Morgan County, Tennessee

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,035.[2] Its county seat is Wartburg.[3] Morgan County is part of the Knoxville, TN Combined Statistical Area.[4]

Morgan County
County
Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg
Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg
Map of Tennessee highlighting Morgan 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°08′N 84°38′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1817
Named forDaniel Morgan[1]
SeatWartburg
Largest communityCoalfield
Area
 • Total522 sq mi (1,350 km2)
 • Land522 sq mi (1,350 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.06%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,035 Decrease
 • Density42/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.morgancountytn.gov

History

Morgan County was formed in 1817 from portions of Anderson and Roane counties. It was named in honor of Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), an American Revolutionary War officer who commanded the troops that defeated the British at the Battle of Cowpens, and who later served as a U.S. congressman from Virginia. The county had been part of lands relinquished by the Cherokee with the signing of the Third Treaty of Tellico in 1805.[1] The original county seat was Montgomery until 1870, when it was moved to Wartburg.[5]

Tornado

On November 10, 2002, a tornado destroyed 50 homes. At least seven people were killed in the Morgan County communities of Mossy Grove and Joyner.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 522 square miles (1,350 km2), of which 522 square miles (1,350 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.06%) is water.[6] The county, which lies on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau, is known for its rugged mountain terrain, and cold mountain streams and rivers. The Crab Orchard Mountains comprise a large area of the county, which includes several designated wilderness areas, Frozen Head State Park, and Lone Mountain State Forest.

Emory River at Oakdale

The Emory River rises on the slopes of Bird Mountain near Wartburg. The Obed River, a designated national wild and scenic river, empties into the Emory southwest of Wartburg. The Clear Fork, which forms part of Morgan's boundary with Fentress County, joins the New River in Scott County to the north to form the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.

The Cumberland Trail passes through Morgan County.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

State protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,676—
18302,58254.1%
18402,6603.0%
18503,43028.9%
18603,353−2.2%
18702,969−11.5%
18805,15673.7%
18907,63948.2%
19009,58725.5%
191011,45819.5%
192013,28515.9%
193013,6032.4%
194015,24212.0%
195015,7273.2%
196014,304−9.0%
197013,619−4.8%
198016,60421.9%
199017,3004.2%
200019,75714.2%
201021,98711.3%
202021,035−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[11]
Age pyramid Morgan County, based on 2000 census data

2020 census
Morgan County racial composition[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 19,029 90.46%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 971 4.62%
Native American 54 0.26%
Asian 41 0.19%
Pacific Islander 8 0.04%
Other/Mixed 633 3.01%
Hispanic or Latino 299 1.42%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,035 people, 7,625 households, and 5,659 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 19,757 people, 6,990 households, and 5,235 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 7,714 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.72% White, 2.23% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,990 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,712, and the median income for a family was $31,901. Males had a median income of $25,683 versus $18,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,925. About 13.50% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities
Wartburg

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics
United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Tennessee[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,930 84.22% 1,167 14.18% 131 1.59%
2016 5,441 81.15% 1,054 15.72% 210 3.13%
2012 4,669 71.79% 1,725 26.52% 110 1.69%
2008 4,717 69.14% 1,969 28.86% 136 1.99%
2004 4,401 59.80% 2,924 39.73% 35 0.48%
2000 3,144 51.02% 2,921 47.40% 97 1.57%
1996 2,070 38.88% 2,767 51.97% 487 9.15%
1992 2,306 37.29% 3,190 51.58% 688 11.13%
1988 2,576 56.67% 1,941 42.70% 29 0.64%
1984 2,903 57.19% 2,121 41.78% 52 1.02%
1980 2,823 56.29% 2,094 41.75% 98 1.95%
1976 1,949 39.46% 2,953 59.79% 37 0.75%
1972 2,531 68.35% 1,084 29.27% 88 2.38%
1968 1,803 47.46% 968 25.48% 1,028 27.06%
1964 1,842 48.49% 1,957 51.51% 0 0.00%
1960 2,241 58.13% 1,576 40.88% 38 0.99%
1956 2,402 62.83% 1,379 36.07% 42 1.10%
1952 2,565 63.22% 1,492 36.78% 0 0.00%
1948 1,570 50.89% 1,500 48.62% 15 0.49%
1944 1,399 53.81% 1,201 46.19% 0 0.00%
1940 1,448 44.82% 1,783 55.18% 0 0.00%
1936 1,225 48.51% 1,291 51.13% 9 0.36%
1932 1,184 54.19% 983 44.99% 18 0.82%
1928 1,481 76.86% 446 23.14% 0 0.00%
1924 1,103 62.78% 411 23.39% 243 13.83%
1920 2,248 73.18% 816 26.56% 8 0.26%
1916 1,265 67.72% 563 30.14% 40 2.14%
1912 312 18.86% 466 28.17% 876 52.96%

See also

References
  1. Donald Todd, "Morgan County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 11 March 2013.
  2. "Census - Geography Profile: Morgan County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Heidi Wigdahl, "Knoxville Metropolitan Area Expands Archived 2013-04-12 at archive.today," WBIR.com, 28 March 2013. Retrieved: 8 January 2014.
  5. "Goodspeed's History of Morgan County (1887)". tngenweb.org.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  10. "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 9, 2015.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

Further reading
  • Dickenson, W. Calvin (1987). Morgan County. Memphis, Tenn.: Memphis State University Press. ISBN 978-0878701575
  • Humphreys, James (2012). "Becoming Americans: Social Change in Morgan County, Tennessee, 1850–1870." Journal of East Tennessee History, Vol. 84, pp. 23–39.
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