Weakley County, Tennessee

Weakley County is a county located in the northwest of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 35,021.[2] Its county seat is Dresden,[3] and its largest city is Martin, the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. The county was established by the Tennessee General Assembly on October 21, 1823, and is named for U. S. Congressman Robert Weakley (1764–1845).

Weakley County
U.S. county
Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°17′N 88°43′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedOctober 21, 1823
Named forRobert Weakley[1]
SeatDresden
Largest cityMartin
Area
 • Total582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water1.4 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
33,415
 • Density60/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.weakleycountytn.gov

Weakley County comprises the Martin, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Weakley County was created in October 1823 from some of the land that the Chickasaw ceded to the United States in the Treaty of 1818. The county was named after Colonel Robert Weakley, a member of the House of Representatives, a speaker of the State Senate, and the man commissioned to treat with the Chickasaw.[4]

The county was the state's largest corn producer during the 19th century. By the latter half of the 20th century, soybeans became the county's leading crop.[1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5] The North Fork of the Obion River flows through the northern half of the county, the Middle Fork flows across the central portion of the county, and the South Fork flows across the southern part of the county. The Obion is a tributary of the Mississippi River.

Adjacent counties

State protected areas
  • Bean Switch Refuge
  • Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area
  • Big Cypress Tree State Park
  • Harts Mill Wetland Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Obion River Wildlife Management Area (part)

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18304,797—
18409,870105.8%
185014,60848.0%
186018,21624.7%
187020,75513.9%
188024,53818.2%
189028,95518.0%
190032,54612.4%
191031,929−1.9%
192031,053−2.7%
193029,262−5.8%
194029,4980.8%
195027,962−5.2%
196024,227−13.4%
197028,82719.0%
198032,89614.1%
199031,972−2.8%
200034,8959.1%
201035,0210.4%
2018 (est.)33,415[6]−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[2]
Age pyramid Weakley County[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 34,895 people, 13,599 households, and 9,124 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km2). There were 14,928 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.27% White, 6.95% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,599 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% 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 2.89.

The population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 15.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,008, and the median income for a family was $38,658. Males had a median income of $28,597 versus $20,845 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,408. About 11.10% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 16.20% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Radio

Print
  • Dresden Enterprise - Located in Dresden[13]
  • The Weakley County Press - Located in Martin
  • The Pacer - Student newspaper of the University of Tennessee at Martin

Education

Weakley County Schools

School District website - http://www.weakleyschools.com/

School NameTeam MascotSchool ColorsSchool Website
Dresden Elementary School Lions Black, Gold http://www.des.weakleyschools.com/
Dresden Middle School Lions Black/Gold http://www.dms.weakleyschools.com/
Dresden High School Lions Black/Gold http://www.dhs.weakleyschools.com/
Gleason School Bulldogs Orange/Black http://www.gls.weakleyschools.com/cms/One.aspx
Greenfield School Yellowjackets Black/Orange http://www.grs.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Elementary School Chargers Blue/White http://www.mes.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Middle School Chargers Blue/White http://www.mms.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Primary School N/A Blue/Yellow http://www.mps.weakleyschools.com/
Sharon School Eagles Purple/Yellow http://www.ss.weakleyschools.com/
Westview High School Chargers Royal Blue/Yellow Gold http://www.whs.weakleyschools.com/

Communities
Sharon

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 75.7% 10,396 22.0% 3,020 2.3% 319
2016 73.9% 9,008 22.8% 2,772 3.3% 404
2012 69.8% 8,605 28.8% 3,548 1.5% 184
2008 64.7% 8,855 33.6% 4,596 1.8% 239
2004 57.9% 7,817 41.4% 5,588 0.7% 91
2000 51.6% 6,106 47.0% 5,570 1.4% 168
1996 41.2% 4,622 50.4% 5,657 8.3% 936
1992 40.4% 4,800 48.0% 5,691 11.6% 1,378
1988 57.1% 5,701 42.4% 4,239 0.5% 49
1984 57.4% 6,480 42.1% 4,752 0.5% 55
1980 48.2% 5,668 50.2% 5,910 1.6% 193
1976 29.7% 2,875 68.1% 6,605 2.2% 216
1972 71.5% 5,836 24.8% 2,027 3.7% 302
1968 30.5% 2,858 21.2% 1,988 48.3% 4,525
1964 34.2% 2,684 65.8% 5,161
1960 43.7% 3,543 55.4% 4,488 1.0% 78
1956 36.2% 2,720 62.8% 4,717 1.0% 73
1952 41.8% 3,043 57.7% 4,198 0.5% 34
1948 27.1% 1,310 64.0% 3,099 8.9% 432
1944 31.7% 1,595 68.2% 3,434 0.2% 10
1940 24.5% 1,139 74.7% 3,474 0.8% 35
1936 22.0% 928 77.3% 3,254 0.7% 30
1932 17.1% 783 82.5% 3,777 0.4% 17
1928 35.3% 1,358 64.8% 2,495
1924 26.7% 1,154 72.8% 3,149 0.6% 24
1920 38.3% 2,741 61.3% 4,395 0.4% 30
1916 32.8% 1,768 67.0% 3,609 0.1% 6
1912 28.4% 1,265 63.0% 2,810 8.6% 383

See also

References
  1. Virginia Clark Vaughan, "Weakley County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 24 April 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "About Dresden". City of Dresden. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  11. Based on 2000 census data
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. Dresden Enterprise official site. Retrieved: 24 April 2013.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-13.

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