Franklin County was created in 1784 and originally encompassed all of what would become Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Oconee, and Stephens counties, and parts of Gwinnett, Hall, Hart, and Madison counties, as well as three counties in South Carolina. Georgia's 9th county was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.Carnesville, the county seat, was named for Judge Thomas Peter Carnes, a lawyer and Congressman of the Revolutionary War era.Places of historic note in the county include Cromers Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1906, and the Lavonia Carnegie Library, established in 1911 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. Lavonia is the smallest city in the U.S. with an original Carnegie Library Building.

Lake Hartwell, Georgia's largest Army Corp of Engineers lake east of the Mississippi was formed by the impoundment of the Savannah River at Hartwell Dam. The lake's 55,950 acres have 962 miles of shoreline.Franklin County leads the state in poultry production and the Franklin County Livestock Market is the state's largest.Two state parks are in Franklin County. The 406-acre Victoria Bryant State Park, near Royston, features a nine hole golf course, as well as facilities for camping, swimming and hiking. Tugaloo State Park, on a 393-acre peninsula on Lake Hartwell, offers outdoor enthusiasts excellent opportunities for fishing and camping.