Fentress County, Tennessee

Fentress County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,489.[4] Its county seat is Jamestown.[5]

Fentress County
County
Fentress County Courthouse in Jamestown
Fentress County Courthouse in Jamestown
Map of Tennessee highlighting Fentress 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°22′50″N 84°55′57″W
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedNovember 28, 1823
Named forJames Fentress, state legislator[1]
SeatJamestown
Largest cityJamestown
Government
 • County ExecutiveJimmy Johnson
Area
 • Total499 sq mi (1,290 km2)
 • Land499 sq mi (1,290 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.06%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,489 Increase
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.fentresscountytn.gov
[2][3]

History
Pumping water by hand in 1942 from the sole water supply in this section of Wilder, Tennessee in Fentress County

Fentress County was formed on November 28, 1823, from portions of Morgan, Overton and White counties.[3] The resulting county was named for James Fentress[6] (1763–1843), who served as speaker of the state house, chairman of Montgomery County Court, and commissioner to select seats for Haywood, Carroll, Gibson and Weakley counties in West Tennessee.[1]

Fentress County was the site of several saltpeter mines. Saltpeter is the main ingredient of gunpowder and was obtained by leaching the earth from local caves. The largest mine was in York Cave, near the Wolf River Post Office. At one time, twenty-five large leaching vats were in operation in this cave. According to Barr (1961) this cave was mined during the Civil War. Buffalo Cave near Jamestown was also a major mine with twelve leaching vats. Manson Saltpeter Cave in Big Indian Creek Valley was a smaller operation with four leaching vats. These caves may also have been mined during the War of 1812, as saltpeter mining was widespread in Kentucky and Tennessee during that era.[7]

In the runup to the American Civil War, when Tennessee Governor Harris asked the State Legislature for a vote of secession, the two representatives from Fentress County (Reese T. Hildreth and R. H. Bledsoe) voted for secession. Nevertheless, in Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Fentress County voted by a margin of 651 to 128 to remain in the Union.[8] However, earlier on February 9, 1861, Fentress County voters had voted to hold a secession convention by a very narrow margin of 334 to 325, becoming the only county that voted for the convention in February but to remain in the Union in June.[9] Fentress was the only Middle Tennessee county represented at the pro-Union East Tennessee Convention.[10]

Alvin York (1887–1964), a hero at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I, was born and lived in Fentress County. He established the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute in Jamestown in 1924.[11] York's house and farm are part of Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park in Pall Mall.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 499 square miles (1,290 km2), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.06%) is water.[12]

Fentress County includes part of Dale Hollow Reservoir and is drained by forks of the Obey and Cumberland Rivers.

The county is the easternmost county in the United States to observe Central Time.

Adjacent counties
Valley of the Three Forks near Pall Mall, with the Cumberland Plateau dominating the horizon

National protected area

State protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18302,748—
18403,55029.2%
18504,45425.5%
18605,05413.5%
18704,717−6.7%
18805,94125.9%
18905,226−12.0%
19006,10616.8%
19107,44621.9%
192010,43540.1%
193011,0365.8%
194014,26229.2%
195014,9174.6%
196013,288−10.9%
197012,593−5.2%
198014,82617.7%
199014,669−1.1%
200016,62513.3%
201017,9588.0%
202018,4893.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2014[17]
Age pyramid Fentress County[18]

2020 census
Fentress County racial composition[19]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 17,541 94.87%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 25 0.14%
Native American 26 0.14%
Asian 33 0.18%
Other/Mixed 548 2.96%
Hispanic or Latino 316 1.71%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,489 people, 7,443 households, and 4,929 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[20] there were 17,959 people, 7,326 households, and 4,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 8,927 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the county's 7,326 households, 23.1% had children under the age of 18, 57.30% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.50% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,238, and the median income for a family was $28,856. Males had a median income of $23,606 versus $18,729 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,999. 19.50% of families and 23.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.80% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those over age 64.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Fentress County has been heavily Republican since the Civil War. Since then, only two Democrats, Southerners Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 have carried Fentress County. Since 2000, the county has shifted further and further to the right.

United States presidential election results for Fentress County, Tennessee[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 7,441 85.24% 1,214 13.91% 74 0.85%
2016 6,038 82.34% 1,100 15.00% 195 2.66%
2012 5,243 76.04% 1,561 22.64% 91 1.32%
2008 4,789 71.06% 1,831 27.17% 119 1.77%
2004 4,293 64.07% 2,371 35.39% 36 0.54%
2000 3,417 56.68% 2,529 41.95% 83 1.38%
1996 2,307 45.63% 2,332 46.12% 417 8.25%
1992 2,391 41.52% 2,730 47.40% 638 11.08%
1988 3,103 62.16% 1,856 37.18% 33 0.66%
1984 2,922 62.18% 1,755 37.35% 22 0.47%
1980 2,493 60.76% 1,543 37.61% 67 1.63%
1976 1,767 47.02% 1,953 51.97% 38 1.01%
1972 2,154 75.50% 665 23.31% 34 1.19%
1968 2,026 57.80% 671 19.14% 808 23.05%
1964 1,969 55.95% 1,550 44.05% 0 0.00%
1960 2,726 71.89% 1,014 26.74% 52 1.37%
1956 2,233 69.52% 934 29.08% 45 1.40%
1952 2,143 69.65% 934 30.35% 0 0.00%
1948 1,587 60.25% 962 36.52% 85 3.23%
1944 1,696 71.38% 657 27.65% 23 0.97%
1940 1,365 58.91% 919 39.66% 33 1.42%
1936 1,299 61.53% 743 35.20% 69 3.27%
1932 1,383 56.31% 961 39.13% 112 4.56%
1928 1,398 77.97% 375 20.91% 20 1.12%
1924 1,197 70.16% 420 24.62% 89 5.22%
1920 1,808 71.66% 694 27.51% 21 0.83%
1916 925 70.08% 348 26.36% 47 3.56%
1912 444 37.60% 399 33.78% 338 28.62%

County officials
  • County Executive: Jimmy Johnson
  • County Sheriff: Michael Reagon
  • County Register of Deeds: Trish Slaven
  • County Road Supervisor: Joey Reagan
  • County Property Assessor: Melynda Sullivan
  • County Trustee: Angie Sweet
  • Circuit Court Clerk: Gina Miller
  • County Clerk: Marylin Stephens
  • County Emergency Management Director: James Bilbrey
  • County 911 Director: Richard Cross
  • County Fire Chief: Scott King
  • County Emergency Services Director: Micah Dunford
  • County Finance Director: Tyler Arms
  • Clerk and Master: Linda Smith
  • Election Commission Director: Joey Williams
  • General Sessions Judge: Todd Burnett
  • Solid Waste Director: Michael Rick
  • Library Director: Donna Conatser

See also

References
  1. Lorene Cargile, "Fentress County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: June 27, 2013.
  2. "Fentress County". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. August 1, 1991.
  3. "County Formation in Acts of Tennessee: Fentress County". Tennessee State Library and Archives. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. "Census - Geography Profile: Fentress County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 125.
  7. Thomas C. Barr, Jr., "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961.
  8. "Tennessee Secession Referendum, 1861". Vote Archive.
  9. "Tennessee Vote on Secession Convention, 1861". Fayetteville Observer. March 21, 1861.
  10. Proceedings of the East Tennessee Convention (H. Barry Book Company, 1861), p. 16. Calvin M. McClung Digital Collection.
  11. Alvin C. York Institute website. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  12. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  15. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  16. "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 4, 2015.
  17. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  18. Based on 2000 census data
  19. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

Further reading
  • Duke, Jason. Tennessee Coal Mining, Railroading & Logging in Cumberland, Fentress, Overton & Putnam. Nashville: Turner Publishing (2004). ISBN 1-56311-932-3
  • Hogue, Albert R. History of Fentress County, Tennessee. Santa Maria: Janaway Publishing (2010). ISBN 1-59641-220-8
  • Hogue, Albert R. History of Fentress County, Tennessee; The Old Home of Mark Twain's Ancestors. Memphis: General Books (2010). ISBN 1-150-82647-9
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