10/28/2026
Franklinton is older than Columbus itself, and its people have weathered more than their share of hard times. 🏠
Lucas Sullivant founded the settlement in 1797 on the low ground west of the Scioto River, years before Columbus was laid out as the state capital in 1812. Because it sat so close to the river, generations of residents simply called it the Bottoms.
In March 1913, days of heavy rain sent the Scioto over its banks and through the levees. Franklinton was devastated, homes were swept from their foundations, and close to 100 people lost their lives in Columbus. Residents rebuilt, and decades later a floodwall finally gave the neighborhood lasting protection. Today Franklinton is seeing new life, with artists and small businesses settling alongside longtime families. 🌊
Do you have family roots in Franklinton, or stories passed down about the 1913 flood?
