Bayou Teche shaped Franklin’s growth and architecture
Franklin sits along south-central Louisiana’s Bayou Teche. Steamboats once traveled the waterway, as the community was a prominent interior sugarcane producer and port. This industry allowed Franklin to grow into an affluent town, with grand antebellum homes, live oak-lined streets and a bustling Main Street. Structures from this era still stand, and Franklin’s downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some buildings remain stately, while others are run down, symbolizing the contrast between the genteel South and the harsh realities of this period of prosperity. Today, as the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, school and government jobs employ many residents. “It’s a sleepy little town,” says Realtor Lori Broussard with Latter & Blum, who has sold many homes in the area. “Most residents have lived there forever, but their Main Street is always busy.”
Downtown Franklin blends 1800s charm with modern shops
In many ways, Downtown Franklin still looks much like it did in the 1800s. It’s centered around Main Street, lined with centuries-old live oaks that shade the roadway and sidewalks. A grassy median with vintage lampposts divides the street. Many buildings date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, showcasing a mix of Greek Revival, Victorian and other period architecture. But that historical feeling is juxtaposed with modernity in the form of boutiques, thrift stores, restaurants and a small pocket park that line the strip. Lamp Lighter Coffeehouse & Bistro is a go-to for lattes in the morning, midday mimosas or sweet treats at any time. Danny’s Fried Chicken serves Southern favorites, from chicken buckets and blooming onions to coleslaw and potato salad. On the banks of the bayou, Annie Mae’s Soul Food Restaurant is a local favorite for hearty breakfast and lunch plates. Downtown also features the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts, which hosts various live shows and plays.
Most of the community’s shopping options sit outside of the historic downtown. Franklin has a Walmart, a Dollar Tree, a Walgreens, a Super 1 Food, O’Reilly Auto Parts and more.
Franklin offers modest homes and occasional historic gems
Small cottages, bungalows, ranch-style and Craftsman-style homes line Franklin’s narrow roads. Mature oak and pine trees shade some grassy lawns. For under $100,000, buyers can find a home needing significant repairs, while move-in-ready houses can range from $110,000 to $440,000, depending on size, age and condition. Century-old homes sit along the bayou, near the historic downtown area. These properties rarely go up for sale.
Fall festivals and holiday events bring Franklin to life
Each fall, the Harvest Moon Festival fills downtown with music, food, children’s activities, an open bass fishing tournament, a 5K run and the Louisiana Cane Syrup Expo, a nod to the region’s agricultural roots. The festivities often begin with a kick-off party featuring live music and extend to a concert beside the bayou. As the holiday season approaches, the town transforms with events like Mingle & Jingle, when Main Street shops decorate their storefronts, stay open late and often offer discounts. Franklin also lights up with Christmas on the Bayou, when thousands of lights illuminate the town, lampposts are decorated, a tree is lit and golf carts parade down Main.
Franklin parks offer playgrounds, sports fields and bayou views
Franklin offers small parks close to home and proximity to larger outdoor spaces. Thanks to a grant awarded in 2024, City, Caffery, Pecot and Broussard-Harris Parks received updated playground equipment, new seating areas and barbecue pits. Caffery Park also has sports fields and a skatepark. A wooden walkway traces the contour of the bayou, and Franklin has two community centers: McKerall O’niell Community Center and Broussard-Harris Community Center. Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge surrounds the community in non-continuous parcels ranging from 81 acres to over 3,600 acres. It was established to protect the black bear population and preserve bottomland hardwood forests, cypress-tupelo swamps and marshes that shelter bears and other wildlife species. Hiking trails, boardwalks and designated observation areas allow visitors to explore the refuge.
Students zoned for St. Mary Parish Public Schools
The St. Mary Parish Public Schools district serves Franklin. There are two elementary schools in the community. Both feed into the same junior and senior high schools. W.P. Foster Elementary and LaGrange Elementary get Cs from Niche. Franklin Junior High receives a C-plus, and Franklin Senior High earns a B. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the senior high school was recognized as an Opportunity Honoree school by the district, meaning it ranked in the top 10% for performance among students with disabilities, economic disadvantages or those who are learning English.
Highway 90 connects Franklin to Lafayette and New Orleans
Franklin is car dependent. Louisiana state Highway 90 cuts through the community and leads about 47 miles northwest to Lafayette and about 106 miles east to New Orleans. In case of emergency, Bayou Bend Hospital is in Franklin. “It’s a big hospital,” Broussard says. “It’s drawn a lot of doctors to the area.” For air travel, Lafayette Regional Airport is about 46 miles away, and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is about 94 miles away.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
