Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the eastern and southern portions of the town.

Town status was first granted in 1764 by colonial Governor Benning Wentworth as "Franconia",[3] a name widely applied to the region by 1760[4] due to the terrain's resemblance to the Franconian Switzerland in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany.

[5] Upon claims that a settlement was not made within the time prescribed under the terms of the charter, it was regranted in 1772 by his nephew, Governor John Wentworth, as "Morristown".

From the time of its construction in 1938 to its retirement in 1980, the original tramway carried 6,581,338 passengers to the summit of Cannon Mountain.

[8] Around 1940, actress Bette Davis vacationed in Sugar Hill, the town bordering Franconia to the west.

On a solo hike to Bridal Veil Falls at the western foot of Cannon Mountain, she got lost in the woods.

Arthur Farnsworth, who worked at Peckett's Ski School, found her and rescued her from the woods.

[9] Farnsworth died unexpectedly as a result of freak accident in Los Angeles.

In the 21st century, Franconia has been known as the home of skier Bode Miller, who has accumulated several Olympic medals.