Also known as “The Capital of Bleeding Kansas”, Franklin ghost town which is located in Douglas County Kansas is a ghost town that was established between 1800 and 1900. The town which was named after its founder Franklin was established majorly to serve as a proslavery town. It was later deserted and left to decay.

Franklin ghost town

By the beginning of 1850, Kansas and Nebraska Act was passed which allowed western natives and any other natives within the U.S.A to reside anywhere they felt suits them. This was passed after years of territorial battles. A man by the name of Franklin would be the first resident to settle in the region. He built a small cabin where he resided and a small farm for sustainability. With time more people joined him, increasing trade not only in the area but in the entire west. 

Franklin quickly grew into a trading post, complete with homesteads, multiple markets, a post office, shops, and stores. Forts in the town played an important role in protecting the residents during the many battles of the heyday. The conflict between the residents of Franklin and Lawrence was a recent historic event. Residents of Franklin were severely disadvantaged when they were attacked in the early hours of the morning, giving the attackers an early victory. They looted the town's valuables and freed a dozen captured criminals.

Fall of a giant

\n When the American Civil war began, racial segregation was rampant among the communities. This was later escalated by the relocation of most black men from the bigger towns and cities into small developing towns seeking sanctuary. Hell broke loose in the town and neighboring towns. Attacks from different communities became rampant forcing some to flee to safer cities and towns. With a weak army, the residents of Franklin had no chance in the war. 

For this reason, some of them joined the Confederate army, while some fled as others were killed while trying to relocate. Those who joined the Confederate army launched an attack on Lawrence burning their homesteads and farms. Putting the town to the ground. By the time the war was over, Franklin was no more, those who fled never came back and those who were part of the Confederate army relocated to Lawrence. That was the end of the once-promising town of Franklin. 

Franklin town today

Today, there are no signs of ever existence of a town in the region. The stoned forts were all demolished, and the wells and pits filled when the residents relocated. Most of the buildings that remained have all collapsed over time. The town site is open to anyone who would like to visit. Though one can add up and link some common features by visual observation, knowing the exact point where the town was located requires some cartographic skills.