The STATE OF FRANKLIN, named for Benjamin Franklin, was established in 1784 in the western area of North Carolina after that State gave the land up to avoid the cost of defending it.  The first Assembly of the State of Franklin met at Greenville in 1785, elected John Sevier as governor, and requested statehood.   Their request was denied and in 1788 North Carolina resumed control of the region and held it until 1796 when the three counties that had been the State of Franklin became part of our 16th state, Tennessee.