Religion, long a dominant force among Franklin County residents, traces it's roots back to the very first settlers in the area. To them, personal belief was an integral part of life and a source for hope and comfort. While Franklin County is generally "free and easy," it's citizens still hold the ideas of those first pioneers.
The first recorded church in Franklin county was the Bear Creek Baptist Church, built in 1817. The church was located around the settlement of Major Russell's home, the man Russellville was named after. This site is approximately 3 miles east of where Russellville lies today. The church was founded by elders Theophilous Skinner and John Davis and had 32 members.
Today, Franklin County residents are served by nearly 75 churches or places of worship. Virtually all denominations are represented in the county, including Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Catholic, Church of God, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Nazarene. Some churches also offer Nondenominational services.
Franklin County's active faith community continues to work to improve the quality of life for all residents. Estimates are that up to 80% of Franklin County Residents are churchgoers, maintaining the strong religious heritage of the area's early pioneers.
