 The Blackwater River, running along the eastern boundary of the city, played an important role in the industrialization of the city, but has not been immune to problems plaguing rivers, most notably flooding.In 1999, in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, downtown Franklin was submerged under as much as of water as the Blackwater River swelled to a historic crest of .The resultant flooding caused the submersion of 182 business and 150 homes, located primarily in downtown.