Claiborne County, Tennessee

Claiborne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,043.[2] Its county seat is Tazewell and its largest city is Harrogate.[3]

Claiborne County
County
Claiborne County Courthouse in Tazewell
Claiborne County Courthouse in Tazewell
Official seal of Claiborne County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Claiborne 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°29′N 83°40′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedOctober 29, 1801
Named forWilliam C. C. Claiborne[1]
SeatTazewell
Largest cityHarrogate
Area
 • Total442 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Land435,043 sq mi (1,126,760 km2)
 • Water7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total32,043 Decrease
 • Density74/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.claibornecountytn.gov

History

Claiborne County was established on October 29, 1801, created from Grainger and Hawkins counties and extended the southern boundary to Anderson County. It was named for Virginia tidewater aristocrat William C. C. Claiborne, one of the first judges of the Tennessee Superior Court and one of the first representatives in U.S. Congress from Tennessee.[4]

Like a few other East Tennessee counties, Claiborne County was largely opposed to secession on the eve of the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, the county's residents voted against secession by a margin of 1,243 to 250.[5]

The Four Seasons Hotel was built on the location of present-day Lincoln Memorial University in 1892 by an English land company, the American Association Limited, which was led locally by flamboyant businessman Alexander Arthur. At the time, it was reported by its promoters to be the largest hotel in the United States. The main building was four stories high with a lobby 75 feet square and a dining room 50 feet by 160 feet. It was reported to contain 700 rooms. Also included in the complex were a hospital, an inn, a sanitarium, and other smaller buildings. The hotel was not a success and was demolished in 1895. During its operation, the Four Seasons Hotel offered buggy rides to nearby English Cave, which had been improved with wooden stairways, walkways, and bridges. The rotting remains of these wooden structures can still be seen in the cave.[6]

Notable people

from Claiborne County include State Representative Boyd C. Fugate (1884-1967) and Tennessee's first female sheriff Della Riley. Claiborne County's musical heritage includes musicians Rodney Atkins, Cindy Morgan and Michael McMeel as well as bluegrass musicians Steve Gulley, Milton Estes, CF Bailey and Shadow Ridge, Vic Graves, Scott and Alan Powers, The Honeycutt Brothers, Buster Turner and the Turner Brothers, Bryan Turner, Patrick Beeler, Larry Carter, Randall Massengill, and Jerry Cole. Notable Old-Time musicians from Claiborne County include Fiddling Bob Rogers, as well as ballad singers Mae Ray, Alice Parsons, Chester Lewis, and Kinley Brooks, whose repertoires are included in Cecil Sharp's English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. Other ballad collectors in Claiborne County include Artus Moser, C P Cambiaire, and Tillman Cadle. Local African American musicians include gospel singers Ralph Ford and Rick Gregory.

Lincoln Memorial University's literary heritage includes authors Silas House, James Still, and Jesse Stuart.

Geography
Farmlands near Speedwell

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 442 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (1.6%) is water.[7] Major Waterways include the Powell River and Clinch River, which forms part of Norris Lake. Major high points are Bryson Mountain, Powell Mountain, Lone Mountain, Raven Hill, and Wallen Ridge.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18104,798—
18205,50814.8%
18308,47053.8%
18409,47411.9%
18509,369−1.1%
18609,6432.9%
18709,321−3.3%
188013,37343.5%
189015,10312.9%
190020,69637.0%
191023,50413.6%
192023,286−0.9%
193024,3134.4%
194024,6571.4%
195024,7880.5%
196019,067−23.1%
197019,4201.9%
198024,59526.6%
199026,1376.3%
200029,86214.3%
201032,2137.9%
202032,043−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2014[12]
Age pyramid Claiborne County[13]

2020 census
Claiborne County racial composition[14]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 29,966 93.52%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 314 0.98%
Native American 58 0.18%
Asian 148 0.46%
Pacific Islander 11 0.03%
Other/Mixed 1,056 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 490 1.53%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,043 people, 13,281 households, and 8,683 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 29,862 people, 11,799 households, and 8,684 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile (27 people/km2). There were 13,262 housing units at an average density of 30 units per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.79% White, 0.75% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,799 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,782, and the median income for a family was $31,234. Males had a median income of $26,280 versus $19,951 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,032. About 18.40% of families and 22.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 19.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Tourism

Recent Awards and Recognition[16]

  • Received Chuck Davis award in 2013 for “Best Practices” in Tourism development.
  • The Claiborne County Fair Association was awarded the 2014 “Most Improved Fair in Tennessee” by the TN State Fair Association.  
  • Cumberland Gap Genealogy Jamboree and Pioneer Days was named one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for June in: 2015 and 2017 by the Southeast Tourism Society.
  • The White Lightning Trail Festival was named one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for June in: 2013, 2014, and 2015 by the Southeast Tourism Society.
  • The Claiborne County Fair Association was awarded the 2016 “Merit Award” by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.  
  • Cumberland Gap National Historic Park received the 2017 “Keeper of the Light Award” as part of the National Park Service Centennial celebration.
  • The Powell River Blueway Trail received the 2018 “Excellence Award” from the East Tennessee Development District.
  • The Powell River Blueway Trail received the 2018 “Excellence in Communication and Outreach Award” from the Tennessee River Basin Network.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Infrastructure

Transportation
U.S. Route 25E near the Cumberland Gap

U.S. Routes 25E, and State Route 63 are the major arterial roadways in the county. US 25E, established as the East Tennessee Crossing Byway and Appalachian Development Corridor S, provides four-lane expressway north-south access to Grainger County and the Kentucky-Tennessee state-line. SR 63, provides two-lane access from the city of Harrogate to Campbell County.[17]

Politics

Claiborne County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1992.

United States presidential election results for Claiborne County, Tennessee[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,604 81.92% 2,202 17.01% 139 1.07%
2016 8,602 80.09% 1,832 17.06% 306 2.85%
2012 7,617 74.84% 2,433 23.90% 128 1.26%
2008 7,175 68.86% 3,078 29.54% 167 1.60%
2004 6,448 61.18% 4,034 38.27% 58 0.55%
2000 5,023 55.81% 3,841 42.68% 136 1.51%
1996 4,023 46.35% 3,861 44.49% 795 9.16%
1992 4,065 42.86% 4,509 47.54% 911 9.60%
1988 4,071 57.48% 2,977 42.04% 34 0.48%
1984 4,474 60.70% 2,870 38.94% 27 0.37%
1980 4,289 59.05% 2,844 39.16% 130 1.79%
1976 3,227 47.86% 3,461 51.33% 55 0.82%
1972 3,632 73.94% 1,230 25.04% 50 1.02%
1968 3,101 59.75% 1,314 25.32% 775 14.93%
1964 2,852 52.49% 2,581 47.51% 0 0.00%
1960 3,888 64.20% 2,142 35.37% 26 0.43%
1956 3,377 62.21% 1,973 36.35% 78 1.44%
1952 3,221 59.62% 2,182 40.38% 0 0.00%
1948 2,507 53.50% 2,068 44.13% 111 2.37%
1944 2,426 59.20% 1,649 40.24% 23 0.56%
1940 2,879 49.95% 2,792 48.44% 93 1.61%
1936 2,400 44.04% 3,036 55.71% 14 0.26%
1932 1,725 32.76% 3,518 66.82% 22 0.42%
1928 2,565 67.68% 1,225 32.32% 0 0.00%
1924 1,775 59.97% 1,091 36.86% 94 3.18%
1920 2,612 67.88% 1,236 32.12% 0 0.00%
1916 1,398 56.60% 1,053 42.63% 19 0.77%
1912 589 22.58% 903 34.61% 1,117 42.81%

See also

References
  1. John Kivett, "Claiborne County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 24 June 2013.
  2. "Census - Geography Profile: Claiborne County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Origins Of Tennessee County Names, Tennessee Blue Book 2005-2006, page 509
  5. Oliver Perry Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.
  6. Larry E. Matthews, Caves of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains, 2008, Published by the National Speleological Society, ISBN 978-1-879961-30-2, Chapter 2 - English Cave, pages 37–46.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  11. "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.
  12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  13. Based on 2000 census data
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "Claiborne Economic Partnership".
  17. "East Tennessee Rural Regional Transportation Plan" (PDF). East Tennessee Development District. Tennessee Department of Transportation. October 28, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
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