Decatur County, Tennessee

Not to be confused with Decatur, Tennessee.
Decatur County, Tennessee
Map of Tennessee highlighting Decatur County
Location in the state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded November 1845
Named for Stephen Decatur[1]
Seat Decaturville
Largest city Parsons
Area
 • Total 345 sq mi (894 km2)
 • Land 334 sq mi (865 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (28 km2), 3.2%
Population
 • (2010) 11,757
 • Density 35/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website decaturcountytn.org

Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,757.[2] Its county seat is Decaturville.[3]

History

This county is named after naval hero Stephen Decatur, Jr., who gained national recognition in the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War and the War of 1812 by his leadership and achievements at sea. The county was created in November 1845 from the part of Perry County west of the Tennessee River in response to a petition by citizens on the west side of the river who lacked easy access to the county seat, which was located on the east side of the river.[1]

In 2015, the Decatur County clerk of court and the entire staff of that office resigned, to express conscientious objection to the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which would oblige the office to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 345 square miles (890 km2), of which 334 square miles (870 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (3.2%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18506,003—
18606,2764.5%
18707,77223.8%
18808,4989.3%
18908,9955.8%
190010,43916.1%
191010,093−3.3%
192010,1981.0%
193010,106−0.9%
194010,2611.5%
19509,442−8.0%
19608,324−11.8%
19709,45713.6%
198010,85714.8%
199010,472−3.5%
200011,73112.0%
201011,7570.2%
Est. 201411,666[6]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[2]
Age pyramid Decatur County[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 11,731 people, 4,908 households, and 3,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14/km²).

There were 6,448 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.12% White, 3.47% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,908 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,741, and the median income for a family was $34,919. Males had a median income of $25,945 versus $20,155 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,285. About 13.80% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 22.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Teresa Biddle-Douglass, "Decatur County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 26 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ Boggioni, Tom (2015-07-05). "Entire staff in Tenn. county clerk’s office resigns over same-sex marriage". Alternet. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Decatur County, Tennessee.
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Coordinates: 35°37′N 88°07′W / 35.61°N 88.11°W / 35.61; -88.11

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