History:
Franklin, named for Benjamin Franklin, was one of two towns formed out of the original Town of Kinnickinnic by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature in 1838. Franklin was bounded by Greenfield to the north, Oak Creek to the east, and Racine and Waukesha Counties to the south and west. It was reported that the quality of much of its land was excellent, while other portions were rough with many boulders. Originally, Franklin was covered with heavy timber, mostly hardwoods such as walnut, butternut, and hickory. There was an abundance of wild animals: bears, panthers, wolves, wildcats, deer, and wild turkeys. The Root River furnished nearly the entire drainage for the Town. Life was primitive - a "full dress" suit for the area and time was described as buckskins over a flax shirt and moccasins.

The township consisted of 36 miles and 105 years later, in 1956, was known as a "City of homes". Franklin remained a rural town for more than 100 years. In 1956, a fear that the City of Milwaukee would attempt to annex parts of Franklin prompted the town to incorporate as a fourth-class City.