Franklin County, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, was established in 1832 and presented Apalachicola with the county seat by 1882. Apalachicola was originally known as "Cotton Town", and for a very good reason, in the early 1800's hundreds of bales of cotton was shipped annually down the Apalachicola River on flatboats. The early town of St. Joseph was established in 1836 by locals in an attempt to rid themselves of the control of the Apalachicola Land Company. However, St. Joseph was unable to compete with Apalachicola and due to many major storms and yellow fever, the town became destroyed. By the 1850's Apalachicola became the third largest port along the Gulf of Mexico! In 1877 a gentleman by the name of Oliver Hudson Kelly strolled into the area from Massachusetts with the sole purpose of land development. He purchased 920 acres about 20 miles east of Apalachicola, gave the area the name "Rio Carrabelle" and began constructing the town. Carrabelle is encompassed by the Carrabelle River, the Crooked River, the Ochlockonee River and the Gulf of Mexico. The economy of the county depended mostly on cotton and lumber until 1940 when the seafood industry began to flourish!

Today Franklin County is home to cities such as Alligator Point, Apalachicola, Carrabelle and Eastpoint. Visiting Franklin County is like taking a step back into time, to a place that has managed to preserve a small portion of what the state once was. The county takes up only 545 sq acres of space and 87 percent of it is in national preserves! Taking a trip on the Big Bend Scenic Byway gives you a sense of the natural wonders that engulf Franklin County. While on the byway, between Ocholocknee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, is the peninsula of Alligator Point, home to Bald Point State Park. Apalachicola is famous for its nationally recognized seafood restaurants and unique shops. Carrabelle is still a full service waterfront to this day! Marinas, boat rentals and incredible fishing can all be found at the mouth of the Carrabelle!

Franklin County has truly preserved the authentic "Old Florida" through its lighthouses, nature preserves and real estate. Relocating to Franklin County can provide the potential homeowner with an opportunity to enjoy all the joy of white sandy beaches, parks, history and relaxation that Florida was meant to provide all along.