Haywood County, Tennessee

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Haywood County, Tennessee
Brownsville TN 2012-04-08 004.jpg
Haywood County Courthouse
Map of Tennessee highlighting Haywood County
Location in the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded 1823
Named for John Haywood[1]
Seat Brownsville
Largest city Brownsville
Area
 • Total 534 sq mi (1,383 km2)
 • Land 533 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Water 0.9 sq mi (2 km2), 0.2%
Population
 • (2010) 18,787
 • Density 35/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website haywoodcountybrownsville.com
/HaywoodCounty

Haywood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,787.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Brownsville.[3]

History

Scenic view in Haywood County (2004)

Haywood County was created from part of Madison County in 1823–24, and was named for Tennessee judge and historian John Haywood.[4] Haywood County was part of Madison County when the Tennessee General Assembly created it in 1823–24. (Later, portions of Haywood would be carved out to create Lauderdale and Crockett Counties.) The legislature designated Brownsville as the county seat.

Farming, especially of cotton, was the basis for the local economy for much of its history. Until the Civil War, this meant a plantation system dependent upon slave labor; after the war, tenant farmers and sharecroppers took the place of actual slavery.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 534 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 533 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Haywood County is situated on the southeastern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, an area with a high earthquake risk.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 5,334 —
1840 13,870 160.0%
1850 17,259 24.4%
1860 19,232 11.4%
1870 25,094 30.5%
1880 26,053 3.8%
1890 23,558 −9.6%
1900 25,189 6.9%
1910 25,910 2.9%
1920 25,386 −2.0%
1930 26,063 2.7%
1940 27,699 6.3%
1950 26,212 −5.4%
1960 23,393 −10.8%
1970 19,596 −16.2%
1980 20,318 3.7%
1990 19,437 −4.3%
2000 19,797 1.9%
2010 18,787 −5.1%
Est. 2014 18,185 [7] −3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2014[2]
Age pyramid Haywood County[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 18,787 people residing in the county. 50.4% were Black or African American, 45.9% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 2.5% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 3.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 19,797 people, 7,558 households, and 5,419 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 8,086 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 46.73% White, 51.05% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Haywood and Shelby Counties are the only counties in Tennessee with a black majority.

There were 7,558 households out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% were married couples living together, 22.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.40% 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 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,671, and the median income for a family was $32,597. Males had a median income of $27,333 versus $21,361 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,669. About 16.30% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 25.70% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The largest industry in Haywood County is agriculture. Haywood County grows more cotton that any other county in Tennessee and produced 189,000 bales in 2003 on 103,000 acres (420 km2). With its rich, fertile soil, the county's heritage began on the farm and several generations later, it remains on the farm. Soybeans are the county's #2 crop, followed by corn. Haywood County also has an abundance of flower and vegetable gardens in the area that provide everyone with fresh vegetables for their summertime pleasure and for canning or freezing. Haywood County also has fruit farms, and growers are more than happy to share their products with residents and visitors alike.

Agriculture and agri-related businesses contributed more than $130,000 million to the Haywood County economy in 2004.

In 2009, under the leadership of Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, a 3,836-acre (1,552 ha) tract in southwestern Haywood County near Stanton was designated for a state-supported industrial "megasite," intended for a large-scale industrial or business development such as an automobile assembly plant. In September 2009, Tennessee's State Building Commission authorized spending of $40 million for purchase of the land.[14]

Communities

Trinity Cemetery in Nutbush provides a final resting place for more than 50 Civil War soldiers. (2007)

Notable residents

One of Haywood County's most notable residents was Sleepy John Estes, a blues guitarist songwriter and vocalist. Born in 1899 or 1904 in Ripley, Tennessee, he lived most of his life in Brownsville.[15] He died on June 5, 1977, in Brownsville.[16][17][18] Sleepy John is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County.[18]

Other notable county residents include:

See also

Further reading

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References

  1. ↑ Emma Nunn, "Haywood County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: October 16, 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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Nunn, Emma. "Haywood County" in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture Version 2.0
  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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Chad Sisk, $40M approved for West TN megasite development, The Tennessean, September 30, 2009
  15. ↑ Biography at 7digital.com from the Encyclopedia of Popular Music – accessed February 2008
  16. ↑ Allaboutjazz.com birth and death details
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

 Lauderdale County Crockett County
Tipton County Madison County
  Haywood County, Tennessee  
Fayette County Hardeman County

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