Areas along the waterways were occupied by bands of Lenape (Delaware) people primarily, with remnants of other tribes who had been pushed west across the Hudson by English colonial development.

The Skovsende and Sitts family, primarily Georgetta and Traci, have maintained much control over the land with their wood and dairy businesses respectively.

Sluman Wattles was the first European-American settler in 1785, followed by Nathaniel Edgerton, James Follett, Alex Smith, Enos Parker, Asa Turner, and hundreds of others, many of them migrants from New England.

The law provided that Franklin and Walton would divide "existing money and poor people", as shall appear most equitable to the major part of them.

On May 30, 1797, the first annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held at Gideon Frisbee's house to proceed with the formation of Delaware County.

On September 30, 1800, Franklin became the first United States post office in the county, with Elias Osborn appointed as its first postmaster.

As in many frontier communities, distilleries converted the surplus into thousands of barrels of whiskey, which were shipped to Philadelphia and New York.

Cattle drovers guided their herds eastward to market along the newly formed Catskill and Susquehanna Turnpike.

Towns along this 89-mile (143 km) road grew as taverns, hotels, liveries, and other facilities developed to support the endless movement of wagons, animals, and people.

Strong ties with agriculture also grew as the villages served as trading centers for the growing needs of farmers.

Before the Civil War, raising sheep and processing wool surpassed the cultivation of grain and cattle.

The village of Franklin became the town's population center, especially after John Edgerton purchased 100 acres (40 ha) and platted street and lot layouts in 1827.

In time, three large buildings, Stone, Ladies, and Chapel halls, were built with financing by Franklin's citizens.

The disruption of the Civil War and growing tax support for public schools brought about a decline in attendance.

Civil War records indicate that 318 men served different periods of enlistment in Franklin's Company D of the 144th Regiment, or in filling other Delaware County town quotas.

"[3] In addition, the Anti-Defamation League warns that modern militia groups are anti-government, conspiracy-oriented ideology.

In addition to licensed taverns, inns, and hotel, the business directory included dry goods, hardware, furniture, grocery, druggists, carriagemakers, coopers, harness makers, shoemakers, foundry, cigar company, telegraph, ice cream parlor, marble works, doctors, dentists, lawyers, and other vocations.

The Ouleout Valley Cemetery on Route 357, begun in 1873, often draws attention to its handsome iron gate and well-manicured grounds.

Treadwell and Franklin also had strong chapters of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Good Templars, organized to try to suppress drinking and drunkenness.

In the 20th century, local sales of alcoholic beverages were controlled through the issuance of licenses by the town government.

An annual Franklin Day is held in August to raise funds for the preservation of Stone Hall.

On July 25, 1992, dozens of groups marched along Main Street in the bicentennial parade, which was videotaped for later viewing.

Franklin has views of forested hills, streams, ponds, historic homes and commercial buildings, and numerous winding roads.

Ouleout Creek, which flows west into the Susquehanna River, is the main surface water feature.