Weakley County
County
Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden
Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden
Official seal of Weakley County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Weakley County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°17′N 88°43′W / 36.29°N 88.72°W / 36.29; -88.72
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
 (2020)
 • Total32,902 Decrease
 • Density57/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.weakleycountytn.gov

Weakley County is a county located in the northwest of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,902.[2] Its county seat is Dresden.[3] 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 comprises the Martin, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Weakley County was created in October 1823 from some of the land that the Chickasaw people 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 (negotiate) with the Chickasaw.[4]

During the 19th century, the county was the state's largest corn producer. 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.Note%±
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%
202032,902−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[10]
Age pyramid Weakley County[11]

2020 census

Weakley County racial composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 27,813 84.53%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,593 7.88%
Native American 52 0.16%
Asian 192 0.58%
Pacific Islander 3 0.01%
Other/Mixed 1,344 4.08%
Hispanic or Latino 905 2.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,902 people, 13,640 households, and 8,677 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[13] 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 people/km2). There were 14,928 housing units at an average density of 26 units 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, the county seat.[14]
  • 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

United States presidential election results for Weakley County, Tennessee[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,396 75.69% 3,020 21.99% 319 2.32%
2016 9,008 73.93% 2,772 22.75% 404 3.32%
2012 8,605 69.75% 3,548 28.76% 184 1.49%
2008 8,855 64.68% 4,596 33.57% 239 1.75%
2004 7,817 57.92% 5,588 41.40% 91 0.67%
2000 6,106 51.55% 5,570 47.03% 168 1.42%
1996 4,622 41.21% 5,657 50.44% 936 8.35%
1992 4,800 40.44% 5,691 47.95% 1,378 11.61%
1988 5,701 57.07% 4,239 42.44% 49 0.49%
1984 6,480 57.41% 4,752 42.10% 55 0.49%
1980 5,668 48.15% 5,910 50.21% 193 1.64%
1976 2,875 29.65% 6,605 68.12% 216 2.23%
1972 5,836 71.48% 2,027 24.83% 302 3.70%
1968 2,858 30.50% 1,988 21.21% 4,525 48.29%
1964 2,684 34.21% 5,161 65.79% 0 0.00%
1960 3,543 43.69% 4,488 55.35% 78 0.96%
1956 2,720 36.22% 4,717 62.81% 73 0.97%
1952 3,043 41.83% 4,198 57.70% 34 0.47%
1948 1,310 27.06% 3,099 64.02% 432 8.92%
1944 1,595 31.65% 3,434 68.15% 10 0.20%
1940 1,139 24.51% 3,474 74.74% 35 0.75%
1936 928 22.03% 3,254 77.26% 30 0.71%
1932 783 17.11% 3,777 82.52% 17 0.37%
1928 1,358 35.25% 2,495 64.75% 0 0.00%
1924 1,154 26.67% 3,149 72.78% 24 0.55%
1920 2,741 38.25% 4,395 61.33% 30 0.42%
1916 1,768 32.84% 3,609 67.04% 6 0.11%
1912 1,265 28.38% 2,810 63.03% 383 8.59%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Virginia Clark Vaughan, "Weakley County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 24 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Weakley County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "About Dresden". City of Dresden. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ↑ Dresden Enterprise official site. Retrieved: 24 April 2013.
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
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