About CollinsFactor

CollinsFactor was founded in February 2005 by Frank Collins.

I live in a school and work from home. When my two daughters graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2018, my wife Amy and I decided to downsize and move from the place we called home for 23 years: Fort Mill, SC. We love Fort Mill and have a lot of friends and family in the Charlotte, NC area. Thus we did not want to move too far away. Since we both work remotely for our employers we weren't tied down by our professions. On our wish list was history, walkability, good weather, great views, light traffic, affordability, minimal taxes, and a low-maintenance condo. I remembered Jonesborough, TN when I visited in 1998 while working for the Census Bureau. I loved the place. It was easy to convince Amy to take a look as she always wanted to live in the mountains. She was all-in as soon as we arrived in town.

We purchased one of the 13 condos at Academy Hill. Academy Hill is on Main Street in downtown Jonesborough. The old Jonesborough High School was converted to condos around 1980. Our 1,800 sq.ft. 2 BR, 2 BA condo occupies the space that formerly housed the school library, a large classroom, and a wide hallway. The unit still retains the historic charm with hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, and 8 oversized windows. For more information, visit the Academy Hill website at www.academyhill.us.

In the early 1990s, I began researching local history and genealogy, and teaching people about the treasures of local history. A recognized local historian in Maryland, genealogist, and web designer, I have been featured in newspapers, magazines, and various online venues. I have compiled historical reports on a large number of properties and authored many histories on significant individuals and families.

My signature project on the CollinsFactor website is "East New Market, Maryland, A Comprehensive History Online", which can also be found at www.eastnewmarket.org.

I retired from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2016 after 29 years of service and joined RTI International in a similar position. During my career, I designed surveys, created software design specs, supervised data collection, and managed staff on several multi-million dollar national projects. During the 2000 Census, I indirectly managed 7,000 employees.