Franklin County, Illinois
| Franklin County | |
|---|---|
| Franklin County Courthouse in Benton | |
| Location within the U.S. state of Illinois | |
| Illinois's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′N 88°55′W / 37.99°N 88.92°W | |
| Country | United States | 
| State | Illinois | 
| Founded | January 2, 1818 | 
| Named after | Benjamin Franklin | 
| Seat | Benton | 
| Largest city | West Frankfort | 
| Area | |
|  • Total | 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) | 
| • Land | 409 sq mi (1,060 km2) | 
| • Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 5.2% | 
| Population  (2020) | |
|  • Total | 37,804 | 
|  • Estimate  (2023) | 37,138 | 
| • Density | 88/sq mi (34/km2) | 
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | 
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | 
| Congressional district | 12th | 
| Website | www | 
Franklin County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 37,804. The largest city is West Frankfort and the county seat is Benton. This area of Southern Illinois is known locally as "Little Egypt".