Greene County, Tennessee

Greene County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,831.[2] Its county seat is Greeneville,[3] and the current county mayor is Kevin C. Morrison (R).

Greene County
U.S. county
County of Greene
Greene County Courthouse in Greeneville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°10′N 82°51′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1783
Named forNathanael Greene[1]
SeatGreeneville
Largest townGreeneville
Area
 • Total624 sq mi (1,620 km2)
 • Land622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
69,087
 • Density111/sq mi (43/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegreenecountytngov.com

Greene County comprises the Greeneville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
See also: Maden Hall Farm

Greene County developed from the "Nolichucky settlement," established by pioneer Jacob Brown on land leased in the early 1770s from the Cherokee people. The Nolichucky settlement was aligned with the Watauga settlement, centered in modern Elizabethton.

After the United States became independent, Greene County was formed in 1783 from the original Washington County, North Carolina, part of the former Washington District. The county is named for Major General Nathanael Greene[4] (1742-1786), a major general in the Continental Army from Rhode Island. John Crockett, father of Davy Crockett, and his wife settled in the county near Limestone. Davy Crockett was born there in 1786. At the time, the area was part of the extra-legal state Franklin.

Greene County is the home of Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee; the state's oldest Methodist congregation (the Ebenezer Methodist Church, near Chuckey), and the state's second oldest continuously cultivated farm (Elmwood Farm, part of the Earnest Farms Historic District). Revolutionary War veteran, and state legislator, Col. Joseph Hardin made Greene County his home for a period of time, serving as justice of the peace and as one of the original trustees of Tusculum (then Greeneville) College.

As with yeomen farmers in much of East Tennessee, those in Greene County were generally Unionist and opposed to secession on the eve of the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Greene Countians voted against secession by a vote of 2,691 to 744.[5] Following the vote (the call for secession was passed statewide), the second session of the East Tennessee Convention convened in Greeneville. It called for a separate, Union-aligned state to be formed in East Tennessee.

A railroad bridge near Mosheim was among those destroyed by the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy in November 1861. Several of the conspirators who had taken part in the burning of this bridge were later captured and executed by Confederate supporters, including Jacob Hensie, Henry Fry, Jacob and Henry Harmon, and noted local potter Alex Haun.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 624 square miles (1,620 km2), of which 622 square miles (1,610 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.3%) is water.[7] Most of Greene County is located within the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, a range characterized by long, narrow ridges alternating with similarly shaped valleys. Bays Mountain, a prominent ridge in this range, forms much of Greene's northern border with Hawkins County. The extreme southeastern part of Greene County is located within the Blue Ridge Mountains, specifically a subrange of the Blue Ridge known as the Bald Mountains.[8] This range straddles Greene's border with North Carolina, and includes the county's two highest points: Gravel Knob, which rises to over 4,840 feet (1,480 m), and 4,844-foot (1,476 m) Camp Creek Bald (it's uncertain which is higher due to lack of an exact measurement for Gravel Knob's elevation).[9]

Greene County is drained by the Nolichucky River, which traverses the southern half of the county. This river is impounded by Nolichucky Dam south of Greeneville, creating Davy Crockett Lake.

Major highways

Adjacent counties
Grave of Andrew Johnson

National protected areas

State protected areas

Other historic sites

Government

County Mayor

Kevin Morrison was elected County Mayor in August 2018 and began as mayor on September 1, 2018.

County Commission

Members of the county commission are elected by geographic district. They are as follows:

  • District 1: Baileyton, Ottway, West Pines
    • Charles Tim White
    • Dale Tucker
    • Kathy Crawford
  • District 2: Chuckey, Chuckey Doak
    • Brad Peters
    • Kaleb Powell
    • Joshua Arrowood
  • District 3: Doak, Tusculum View
    • Robin Quillen
    • Jason Cobble
    • Clifford "Doc" Bryant
  • District 4: Camp Creek, Courthouse
    • George Clemmer
    • Bill Dabbs
    • Lyle Parton
  • District 5: Debusk, Nolachuckey, Middle School, South Greene
    • Lloyd "Hoot" Bowers
    • Pamela Carpenter
    • Gary Shelton
  • District 6: McDonald, Mosheim
    • Jeffrey Bible
    • Josh Kesterson
    • John Waddle
  • District 7: Glenwood, Greeneville High School
    • Teddy Lawing
    • Paul Burkey
    • VACANT

Presidential elections

Like all of East Tennessee, Greene County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 79.3% 22,259 18.5% 5,199 2.2% 628
2016 78.7% 18,562 17.9% 4,216 3.4% 805
2012 72.2% 17,245 26.1% 6,225 1.8% 417
2008 69.5% 17,151 28.8% 7,110 1.7% 409
2004 67.7% 16,382 31.6% 7,635 0.7% 177
2000 60.2% 12,540 38.0% 7,909 1.8% 367
1996 53.1% 9,779 37.4% 6,885 9.5% 1,752
1992 47.5% 9,912 37.6% 7,857 14.9% 3,106
1988 69.7% 11,947 29.6% 5,077 0.6% 108
1984 73.2% 13,215 26.4% 4,763 0.5% 87
1980 63.1% 10,704 34.3% 5,822 2.5% 430
1976 54.6% 8,664 44.5% 7,070 0.9% 146
1972 76.9% 9,772 21.8% 2,764 1.4% 173
1968 58.3% 7,957 21.6% 2,947 20.2% 2,753
1964 53.9% 6,913 46.1% 5,916
1960 66.6% 8,835 33.2% 4,406 0.3% 35
1956 64.9% 7,396 34.6% 3,949 0.5% 57
1952 65.0% 6,864 34.6% 3,656 0.4% 43
1948 55.6% 4,375 41.7% 3,282 2.8% 218
1944 64.2% 4,922 35.6% 2,726 0.2% 17
1940 50.2% 4,587 48.2% 4,406 1.6% 142
1936 47.6% 4,313 52.0% 4,708 0.4% 36
1932 42.8% 3,223 56.6% 4,264 0.6% 45
1928 61.1% 3,599 38.9% 2,295
1924 55.7% 3,282 43.9% 2,586 0.5% 29
1920 66.0% 5,677 34.0% 2,924 0.1% 5
1916 57.5% 3,055 42.5% 2,254
1912 33.2% 1,650 41.8% 2,076 25.1% 1,247

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17907,741—
18007,610−1.7%
18109,71327.6%
182011,32416.6%
183014,41027.3%
184016,07611.6%
185017,82410.9%
186019,0046.6%
187021,66814.0%
188024,00510.8%
189026,61410.9%
190030,59615.0%
191031,0831.6%
192032,8245.6%
193035,1197.0%
194039,40512.2%
195041,0484.2%
196042,1632.7%
197047,63013.0%
198054,42214.3%
199055,8532.6%
200062,90912.6%
201068,8319.4%
2019 (est.)69,069[11]0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1790-1990 [14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2014[2]
Age pyramid Greene County[17]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 62,909 people, 25,756 households, and 18,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 101 people per square mile (39/km2). There were 28,116 housing units at an average density of 45 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.42% White, 2.11% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Farm in eastern Greene County

There were 25,756 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,382, and the median income for a family was $36,889. Males had a median income of $26,331 versus $20,304 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,746. About 11.20% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in Greene County school system include the following, with their enrollments for the 2007–2008 school year:

  • Baileyton Elementary - 365 students
  • Camp Creek Elementary - 315 students
  • Chuckey Elementary - 325 students
  • DeBusk Elementary - 340 students
  • Doak Elementary - 590 students
  • Glenwood Elementary - 255 students
  • McDonald Elementary - 410 students
  • Mosheim Elementary and Middle School - 960 students
  • Nolachuckey Elementary - 340 students
  • Ottway Elementary - 260 students
  • West Pines Elementary - 240 students
  • Chuckey-Doak Middle School - 495 students
  • Chuckey-Doak High School - 710 students
  • North Greene High School - 395 students
  • South Greene High School - 525 students
  • West Greene High School - 735 students

Public schools that are within Greene County but are part of the Greeneville City School System[19] include:

  • Eastview Elementary
  • Hal Henard Elementary
  • Highland Elementary
  • Tusculum View Elementary
  • Greeneville Middle School
  • Greeneville High School
  • Greene Technology Center - 489 students

Hospitals

Two hospitals are located in Greene County, Greeneville Community Hospital West campus and Greeneville Community East campus. These hospitals were formally Takoma Regional Hospital and Laughlin Memorial Hospital, respectively, after Ballad Health formed from the merger between Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. Blythe Semmer, "Greene County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 16 October 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 143.
  5. Oliver Perry Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War, (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.
  6. Temple, East Tennessee and Civil War, pp. 370-406.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  8. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, et al., "Ambient Air Monitoring Plan," Environmental Protection Agency website, 1 July 2010, p. 6. Accessed: 18 March 2015.
  9. Fred Lobdell, "Greene County High Point Trip Report," COHP.org, 1998. Retrieved: 18 March 2015.
  10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC, 1996.
  15. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  17. Based on 2000 census data
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  19. Schools, Greeneville City Schools official website. Retrieved: 16 October 2013.

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