Smith County, Tennessee

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Smith County, Tennessee
Smith-county-courthouse-tn1.JPG
Smith County Courthouse in Carthage
Map of Tennessee highlighting Smith County
Location in the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded 1799
Named for Daniel Smith[1]
Seat Carthage
Largest town Carthage
Area
 • Total 325 sq mi (842 km2)
 • Land 314 sq mi (813 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (28 km2), 3.4%
Population
 • (2010) 19,166
 • Density 61/sq mi (24/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Spectacular Galena-fluorite specimen from the Elmwood mine, south of Carthage

Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,166.[2] Its county seat is Carthage.[3] The county was created in 1799 and is named for Daniel Smith, a Revolutionary War veteran who made the first map of Tennessee and served as a United States senator.

Smith County is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Smith County was established in 1799 from a portion of Sumner County, was named for Daniel Smith, a U.S. Senator and former Secretary of the Southwest Territory.[1] The location of the county seat was hotly contested between Bledsoesborough (near modern Dixon Springs) and William Walton's ferry and tavern at the confluence of the Caney Fork and the Cumberland rivers. In 1804, voters chose Walton's site, and a town, named "Carthage," was platted the following year.[1]

Smith County was the site of a large saltpeter mine. Piper Cave, located near Monoville, contains the poorly preserved remnants of dozens of saltpeter leaching vats. Most saltpeter mining in Middle Tennessee occurred during the War of 1812 and the Civil War, but the exact date of this operation is unclear.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 325 square miles (840 km2), of which 314 square miles (810 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (3.4%) is water.[5] The county is located in a transition area between the rugged Highland Rim to the east and the flatter Nashville Basin to the west. The Cumberland River and the Caney Fork, which converge in Carthage, are the primary streams flowing through the county. Cordell Hull Dam on the Cumberland is located near Carthage.

Adjacent counties

State protected areas

  • Cordell Hull Wildlife Management Area (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 4,294 —
1810 11,649 171.3%
1820 17,580 50.9%
1830 19,906 13.2%
1840 21,179 6.4%
1850 18,412 −13.1%
1860 16,357 −11.2%
1870 15,994 −2.2%
1880 17,799 11.3%
1890 18,404 3.4%
1900 19,026 3.4%
1910 18,548 −2.5%
1920 17,134 −7.6%
1930 15,473 −9.7%
1940 16,148 4.4%
1950 14,098 −12.7%
1960 12,059 −14.5%
1970 12,059 0.0%
1980 14,935 23.8%
1990 14,143 −5.3%
2000 17,712 25.2%
2010 19,166 8.2%
Est. 2014 19,009 [6] −0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[2]
Age pyramid Smith County[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 17,712 people, 6,878 households, and 5,069 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 7,665 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White, 2.53% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,878 households out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $41,645. Males had a median income of $30,853 versus $22,133 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,473. About 10.30% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Caney Fork at South Carthage

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See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sue W. Maggart, "Smith County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 6 April 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Thomas C. Barr, Jr., "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961, 568 pages.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

 Trousdale County Macon County Jackson County
Wilson County Putnam County
  Smith County, Tennessee  
DeKalb County

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