Franklin County was established in 1913 from Oneida and Bannock Counties and named for the state’s first permanent settlement of Franklin, which in turn was named for Mormon Apostle, Franklin D. Richards. The community of Franklin was originally settled in 1860 by Mormon settlers who thought their settlement was in Utah. The county seat and largest city is Preston. However, an 1872 survey found that the community was in Idaho Territory. Located in the southeast corner of the state, it is bounded by Bear Lake County on the east; Utah on the south; Oneida County on the west and Bannock and Caribou Counties to the north. Drained by the Bear River and Cub River, with the Bannock Mountain Range to its west, the Portneuf to the northwest and Wasatch to the southeast. Preston and Franklin are located at the north end of Cache County, which extends south into Utah;s Cache County. The area has a rich tradition of hosting community events including That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, Franklin County Fair and many local gatherings.
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