DeKalb County, Tennessee

DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,080.[2] Its county seat is Smithville.[3] The county was created by the General Assembly of Tennessee on December 2, 1837, and was named for Revolutionary War hero Major General Johann de Kalb.[4]

DeKalb County
County
Dekalb County Courthouse in Smithville
Dekalb County Courthouse in Smithville
Map of Tennessee highlighting DeKalb 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°59′N 85°50′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1837
Named forJohann de Kalb[1]
SeatSmithville
Largest citySmithville
Area
 • Total329 sq mi (850 km2)
 • Land304 sq mi (790 km2)
 • Water25 sq mi (60 km2)  7.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20,080 Increase
 • Density62/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitedekalbtennessee.com

History

DeKalb County was formed in 1837 from land in Cannon, Warren and White counties. Historian Will T. Hale believes that the first settlers in the county were at Liberty and came from Maryland in 1797.[5] If so, Addison Puckett was the first settler. She may have come over the Cumberland Mountains, although some sources claim she came down the Ohio, up the Cumberland to Nashville, and then overland about 69 miles (111 km) to Liberty.[5]

DeKalb County was the site of several saltpeter mines, the main ingredient of gunpowder, and was obtained by leaching the earth from several local caves. Overall Cave was named for Abraham Overall who moved from Luray, Virginia, and settled near the present site of Liberty in 1805. He reportedly had many slaves and owned a large plantation on which Overall Cave is located. Two saltpeter leaching vats in the cave may date from the War of 1812, although this area was mined again during the Civil War. Other caves in DeKalb County that were mined for saltpeter include Avant Cave, located near Dowelltown, Indian Grave Point Cave, located in the Dry Creek Valley, and Temperance Saltpeter Cave, located near Temperance Hall.[6]

Unlike most of generally pro-Confederate Middle Tennessee, DeKalb County was seriously divided during the Civil War.[7] In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, DeKalb County voted to secede only by a margin of 833 to 642, which constituted the smallest margin by any county voting to secede.[8] Earlier on February 9, 1861, DeKalb County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 1,009 to 336.[9]

Geography
Center Hill Lake at Edgar Evins State Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 329 square miles (850 km2), of which 304 square miles (790 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (7.5%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties

State protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18405,868—
18508,01636.6%
186010,57331.9%
187011,4258.1%
188014,81329.7%
189015,6505.7%
190016,4605.2%
191015,434−6.2%
192015,370−0.4%
193014,213−7.5%
194014,5882.6%
195011,680−19.9%
196010,774−7.8%
197011,1513.5%
198013,58921.9%
199014,3605.7%
200017,42321.3%
201018,7237.5%
202020,0807.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2014[2]
Age pyramid DeKalb County[15]

2020 census
DeKalb County racial composition[16]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 17,526 87.28%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 234 1.17%
Native American 44 0.22%
Asian 76 0.38%
Pacific Islander 5 0.02%
Other/Mixed 746 3.72%
Hispanic or Latino 1,449 7.22%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,080 people, 7,704 households, and 5,401 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 17,423 people, 6,984 households, and 4,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 8,409 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.58% White, 1.43% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.62% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,984 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,359, and the median income for a family was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,483 versus $20,953 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,217. About 11.80% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Education

The DeKalb County School District consists of five public schools and an adult education center.[18]

  • DeKalb County High School (9–12) – opened 1963
  • DeKalb Middle School (6–8) – opened 1971
  • DeKalb West School (PreK–8) – opened 1973
  • Northside Elementary School (2–5) – opened 2000
  • Smithville Elementary School (PreK–2) – opened 1958

DeKalb County operated two high schools from the 1920s to 1963, Liberty High School and Smithville High School (originally Pure Fountain High School and later DeKalb County High School). In January 1962, Smithville High School burned down, and the present high school was constructed in a different part of town. When the school opened, Liberty High was closed and consolidated with DeKalb County beginning in September 1963.[19]

Politics

DeKalb County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was Al Gore in 2000. Even before the rapid trend of the upland South away from the Democratic Party, DeKalb County was unusual for Middle Tennessee as it had significant Unionist sympathy[7] and was a competitive county for the GOP even at the height of the “Solid South” era.

United States presidential election results for DeKalb County, Tennessee[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,672 78.37% 1,750 20.56% 91 1.07%
2016 5,171 74.35% 1,569 22.56% 215 3.09%
2012 4,143 64.40% 2,174 33.79% 116 1.80%
2008 4,085 57.82% 2,832 40.08% 148 2.09%
2004 3,685 51.37% 3,445 48.03% 43 0.60%
2000 2,411 38.48% 3,765 60.10% 89 1.42%
1996 1,696 31.99% 3,213 60.60% 393 7.41%
1992 1,714 25.50% 4,382 65.19% 626 9.31%
1988 2,098 45.80% 2,452 53.53% 31 0.68%
1984 2,337 46.65% 2,645 52.79% 28 0.56%
1980 1,841 37.82% 2,948 60.56% 79 1.62%
1976 1,443 30.69% 3,222 68.52% 37 0.79%
1972 2,014 60.66% 1,243 37.44% 63 1.90%
1968 1,532 39.33% 847 21.75% 1,516 38.92%
1964 1,402 37.96% 2,291 62.04% 0 0.00%
1960 1,440 47.59% 1,547 51.12% 39 1.29%
1956 1,690 45.76% 1,982 53.67% 21 0.57%
1952 1,814 48.21% 1,949 51.79% 0 0.00%
1948 1,751 39.69% 2,412 54.67% 249 5.64%
1944 2,161 48.00% 2,341 52.00% 0 0.00%
1940 2,041 41.90% 2,830 58.10% 0 0.00%
1936 2,140 41.92% 2,947 57.73% 18 0.35%
1932 1,530 39.71% 2,323 60.29% 0 0.00%
1928 2,261 57.23% 1,690 42.77% 0 0.00%
1924 1,406 43.17% 1,829 56.16% 22 0.68%
1920 2,572 56.47% 1,983 43.53% 0 0.00%
1916 1,343 48.66% 1,407 50.98% 10 0.36%
1912 1,219 42.33% 1,394 48.40% 267 9.27%

See also

References
  1. Webb, Thomas G. "Dekalb County". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 26 June 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 103.
  5. Hale, Will T. History of Dekalb County, Tennessee. Nashville, P. Hunter, 1915. 254 pp. (reprinted McMinnville, B. Lomond Press, 1969).
  6. Thomas C. Barr, Jr., "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961, 568 pages.
  7. Crofts, Daniel W. Reluctant Confederates Upper South Unionists in the Secession Crisis. p. 347. ISBN 1469617013.
  8. "Tennessee Secession Referendum, 1861". Vote Archive.
  9. "Tennessee Vote on Secession Convention, 1861". Fayetteville Observer. March 21, 1861.
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  14. "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.
  15. Based on 2000 census data
  16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. "Architect Study Recommends Replacing/Repurposing Smithville Elementary School (VIEW OPTIONS FOR EACH SCHOOL HERE) – WJLE Radio Archives".
  19. "DCHS Class of 1964 Celebrates 50th Year Reunion – WJLE Radio Archives".
  20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
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