Franklin, VA

4 Apartments for Rent

The Blackwater River is at the heart of Franklin, Virginia, and the city owes much of its prosperity to that waterway. But in 1999 after Hurricane Floyd, the downtown area was under up to 12 feet of water as the river swelled to an all-time crest of 26.4 feet.

Franklin, Virginia, is located in the eastern part of the state about 43 miles southwest of Norfolk. Franklin is home to approximately 8,600 people and is divided into two areas: Hunterdale and City Center. Franklin got its start in the 1830s as a railroad stop along the Blackwater River. In 1862, Franklin was the scene of the famous Civil War Battle called the Joint Expedition Against Franklin. Several United States Navy steamships tried to pass through the area on the Blackwater when a band of confederate soldiers began firing on the ships. In 1867 with the Civil War over, Franklin began to grow when brothers from the Camp family took over a local saw mill. The saw mill on the banks of the Blackwater began to see growth and the town grew along with it. Franklin separated from Southampton and became an independent, incorporated city in 1961. Franklin continues to be an important center of both agriculture and industry, and is recognized as the 12th largest farming community in the State of Virginia.

Moving to Franklin

Virginia is a mixed bag when it comes to weather, so finding a good time to move to Franklin can be a challenge. That's because the state has five different climate regions. Franklin averages between 50 and 70 degrees in the winter months, October through March, and settles somewhere between 75 and 90 the rest of the year. So as long as you don't mind the chance of rain, which this area gets plenty of, you'll be good no matter what time of year you choose to move. Lovers of wide-open spaces will appreciate the acres of choice farm land in Franklin, but will also enjoy begin a reasonable distance, just an hour or so, from the beach.

When you get ready to close on your rental homes in Franklin, Virginia, be sure and take a completed, signed and notarized rental agreement. You'll also need proof of income, security and pet deposits (if you're a dog or cat lover), references, and first and last months rent to seal the deal.

Franklin Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods of Franklin are basically only two areas of town that are relatively different in what they have to offer residents. Check out which neighborhood sounds best to suit your needs.

Hunterdale: The Hunterdale area is the northern half of the City of Franklin. Hunterdale is a suburban neighborhood with mostly medium-size, single-family homes of three bedrooms or less. When looking for places to live in Hunterdale you'll also find a small amount of studio, one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom homes in apartment buildings. Hunterdale residents enjoy eating at the Dockside Restaurant and Joe's Pizza and Pasta Palace, and bowling at the Franklin Bowling Center.

City Center: The southern half of Franklin is called the City Center area. City Center is made up of small to medium homes, from studio-sized to three bedrooms. Here you can find a one-bedroom apartment for rent in both small apartment buildings and high-rise apartment complexes. City Center features Fred's Restaurant and Three Guys Italian Restaurant, both local favorites. The Bear Path Acres Animal Education Center in Franklin is home to both native and exotic animals and is a great way to spend an afternoon. And when you're done there, you can head over to the Ruth Camp Campbell Memorial Library and pick up a good book from their collection of over 40,000 titles.

Living in Franklin

There's plenty to see and do for people who live in an apt for rent in Franklin. The Barrett's Landing Riverfront Park is on Main Street and within walking distance of downtown. Barrett's landing has a gazebo for picnicking, a footbridge around the water's edge and is a great place for fishing. Local dining favorites include home-style eateries, an elegant tea room and ethnic favorites. Getting around Franklin is pretty simple too, as most people who live in Franklin have a 15 minute-or-less commute to and from work each day.