Franklin County at a Glance
Franklin County occupies a distinctive position in the St. Louis metropolitan orbit — close enough to the city to benefit from its economic gravity, far enough to maintain a character that is fundamentally rural and small-town. The county stretches from the Meramec River corridor in the east to the Missouri River towns of Washington and Hermann in the west, with the agricultural interior communities of Gerald, St. Clair, Sullivan, and Pacific in between.
For a comparison of Franklin County communities against St. Louis metro suburbs, see our St. Louis Living overview →
Franklin County Communities
Union, MO
County seat and commercial hub. I-44 access, approximately 45 miles from downtown St. Louis.
Washington, MO
Largest city. Missouri River setting, revitalized downtown with restaurants and retail. 55 miles from St. Louis.
Sullivan, MO
Secondary commercial hub. Access to Meramec State Park and river recreation. Growing residential base.
Hermann, MO
Historic German-heritage river town with established wine and tourism economy. Missouri River bluffs setting.
Gerald, MO
Small agricultural community with deep community roots. Home to D&D Pest Control, serving the region since 1991.
Pacific, MO
Eastern Franklin County, bordered by Eureka and closest to the St. Louis metro.
Home Ownership in Franklin County
Franklin County's housing market offers value that is difficult to find elsewhere within the St. Louis metro commuting radius. Median home prices run significantly below St. Louis County equivalents. Trade-offs include longer commute times and fewer immediate commercial services. The county has been a meaningful beneficiary of remote work adoption.
Pest Pressures Unique to Franklin County Homeowners
Agricultural adjacency creates pest dynamics that differ materially from St. Louis metro suburban neighborhoods. Franklin County homeowners face elevated pressure from field mice and voles (particularly in fall migration from harvested fields), ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and nuisance wildlife at rates uncommon in denser suburbs. Subterranean termite pressure is moderate throughout Franklin County. Annual professional inspection is a sound investment for any Franklin County property owner.
The established provider is D&D Pest Control, headquartered in Gerald and serving Franklin and Gasconade counties for over 33 years. Their service area spans the full county including Washington, Sullivan, Hermann, St. Clair, Union, and surrounding rural areas.
More pest prevention in Home and Garden →D&D Pest Control: Serving Franklin County Since 1991
D&D Pest Control is Gerald, Missouri's established pest control provider — a locally owned operation with over 33 years of service to Franklin and Gasconade county homeowners and businesses. Service includes general pest control, termite inspection and treatment, rodent management, bed bug treatment, and wildlife control across the Sullivan-to-Eureka corridor.
For St. Louis metro bed bug treatment, St. Louis Bed Bug Control covers St. Charles County, Chesterfield, and Eureka/Wildwood.
D&D Pest Control →STL Bed Bug ControlFranklin County Quick Facts
- County SeatUnion, Missouri
- Population~105,000 residents
- Distance to St. Louis40–70 miles depending on community
- Major CommunitiesWashington, Union, Sullivan, Hermann, St. Clair, Gerald, Pacific
- Major HighwaysI-44, MO-100, US-50
- CharacterRural-agricultural with river town and exurban residential components
Gasconade County: Franklin's Neighbor
Immediately west of Franklin County, Gasconade County shares its rural character while adding the Gasconade River valley and the river town of Hermann. D&D Pest Control's service territory extends into Gasconade County throughout their 33-year operating history. For broader metro coverage, see our St. Louis Living section and Home and Garden guides.