Wayne County, Tennessee

Wayne County is a county located in south central Tennessee, along the Alabama border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,232.[2] Its county seat is Waynesboro.[3] The county is named after General "Mad Anthony" Wayne, a prominent military leader in the American Revolutionary War.

For other uses, see Wayne County.

Wayne County
County
Wayne County Courthouse in Waynesboro
Wayne County Courthouse in Waynesboro
Map of Tennessee highlighting Wayne 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°14′N 87°47′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1817
Named forGeneral Anthony Wayne[1]
SeatWaynesboro
Largest cityWaynesboro
Area
 • Total736 sq mi (1,910 km2)
 • Land734 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total16,232 Decrease
 • Density22/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.waynecountytn.org

History

Wayne County was created in 1817 from parts of Hickman and Humphreys counties. Waynesboro, its county seat, was established in 1821.[1] Located along the Tennessee River, the city of Clifton emerged as a key river port in the mid-19th century.[1]

Like several other counties on the Western Highland Rim near the Tennessee River, Wayne County was largely pro-Union during the Civil War, contrary to the generally pro-Confederate sympathies of West and Middle Tennessee. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Wayne County voted to remain in the Union by a margin of 905 to 409.[4] Wayne was one of only eight counties in West or Middle Tennessee to support the Union, and had the second highest vote against secession of these eight, behind only Fentress County. Earlier on February 9, 1861, Wayne County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 737 to 255.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 736 square miles (1,910 km2), of which 734 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6] It is the second-largest county in Tennessee by area. The county lies primarily along the southwestern Highland Rim.[1] The Tennessee River flows along Wayne County's northwestern border with Decatur County. The Buffalo River, a tributary of the Duck River, flows through the northern part of Wayne County. The Green River, a tributary of the Buffalo, flows through Waynesboro.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected areas
  • Arnold Hollow Wildlife Management Area
  • Browntown Wildlife Management Area
  • Eagle Creek Wildlife Management Area
  • Tie Camp Wildlife Management Area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18202,459—
18306,013144.5%
18407,70528.1%
18508,1706.0%
18609,11511.6%
187010,20912.0%
188011,30110.7%
189011,4711.5%
190012,93612.8%
191012,062−6.8%
192012,8776.8%
193012,134−5.8%
194013,63812.4%
195013,8641.7%
196011,908−14.1%
197012,3653.8%
198013,94612.8%
199012,935−7.2%
200016,84230.2%
201017,0211.1%
202016,232−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2014[11]
Age pyramid Wayne County[12]

2020 census
Wayne County racial composition[13]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 14,503 89.35%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 878 5.41%
Native American 18 0.11%
Asian 27 0.17%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 426 2.62%
Hispanic or Latino 379 2.33%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,232 people, 5,764 households, and 4,016 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 17,021 people, 5,822 households, and 4,321 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 5.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,936 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 121.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,576, and the median income for a family was $30,973. Males had a median income of $27,879 versus $19,034 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,472. About 12.90% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 19.60% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Wayne County, Tennessee are: [15]

Politics

Wayne County is one of the most staunchly Republican leaning counties in Tennessee as well as the country when it comes to presidential elections. In the 20th century, the county was an enclave of the Republican Party in Middle Tennessee, one of few outside Eastern Tennessee in a state that was up until recently Democratic. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried the county since Samuel J. Tilden in the controversial 1876 election.[16]

United States presidential election results for Wayne County, Tennessee[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,795 86.89% 820 12.30% 54 0.81%
2016 5,036 85.98% 717 12.24% 104 1.78%
2012 4,253 77.52% 1,163 21.20% 70 1.28%
2008 4,076 73.75% 1,355 24.52% 96 1.74%
2004 3,999 66.83% 1,951 32.60% 34 0.57%
2000 3,370 63.51% 1,859 35.04% 77 1.45%
1996 2,715 58.39% 1,574 33.85% 361 7.76%
1992 2,955 56.11% 1,868 35.47% 443 8.41%
1988 3,405 68.77% 1,516 30.62% 30 0.61%
1984 3,332 68.29% 1,534 31.44% 13 0.27%
1980 3,418 64.53% 1,633 30.83% 246 4.64%
1976 2,597 57.57% 1,891 41.92% 23 0.51%
1972 2,898 79.79% 673 18.53% 61 1.68%
1968 2,417 58.51% 506 12.25% 1,208 29.24%
1964 2,510 68.06% 1,178 31.94% 0 0.00%
1960 2,912 75.21% 931 24.04% 29 0.75%
1956 2,557 70.67% 1,045 28.88% 16 0.44%
1952 2,439 70.63% 1,008 29.19% 6 0.17%
1948 1,957 68.38% 820 28.65% 85 2.97%
1944 2,185 77.48% 630 22.34% 5 0.18%
1940 2,486 69.21% 1,100 30.62% 6 0.17%
1936 1,304 63.89% 733 35.91% 4 0.20%
1932 1,082 66.02% 543 33.13% 14 0.85%
1928 1,756 81.64% 382 17.76% 13 0.60%
1924 1,398 75.24% 448 24.11% 12 0.65%
1920 2,617 79.69% 654 19.91% 13 0.40%
1916 1,626 75.28% 517 23.94% 17 0.79%
1912 971 53.80% 435 24.10% 399 22.11%

On rare occasions, the county has voted for Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate and state governor. Al Gore carried Wayne County in his 1990 reelection bid, though he never carried in either 1992 or 1996 as Bill Clinton's vice presidential running mate or his campaign for the presidency in 2000, in which he also lost his home state. Aside from Gore, Jim Sasser carried the county in his last successful reelection bid for the Senate in 1988, Ned McWherter carried it in his 1990 reelection bid for governor, and Phil Bredesen carried it in his 2006 gubernatorial reelection bid.[17]

Education

College

Public schools
Main article: Wayne County Schools (Tennessee)

Media

Radio

Newspaper
  • The Wayne County News

Events

Communities
Collinwood

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Notable individuals

See also

References
  1. Bob Rains, "Wayne County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: April 23, 2013.
  2. "Census - Geography Profile: Wayne County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Tennessee Secession Referendum, 1861". Vote Archive.
  5. "Tennessee Vote on Secession Convention, 1861". Fayetteville Observer. March 21, 1861.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 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 14, 2015.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  12. Based on 2000 census data
  13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. Wayne County, City-Data.com. Retrieved: April 23, 2013.
  16. Géographie Électorale; 1876 presidential election county map
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
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