Decatur County, Tennessee: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:00, 5 June 2026

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Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,435.^[1] Its county seat is Decaturville.^[2]

History

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". This county is named after naval hero Stephen Decatur Jr., who gained national recognition in the First Barbary War, 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.^[3]

Like several other counties west of the Tennessee River, Decatur County was substantially pro-Union during the Civil War, contrary to the generally pro-Confederate sympathies of West and Middle Tennessee. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Decatur County voted to remain in the Union by a margin of 550 to 310,^[4] being one of only eight counties in West or Middle Tennessee to support the Union. Earlier on February 9, 1861, Decatur County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 514 to 251.^[5]

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.^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (3.2%) is water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

Benton County (north)
Perry County (east)
Wayne County (southeast)
Hardin County (south)
Henderson County (west)
Carroll County (northwest)

National protected area

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State protected area

Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area
Cypress Pond Refuge

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Template:Sronly	%±
1850	6,003		—
1860	6,276		Script error: No such module "String".%
1870	7,772		Script error: No such module "String".%
1880	8,498		Script error: No such module "String".%
1890	8,995		Script error: No such module "String".%
1900	10,439		Script error: No such module "String".%
1910	10,093		Script error: No such module "String".%
1920	10,198		Script error: No such module "String".%
1930	10,106		Script error: No such module "String".%
1940	10,261		Script error: No such module "String".%
1950	9,442		Script error: No such module "String".%
1960	8,324		Script error: No such module "String".%
1970	9,457		Script error: No such module "String".%
1980	10,857		Script error: No such module "String".%
1990	10,472		Script error: No such module "String".%
2000	11,731		Script error: No such module "String".%
2010	11,757		Script error: No such module "String".%
2020	11,435		Script error: No such module "String".%
2025 (est.)	11,820	^[8] Increase	Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2014^[1]

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2020 census

Decatur County racial composition^[13]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	10,462	91.49%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	270	2.36%
Native American	9	0.08%
Asian	42	0.37%
Pacific Islander	5	0.04%
Other/Mixed	289	2.53%
Hispanic or Latino	358	3.13%

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 11,435, 4,894 households, and 3,059 families residing in the county.^[14]

The median age was 47.6 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.^[14]

There were 4,894 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[14]

There were 6,557 housing units, of which 25.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.7% were owner-occupied and 23.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.^[14]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[15]

Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.13% of the population.^[16]

2000 census

As of the census^[17] of 2000, there were 11,731 people, 4,908 households, and 3,415 families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert"..

There were 6,448 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. 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

City

Parsons

Towns

Decaturville (county seat)
Scotts Hill (partial)

Unincorporated communities

Politics

References

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External links

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Official site
Decatur County Chamber of Commerce
Decatur County Schools
Decatur County, TNGenWeb – genealogy resources

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
 {{Distinguish|Decatur, Tennessee}}
+{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
 {{Infobox U.S. county
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
   | area percentage      = 3.2%
   | census yr            = 2020
-  | pop                  = 11435 {{decrease}}
+  | pop                  = 11435
+ | pop_est_as_of        = 2025
+ | population_est       = 11820 {{increase}}
   | density_sq_mi        = 35
   | time zone            = Central
@@ Line 30: / Line 33: @@
 ==History==
 {{See also|Perry County, Tennessee#History}}
-This county is named after naval hero [[Stephen Decatur|Stephen Decatur, Jr.]], who gained national recognition in the [[First Barbary War]], 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, Tennessee|Perry County]] west of the [[Tennessee River]] in response to a petition by citizens on the west side of the river.<ref name=tehc />
+This county is named after naval hero [[Stephen Decatur|Stephen Decatur Jr.]], who gained national recognition in the [[First Barbary War]], 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, Tennessee|Perry County]] west of the [[Tennessee River]] in response to a petition by citizens on the west side of the river.<ref name=tehc />
 Like several other counties west of the Tennessee River, Decatur County was substantially pro-[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] during [[American Civil War|the Civil War]], contrary to the generally pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] sympathies of [[West Tennessee|West]] and [[Middle Tennessee]]. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Decatur County voted to remain in the Union by a margin of 550 to 310,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votearchive.com/tn-sec-ref-1861/|publisher=Vote Archive|title=Tennessee Secession Referendum, 1861}}</ref> being one of only eight counties in West or Middle Tennessee to support the Union. Earlier on February 9, 1861, Decatur County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 514 to 251.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votearchive.com/tn-sec-conv-vote-1861/|title=Tennessee Vote on Secession Convention, 1861|publisher=[[The Fayetteville Observer|Fayetteville Observer]]|date=March 21, 1861}}</ref>
@@ Line 82: / Line 85: @@
 |2010= 11757
 |2020= 11435
-|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=July 20, 2019}}</ref>
+|estyear=2025
+|estimate=11820
+|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 11, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}}
 |align-fn=center
 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF"/>
+| align = right
 }}
-{{Stack|[[Image:USA Decatur County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Decatur County<ref>Based on [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] data</ref>]]}}
 ===2020 census===
@@ Line 99: / Line 104: @@
 |91.49%
 |-
-|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
+|[[African American (U.S. census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
 |270
 |2.36%
@@ Line 123: / Line 128: @@
 |3.13%
 |}
-As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 11,435 people, 4,440 households, and 3,059 families residing in the county.
+As of the [[2020 United States census]], the county had a population of 11,435, 4,894 households, and 3,059 families residing in the county.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A039&in=state%3A47|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 31, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
+The median age was 47.6 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
+There were 4,894 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
+There were 6,557 housing units, of which 25.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.7% were owner-occupied and 23.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
+&lt;0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A039&in=state%3A47|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 31, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
+Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.13% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A039&in=state%3A47|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 31, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
 ===2000 census===
@@ Line 157: / Line 172: @@
 Decatur County – like all of rural Tennessee – is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was Al Gore in 2000, and even before the collapse of traditional rural Democratic support after [[Bill Clinton]] the county had a sizeable [[Southern Unionist|Unionist]] population that caused it to vote Republican several times during the “[[System of 1896]]”.{{PresHead|place=Decatur County, Tennessee|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
 <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
+{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|405|758|506|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1916|Republican|893|887|17|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,608|1,149|23|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|799|877|20|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|748|809|0|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|601|1,020|22|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|919|1,502|0|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,275|1,832|10|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,235|1,515|13|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,291|1,565|164|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,406|1,681|13|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,512|1,554|35|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,684|1,321|70|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,429|1,813|0|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,409|877|1,544|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,368|1,187|100|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,637|2,432|47|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,095|2,139|46|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,390|2,031|20|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,286|1,880|25|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,667|2,633|361|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,712|2,262|250|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,046|2,278|46|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,566|2,268|45|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,101|1,566|96|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,874|1,303|74|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,588|894|110|Tennessee}}
+{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,229|904|108|Tennessee}}
 {{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,596|819|51|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,229|904|108|Tennessee}}
+{{PresFoot}}
-{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,588|894|110|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,874|1,303|74|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,101|1,566|96|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,566|2,268|45|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,046|2,278|46|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,712|2,262|250|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,667|2,633|361|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,286|1,880|25|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,390|2,031|20|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,095|2,139|46|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,637|2,432|47|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,368|1,187|100|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,409|877|1,544|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,429|1,813|0|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,684|1,321|70|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,512|1,554|35|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,406|1,681|13|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,291|1,565|164|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,235|1,515|13|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,275|1,832|10|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|919|1,502|0|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|601|1,020|22|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|748|809|0|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|799|877|20|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,608|1,149|23|Tennessee}}
-{{PresRow|1916|Republican|893|887|17|Tennessee}}
-{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|405|758|506|Tennessee}}
 ==See also==
@@ Line 195: / Line 211: @@
 ==External links==
 {{Commons category}}
-* [http://www.decaturcountytn.org/ Official site]
+* [https://decaturcountytn.gov/ Official site]
-* [http://decaturcountytennessee.org/ Decatur County Chamber of Commerce]
+* [https://decaturcountytennessee.org/ Decatur County Chamber of Commerce]
-* [http://www.decaturcountyschools.org/ Decatur County Schools]
+* [https://www.decaturcountyschools.com/ Decatur County Schools]
-* [http://www.tngenweb.org/decatur Decatur County, TNGenWeb] &ndash; genealogy resources
+* [https://tngenweb.org/decatur/ Decatur County, TNGenWeb] &ndash; genealogy resources
 {{Geographic Location
@@ Line 221: / Line 237: @@
 [[Category:Decatur County, Tennessee| ]]
 [[Category:1845 establishments in Tennessee]]
-[[Category:Populated places established in 1845]]
+[[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1845]]
 [[Category:West Tennessee]]

Decatur County, Tennessee: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:00, 5 June 2026

Contents

History

Geography

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected area

Demographics

2020 census

2000 census

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics

See also

References

External links

Navigation menu

Decatur County, Tennessee: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:00, 5 June 2026

History

Geography

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected area

Demographics

2020 census

2000 census

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics

See also

References

External links

Navigation menu

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