Chester County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester County
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Chester County Courthouse in Henderson, 2003
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Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
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 Tennessee's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Named for | Robert Chester |
| Seat | Henderson |
| Largest city | Henderson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 286 sq mi (740 km2) |
| • Land | 286 sq mi (740 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.08%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,341  |
| • Density | 60/sq mi (20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Chester County is a place in the state of Tennessee, United States. It is a type of local government area called a county. In 2020, about 17,341 people lived here.
The main town and government center of Chester County is Henderson. The county was officially formed in 1879 and started its government in 1882. Chester County is also part of the larger Jackson area.
Contents
History of Chester County
Chester County was the last county to be formed in Tennessee. It was created by the state's government, called the General Assembly, in 1875. The land for the county came from parts of nearby counties like Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy, and Madison.
At first, they tried to name it Wisdom County. But this county was never fully set up. In 1879, the General Assembly changed its mind and created Chester County using the same land. Some people did not want the new county. Their lawsuits caused delays, so the county's government did not officially start until 1882.
Chester County was named after Colonel Robert I. Chester. He was an important person during the War of 1812. He also worked as an early postmaster in Jackson and as a federal marshal.
Geography of Chester County
Chester County covers a total area of about 286 square miles (741 km²). Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), is water.
Neighboring Counties
Chester County shares its borders with these other counties:
- Henderson County (to the northeast)
- Hardin County (to the southeast)
- McNairy County (to the south)
- Hardeman County (to the southwest)
- Madison County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
Chester County is home to some beautiful natural places:
- Chickasaw State Park
- Part of the Chickasaw State Forest
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 9,069 | — | |
| 1900 | 9,869 | 8.8% | |
| 1910 | 9,090 | −7.9% | |
| 1920 | 9,669 | 6.4% | |
| 1930 | 10,603 | 9.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,124 | 4.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,149 | 0.2% | |
| 1960 | 9,569 | −14.2% | |
| 1970 | 9,927 | 3.7% | |
| 1980 | 12,727 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 12,819 | 0.7% | |
| 2000 | 15,540 | 21.2% | |
| 2010 | 17,131 | 10.2% | |
| 2020 | 17,341 | 1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, the census counted 17,341 people living in Chester County. There were 6,060 households, which are groups of people living together. Also, 4,471 families lived in the county.
The people living in Chester County come from different backgrounds:
- Most people, about 84.5%, are White.
- About 9.5% are Black or African American.
- About 0.6% are Native American.
- About 0.8% are Asian.
- About 2.1% are from other races or a mix of races.
- About 3.0% of the people are Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Chester County
The Chester County School District has six schools. These schools help students from kindergarten all the way through high school.
- Chester County High School teaches students in grades 9 through 12.
- Chester County Junior High School is for students in grades 6 through 8.
- Chester County Middle School serves students in grades 4 and 5.
- For younger students, there are three elementary schools: East Chester County Elementary School, West Chester County Elementary School, and Jacks Creek Elementary School. These schools teach kindergarten through 3rd grade.
The town of Henderson is also home to Freed-Hardeman University, a college.
Communities in Chester County
Chester County has several towns and communities where people live.
City
- Henderson (This is the main county seat)
Towns
- Enville (partially in this county)
- Milledgeville (partially in this county)
- Silerton (partially in this county)
- Finger (partially in this county)
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially towns or cities:
