FRANKLIN-MARION STATE FOREST
FRANKLIN-MARION STATE FOREST
Franklin State Forest was acquired in 1936 from the Cross Creek Coal Company and was highly degraded. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Forestry Division assumed management of the area in 1940. The Forest is on the Cumberland Plateau and located in south-central Tennessee, in Marion and Franklin Counties. The forest is 35-40 miles west of Chattanooga. About 99% of the land is forested and about 96% of the land is in mature hardwood sawtimber and pole timber. Only about 3% of the Forest is pine. The area has a history of timber abuse by diameter-limit cuts and uncontrolled wildfires. Silvicultural prescriptions are geared towards timber stand improvement and management of wildlife habitat. The forest has been traditionally used for hunting. Other recreational uses include horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and camping.
The Franklin-Marion State Forest is located in Tennessee and has a rich history. Originally, the land where the forest now exists was heavily logged and used for agricultural purposes in the early 1900s.
In 1935, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiative, the Tennessee Division of Forestry acquired a significant portion of the land and established the forest. It was named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Marion County, where it is located.
During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played a vital role in the development of the Franklin-Marion State Forest. CCC workers were responsible for reforesting the area, building trails, roads, bridges, and improvements like picnic areas and campgrounds within the forest.