Franklinton

Lucas Sullivant founded Franklinton in 1797. Sullivant was born in Virginia and became a land surveyor, which led him to the Central Ohio area. After the Revolutionary War, Lucas Sullivant was named deputy land surveyor of the Virginia Military district that included the Ohio Territory between the Scioto River and the Little Miami River. This land was parceled out to veterans of the Revolutionary War from Virginia in payment for their military service.

Sullivant's first venture into this area was at Deer Creek in 1795. In 1796 he surveyed land as far north as the fork of the Scioto River and the Olentangy River and eventually acquired 6,000 acres in that area. Sullivant returned in 1797 to lay out Franklinton, his town on the west bank of the Scioto River named for Benjamin Franklin. The fertile, low-lying bottom land was ideal for farming, with the river serving as a direct connection to the Ohio River and beyond.

The initial 220 lots sold fairly quickly despite initial flooding problems. Free lots were given away nearer the river on Gift Street; Starling Street is named for his bride, Sarah Starling. After founding the town, Sullivant returned to Franklinton in 1801 and built a home at West Broad Street and Sandusky Street in the heart of Franklinton. In a quintessential Columbus move, this home was torn down to build the 315 freeway. Only a marker remains.

In 1803 Ohio became a state, Franklin County was established, and Franklinton was named the county seat. Sullivant died in 1823 at the age of 58 dreaming of a future town with a canal, roads, "steam wagons" running across the land. Sullivant was obviously prophetic, as a canal was built across Ohio in the 1830s, the National Road reached the area in 1833, and the railroad came in the early 1850s. Franklinton boomed for many decades but was continually victim to river floods. Floods caused substantial damage and loss of life in 1898, 1913, and 1959. A floodwall currently being completed should prevent future floods and promote redevelopment in Franklinton.

Franklinton was annexed to the city of Columbus in 1871. Today Franklinton is at the heart of Columbus, capital of Ohio and the state's largest city. Its boundaries are the Scioto River on the east and north; I-70 on the west; and Greenlawn Avenue on the south. While it is hard to tell Franklinton from surrounding Columbus neighborhoods, there are several landmarks that remain from historic Franklinton:

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• Franklinton Post Office, 72 South Gift Street, probably the oldest standing building, built in 1807.
• Old Franklinton Cemetery, Souder Avenue and River Street. Sullivant's remains and others were moved to Greenlawn Cemetery.
• Harrison House, 570 West Broad Street. General Harrison housed some of his staff there during the War of 1812.
• Toledo and Central Ohio Railway station built in 1896 on West Broad Street. Today it is a Goodwill store and shelter.
• Original Franklinton Fire Station, 540 West Broad.
• Central High School, closed in 1982, is located on the Scioto River and is now the .
• Veterans Memorial was constructed next to the Scioto River on West Broad Street in 1954 and serves an important role as a meeting and event center.
• Red Bird Stadium was constructed on West Mound Street in 1932 for baseball; today the renovated Cooper Stadium is home to the Columbus Clippers International League team.

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