2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26108362D

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 96

Offered March 4, 2026

Commending the City of Franklin.

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Patron—Jordan

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WHEREAS, the City of Franklin, a vibrant community that has made great contributions to the Hampton Roads Region as a center for agriculture, manufacturing, and trade, celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026; and

WHEREAS, located at the head of the navigable portion of the Blackwater River in the agricultural plain of southeastern Virginia, Franklin traces its roots to the 1830s when a railroad stop was established in the area; and

WHEREAS, during the Civil War, the growing village was the site of the Battle of Crumpler's Bluff, a small naval engagement on the Blackwater River, which was part of the Joint Expedition Against Franklin in 1862; and

WHEREAS, Franklin was chartered as a town on March 15, 1876, and began to experience substantial growth after the Camp family acquired and expanded a local lumber mill; the town became a stop on the Atlantic and Danville Railway in 1890 and experienced a significant wartime boom during World War I; and

WHEREAS, Franklin continued to thrive in the first half of the 20th century and separated from Southampton County in 1961 when it was incorporated as an independent city; and

WHEREAS, the Camp Corporation played a large role in the Franklin economy for decades, eventually merging with a pulp and paper manufacturer from New York to form the Union Camp Corporation, which was purchased by International Paper Company in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Franklin remains a major manufacturing center for native forest products, and it has welcomed many other industries and employers over the years, becoming an important hub for business in the region; and

WHEREAS, in 1976, Franklin held a five-day celebration to commemorate its 100th anniversary and planted a time capsule to be opened in 2076; for the 150th anniversary, the city will fill a hand-painted memory chest with a variety of items to also be uncovered in 2076 at the 200th anniversary celebration; and

WHEREAS, Franklin will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a variety of other programs and activities throughout the year; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the City of Franklin hereby be commended on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its founding as a town in 2026; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the City of Franklin as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the community's legacy of contributions to the Hampton Roads region and the Commonwealth.