Franklinville offers a small-town feel and proximity to employers
Situated along the Deep River and founded in 1847, Franklinville got its start as a mill town. “Franklinville itself has a downtown with a fire department, a couple of churches and a little restaurant,” says real estate agent Greg Bryant with RE/MAX Central Realty. “It was historically a textile mill town, but all those plants have closed down.” The ruins of the old mills still overlook the river, visible from trails. Franklinville maintains its small-town charm with limited amenities and ample space between homes. Asheboro and Greensboro are nearby, offering more retail, healthcare and employment opportunities. Franklinville is also getting a front-row seat to big changes happening in Randolph County. A new Toyota plant opened about 14 miles away in Liberty, placing Franklinville residents close to this new major employer.
Nationals and ranch-style homes with more space than nearby cities
Long gravel driveways lead to Nationals and ranch-style homes with detached garages and carports. Mature trees rise above the rooftops, hanging over plain front yards and the curving streets. Homes are slower to come on the market in Franklinville than in other Randolph County towns and cities. “It’s mainly people who grew up, were born there and stayed there,” Bryant says. “You don’t have a lot of people who transplanted.” Homes here tend to range from $180,000 to $300,000. “The prices are not as high in Franklinville, although when these companies come, it’s probably going to drive the prices higher with the demand,” Bryant says. “But typically, in Franklinville, you get more for money.” Properties can reach up to 5 acres.
The new Toyota plant brings more opportunities to the area
In November 2025, Toyota began operations at its new battery plant, making it the first of its kind in the U.S. The plant aims to bring about 5,100 jobs to the area, supporting the current population and likely attracting more people to the Greensboro area. “They’re in a really good location for some development that might be happening in the future as people come for those jobs,” Bryant says about Franklinville residents. Franklinville’s proximity and space from the plant allow residents to have an easy commute while enjoying a rural, small-town atmosphere.
Riverside trails, ducks at the park and fishing at the lake
While the old textile mills used to occupy most of Franklinville’s river space, the river is more recreational today, where locals go fishing and kayaking. The Deep River Rail Trail is popular for hiking and biking. Riverside Park offers access to the trail, as well as a playground, baseball field and walking paths. Its location along the river makes it a popular spot to watch the ducks. Ramseur Lake is another spot locals go for fishing and boating.
Local Randolph County schools with plenty of programs
The bulk of the community starts at Franklinville Elementary School, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche. A small southern portion of the town heads to Ramseur Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating. Both elementaries feed into Southeastern Randolph Middle School, which also receives a B-minus rating. Eastern Randolph High School receives a C-plus and offers AP, Career and Technical Education and JROTC programs.
Taking state and U.S. routes to Greensboro and Asheboro
This community is largely car dependent. Main Street becomes North Carolina Route 22 outside of town, linking it with Ramseur, 3 miles away, and Greensboro, 28 miles north. Piedmont Triad International Airport is in the bigger city, about 38 miles from Franklinville. U.S. Route 64 runs along the southern side of the town, linking it with Asheboro, 8 miles away. Randolph Health is located here and is the nearest hospital to Franklinville residents.
Franklinville Diner is close to home and other options are in Ramseur
Franklinville Diner is the only restaurant in the town. Photos from Franklinville’s past and present hang on the walls above the booths. Daily specials typically include a soup of the day. In Ramseur, there are more fast-food chains, like McDonald’s, Burger King and Bojangles. Shortstop’s Burgers and Shakes is a local option, serving exactly what its menu implies. Franklinville has a Dollar General, but the closest grocery store is Carlie C’s IGA, 2 miles away in Ramseur. Asheboro has a Walmart Supercenter, Food Lion and Aldi, all within a 7-mile radius.
Fishing tournaments, vendor markets and Christmas traditions
Every August, kids can participate in the Barry T. Richardson Youth Fishing Tournament on Ramseur Lake. In September, Franklinville Deep River Heritage Day features different local craft and food vendors. The Franklinville Christmas Parade is always on a Saturday in early December. In the evening, it’s followed by the Christmas Tree Lighting and Caroling in the Park.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
