A home constructed by grandfather Shemuel Kearney (1734–1808) was originally located south of town and is currently the second oldest residence in Franklin County, built in 1759.

[5][6] Generous offers by local businessmen Washington Duke and Julian S. Carr brought Trinity College to the city of Durham[7] in 1892.

A source from the University Archives states that nearby Raleigh was actually the initial approved bidder.

The citizens of Raleigh offered land now occupied by North Carolina State University and pledged $35,000.00 for a new building which was quickly approved by the Methodist Conference for Trinity College.

[9] The police arrested Green, but then a lynch mob seized him, pulled him behind a car for two miles, and hung him from a tree.

[10][11] Franklinton was once home to Albion Academy, a co-educational African-American school started by clergyman Moses A. Hopkins in 1879.

Mary Little was the first African-American teacher to begin teaching at the newly integrated Franklinton High School, who taught there till her death in 1984.

Also located in Franklinton is the historic Sterling Cotton Mill, founded by Samuel C. Vann and first opened in 1895.

Remaining in the Vann family for many years, the mill was purchased in 1972 by Union Underwear Company, manufacturers of Fruit of the Loom fabric products.

[12] Burlington Industries, another well known textile and fabric maker at the time, had a facility located in Franklinton known as Vamoco Mills.

On June 10, 1946, former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson died in a car crash on U.S. Highway 1 in Franklinton.

A similar incident occurred on February 10, 2008, covering practically the same area (though not as widespread), about 1,000 acres (4.0 km2).

Opio Holy Spirit Academy closed its doors for the last time after the final High School commencement ceremony in 2012.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), all land.

A railway operated by CSX Transportation currently passes through Franklinton, which is part of the old Seaboard Coast Line Railroad "S-Line".

[4] Franklinton is governed by a mayor and five-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected in staggered four-year terms.