Chester County, Tennessee

Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,341.[2] Its county seat is Henderson.[3] The county was created in 1879 and organized in 1882.[1][4] Chester County is included in the Jackson, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Chester County
County
Chester County Courthouse in Henderson, 2003
Chester County Courthouse in Henderson, 2003
Map of Tennessee highlighting Chester County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°26′N 88°37′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1882
Named forRobert Chester[1]
SeatHenderson
Largest cityHenderson
Area
 • Total286 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Land286 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,341 Increase
 • Density60/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitechestercountytn.org

History

Chester County was the last county formed in Tennessee, created by the General Assembly in 1875 from adjacent parts of neighboring Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy, and Madison counties. This land was used to create a county named Wisdom County, but "Wisdom County" was never organized, and in March 1879 the Assembly repealed this and created Chester County out of the same land. Lawsuits by opponents of the creation of the new county delayed actual organization until 1882.[1] Chester County was named for Colonel Robert I. Chester, a quartermaster in the War of 1812, an early postmaster in Jackson, and a federal marshal.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 286 square miles (740 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.08%) is water.[5]

Adjacent Counties

State protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18909,069—
19009,8698.8%
19109,090−7.9%
19209,6696.4%
193010,6039.7%
194011,1244.9%
195011,1490.2%
19609,569−14.2%
19709,9273.7%
198012,72728.2%
199012,8190.7%
200015,54021.2%
201017,13110.2%
202017,3411.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[10]
Age pyramid Chester County[11]

2020 census
Chester County racial composition[12]
Race Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 84.5%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 9.5%
Native American 0.6%
Asian 0.8%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,341 people, 6,060 households, and 4,471 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 15,540 people, 5,660 households, and 4,199 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 6,178 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.13% White (non-Hispanic), 10.03% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000 there were 5,660 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 14.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,349, and the median income for a family was $41,127. Males had a median income of $31,378 versus $21,615 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,756. About 11.10% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are six schools in the Chester County School District. Chester County High School serves the whole county and holds grades 9–12. Chester County Junior High School holds grades 6 through 8 for the entire county. Chester County Middle School serves the whole county's students in grades 4 and 5. East Chester County Elementary School, West Chester County Elementary School, and Jacks Creek Elementary School all hold kindergarten through 3rd grade. [14]

Henderson is the home of Freed-Hardeman University.

Communities

City

Town

Unincorporated communities
  • Country musician Eddy Arnold, a native of Henderson, titled his 1969 autobiography It's A Long Way From Chester County.
  • The 1973 movie Walking Tall was filmed in Henderson and elsewhere in Chester County, including important scenes filmed in the county courthouse; many local residents served as extras or played bit parts.

Politics

Chester County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

United States presidential election results for Chester County, Tennessee[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,952 78.48% 1,412 18.62% 220 2.90%
2016 5,081 78.09% 1,243 19.10% 183 2.81%
2012 4,684 73.07% 1,624 25.34% 102 1.59%
2008 4,587 71.02% 1,797 27.82% 75 1.16%
2004 4,086 64.28% 2,242 35.27% 29 0.46%
2000 3,487 60.88% 2,192 38.27% 49 0.86%
1996 2,746 56.03% 1,922 39.22% 233 4.75%
1992 2,834 50.64% 2,317 41.40% 445 7.95%
1988 2,781 61.05% 1,757 38.57% 17 0.37%
1984 2,793 59.68% 1,854 39.62% 33 0.71%
1980 2,751 55.69% 2,123 42.98% 66 1.34%
1976 1,949 43.15% 2,532 56.05% 36 0.80%
1972 2,787 71.70% 961 24.72% 139 3.58%
1968 1,408 32.79% 849 19.77% 2,037 47.44%
1964 1,767 50.06% 1,763 49.94% 0 0.00%
1960 1,807 59.05% 1,192 38.95% 61 1.99%
1956 1,460 48.85% 1,495 50.02% 34 1.14%
1952 1,674 53.01% 1,484 46.99% 0 0.00%
1948 766 39.48% 980 50.52% 194 10.00%
1944 931 44.52% 1,156 55.28% 4 0.19%
1940 1,015 39.77% 1,537 60.23% 0 0.00%
1936 565 32.40% 1,172 67.20% 7 0.40%
1932 356 26.23% 985 72.59% 16 1.18%
1928 582 44.19% 735 55.81% 0 0.00%
1924 484 38.47% 758 60.25% 16 1.27%
1920 1,088 48.81% 1,105 49.57% 36 1.62%
1916 645 41.64% 862 55.65% 42 2.71%
1912 312 22.71% 636 46.29% 426 31.00%

See also

References
  1. Tara Mitchell Mielnik, "Chester County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 23 June 2013.
  2. "Census - Geography Profile: Chester County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Tennessee: Individual County Chronologies". Tennessee Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 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 2, 2015.
  10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  11. Based on 2000 census data
  12. "Explore Census Data".
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. School Tree. "Schools in Chester County, Tennessee". Retrieved May 29, 2008.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
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