9382
The first settlement in Central Ohio, Franklinton was founded in 1797 by Lucas Sullivant and named for Benjamin Franklin. In 1798 Sullivant sold lots to the early pioneers – a high end lot was $33.33 – then parceled off Gift Street for those without cash and gave them free lots. His residence, built on West Broad Street in 1801, was the first brick dwelling in Franklin County. In 2000 a statue of Sullivant was erected as a Franklinton Bicentennial project. Franklintonians lobbied hard in 1803 to make the site of the State Capitol on the higher ground across the Scioto River. Franklinton prospered in the early 1800s and was an important military post in the West during the War of 1812.
Located near the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, flooding
has always been a problem. On Easter weekend of 1913, a disastrous flood
destroyed over 4000 homes as well as the Broad, Town and State Street
bridges to Downtown Columbus. The construction of the long-awaited $130
million dollar floodwall should spearhead a dramatic renaissance in
Franklinton. Other recent enhancements have been the renovation of Veterans
Memorial Auditorium and the new COSI (Center of Science Industry) and
the West Edge Business Center.
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