1 , 9 9 8 , 8 0 8 . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁county ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 7 7 9 ▁from ▁the ▁southern ▁half ▁of ▁B ute ▁County . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁named ▁for ▁Benjamin ▁Franklin . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Research ▁Tri angle . ▁ ▁County ▁formation ▁tim eline ▁▁▁ 1 6 6 4 ▁Alb em ar le ▁County ▁formed ▁( original , ▁ext inct ) ▁▁ 1 6 6 8 ▁Alb em ar le ▁County ▁sub div ided ▁into ▁Carter et , ▁Ber keley , ▁& ▁Sh aft es bury ▁P rec inct s ▁▁ 1 6 8 1 ▁Sh aft es bury ▁P rec inct ▁renamed ▁Ch owan ▁P rec inct ▁▁ 1 7 2 2 ▁Bert ie ▁P rec inct ▁formed ▁from ▁Ch owan ▁P rec inct ▁▁ 1 7 3 9 ▁Bert ie ▁P rec inct ▁becomes ▁Bert ie ▁County ▁▁ 1 7 4 1 ▁Edge com be ▁County ▁formed ▁from ▁Bert ie ▁County ▁▁ 1 7 4 6 ▁Gran ville ▁County ▁formed ▁from ▁Edge com be ▁County ▁▁ 1 7 5 4 ▁Cre ation ▁of ▁Bert ie ▁P rec inct , ▁Edge com be ▁County , ▁& ▁Gran ville ▁County ▁repe aled ▁by ▁King ▁George ▁II , ▁in ▁Priv y ▁Council ▁▁ 1 7 5 6 ▁Bert ie , ▁Edge com be , ▁& ▁Gran ville ▁re - created ▁▁ 1 7 6 4 ▁B ute ▁County ▁( ext inct ) ▁formed ▁from ▁Gran ville ▁County ▁▁ 1 7 7 9 ▁Franklin ▁County