DeKalb County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DeKalb County
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Dekalb County Courthouse in Smithville
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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 | 1837 |
| Named for | Johann de Kalb |
| Seat | Smithville |
| Largest city | Smithville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 329 sq mi (850 km2) |
| • Land | 304 sq mi (790 km2) |
| • Water | 25 sq mi (60 km2) 7.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,080  |
| • Density | 62/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,080. Its county seat is Smithville. 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.
Contents
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. If so, Adam Dale was the first settler. He 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.
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.
Unlike most of generally pro-Confederate Middle Tennessee, DeKalb County was seriously divided during the Civil War. 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. Earlier on February 9, 1861, DeKalb County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 1,009 to 336.
Geography
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.
Adjacent counties
- Putnam County (northeast)
- White County (east)
- Warren County (south)
- Cannon County (southwest)
- Wilson County (west)
- Smith County (northwest)
State protected areas
- Edgar Evins State Park
- Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 5,868 | — | |
| 1850 | 8,016 | 36.6% | |
| 1860 | 10,573 | 31.9% | |
| 1870 | 11,425 | 8.1% | |
| 1880 | 14,813 | 29.7% | |
| 1890 | 15,650 | 5.7% | |
| 1900 | 16,460 | 5.2% | |
| 1910 | 15,434 | −6.2% | |
| 1920 | 15,370 | −0.4% | |
| 1930 | 14,213 | −7.5% | |
| 1940 | 14,588 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,680 | −19.9% | |
| 1960 | 10,774 | −7.8% | |
| 1970 | 11,151 | 3.5% | |
| 1980 | 13,589 | 21.9% | |
| 1990 | 14,360 | 5.7% | |
| 2000 | 17,423 | 21.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,723 | 7.5% | |
| 2020 | 20,080 | 7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| 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.
Communities
City
- Smithville (county seat)
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Education
The DeKalb County School District consists of five public schools, one private school, and an adult education center.
- DeKalb Christian Academy (PreK-12) – opened 2017
- 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.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de DeKalb (Tennessee) para niños
