Wilson County, Tennessee

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Wilson County, Tennessee
Wilson county tennessee courthouse.jpg
Wilson County Courthouse in Lebanon
Seal of Wilson County, Tennessee
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Wilson County
Location in the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded October 26, 1799
Seat Lebanon
Largest city Mt. Juliet
Area
 • Total 583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land 571 sq mi (1,479 km2)
 • Water 12 sq mi (31 km2), 2.1%
Population
 • (2010) 113,993
 • Density 200/sq mi (77/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.wilsoncountytn.com

Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 113,993.[1] Its county seat is Lebanon.[2] The largest city in the county is Mt. Juliet.

Wilson County is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Wilson County was created in 1799 from a portion of Sumner County, and named for Major David Wilson, a Revolutionary War veteran and statesman.[3] The county remained predominantly agrarian throughout the 19th century. The arrival of the railroad after the Civil War boosted the county's timber sector, and several large factories were constructed in the county during the early 20th century.[3]

Wilson County was the site of an important saltpeter mine. Saltpeter is the main ingredient of gunpowder and was obtained by leaching the earth from Valley Cave. Valley Cave is located near Statesville. Numerous saltpeter hoppers still inside the cave indicate that this was a relatively large mining operation. These saltpeter vats may date from either the War of 1812 mining era or the Civil War mining era, or perhaps both. Further research is needed to determine when this mine was active.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.1%) is water.[5] The Cumberland River flows along the county's northern border with Trousdale and Sumner counties. This section of the river is part of Old Hickory Lake. Several streams in the western part of the county are part of the Stones River basin.

Wilson County is home to a large concentration of cedar glades, a unique ecosystem where the soil is too rocky or shallow for trees to grow. Many of these glades are found in Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

Adjacent counties

Cedar glade in Wilson County

State protected areas

  • Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
  • Cedars of Lebanon State Park
  • Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area (part)
  • Gattinger's Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area (part)
  • John and Hester Land Cedar Glades State Natural Area
  • Old Hickory Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Percy Priest Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area
  • Vine Cedar Glade State Natural Area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 3,261 —
1820 18,730 —
1830 25,472 36.0%
1840 24,460 −4.0%
1850 27,443 12.2%
1860 26,072 −5.0%
1870 25,881 −0.7%
1880 28,747 11.1%
1890 27,148 −5.6%
1900 27,078 −0.3%
1910 25,394 −6.2%
1920 26,241 3.3%
1930 23,929 −8.8%
1940 25,267 5.6%
1950 26,318 4.2%
1960 27,668 5.1%
1970 36,999 33.7%
1980 56,064 51.5%
1990 67,675 20.7%
2000 88,809 31.2%
2010 113,993 28.4%
Est. 2014 125,376 [6] 10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]
Age pyramid Wilson County[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 88,809 people, 32,798 households, and 25,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile (60/km²).

There were 34,921 housing units at an average density of 61 per square mile (24/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.50% White, 6.26% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 32,798 households out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.00% were non-families. 18.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,140, and the median income for a family was $56,650. Males had a median income of $39,848 versus $26,794 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,739. About 4.60% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.80% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

In the 2004 U.S. presidential election, 65 percent of voters supported the reelection of President of the United States George W. Bush. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, 68 percent of voters favored Republican Senator John McCain.

By 2008 the population of Wilson County had risen to nearly 110,000.[13]

Education

Wilson County Schools oversees 22 public schools, including 2 adult education centers and a technical education center. The county has four high schools: Lebanon High School, Wilson Central High School, Watertown High School and Mount Juliet High School.

Cumberland University is located in Lebanon.

Communities

Statesville

Cities

Town

Unincorporated

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Former community

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Frank Burns, "Wilson County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 24 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Thomas C. Barr, Jr., "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961, 568 pages.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 2008 Census Population Estimates by County

External links

 Sumner County Trousdale County Smith County
Davidson County DeKalb County
  Wilson County, Tennessee  
Rutherford County Cannon County

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