Franklin Parish

Franklin Parish sets out a bounty of rural riches, while its largest city, Winnsboro, is a hub of Southern civic pride. A drive through the scenic countryside gives evidence of the parish's strong agricultural tradition. Modern cotton gins are kept busy and the big ponds lining the roadside are full of catfish. These pond-raised delicacies are celebrated each April at the Franklin Parish Catfish Festival, held in historic downtown Winnsboro, which draws huge crowds of visitors from all over for a day of music, crafts and events. Sport fishing abounds in the rural areas around the parish, including Turkey Creek Lake near the town of Wisner, one of the best-known fishing spots in the area. The Big Lake Wildlife Management Area has close to 20,000 acres of protected land for outdoor recreation and a network of lakes and bayous that give both fishermen and paddlers plenty of room to explore.