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 place in Tennessee, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 20,080 people lived there. The main town and government center is Smithville.
DeKalb County was created on December 2, 1837. It was named after Johann de Kalb, a brave hero from the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
History of DeKalb County
DeKalb County was formed in 1837. Land from Cannon, Warren, and White counties was used to create it.
Historians believe the first settlers arrived around 1797. They likely came from Maryland and settled near Liberty. Adam Dale might have been the first person to settle there.
Saltpeter Mining in Caves
DeKalb County had several saltpeter mines. Saltpeter is a key ingredient for making gunpowder. It was found by digging up earth from local caves and processing it.
One famous cave is Overall Cave. It was named after Abraham Overall, who moved to the area in 1805. He owned a large farm where the cave is located. Two old saltpeter processing pits in the cave might be from the War of 1812. People also mined saltpeter here during the American Civil War.
Other caves in DeKalb County mined for saltpeter include Avant Cave, Indian Grave Point Cave, and Temperance Saltpeter Cave.
DeKalb County During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, many parts of Middle Tennessee supported the Confederate side. However, DeKalb County was very divided.
On June 8, 1861, Tennessee voted on whether to leave the United States. DeKalb County voted to leave by a very small difference: 833 votes for leaving and 642 votes against. This was the closest vote in any county that chose to leave. Earlier, in February 1861, DeKalb County voters had voted against even holding a meeting to discuss leaving.
Geography of DeKalb County
DeKalb County covers about 329 square miles. Most of this (304 square miles) is land. About 25 square miles (7.5%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
- Putnam County (to the northeast)
- White County (to the east)
- Warren County (to the south)
- Cannon County (to the southwest)
- Wilson County (to the west)
- Smith County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
- Edgar Evins State Park
- Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area
People of DeKalb County
| Historical population | |||
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| 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 Information
In 2020, the census counted 20,080 people living in DeKalb County. There were 7,704 households and 5,401 families.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in DeKalb County in 2020:
| Group | Number | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic or Latino) | 17,526 | 87.28% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) | 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% |
Communities in DeKalb County
City
- Smithville (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Towns
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities or towns.
Education in DeKalb County
The DeKalb County School District has five public schools and one private school. There is also a center for adult education.
- DeKalb Christian Academy (for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade) – opened in 2017
- DeKalb County High School (for grades 9–12) – opened in 1963
- DeKalb Middle School (for grades 6–8) – opened in 1971
- DeKalb West School (for Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade) – opened in 1973
- Northside Elementary School (for grades 2–5) – opened in 2000
- Smithville Elementary School (for Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade) – opened in 1958
From the 1920s until 1963, DeKalb County had two high schools: Liberty High School and Smithville High School. In January 1962, Smithville High School burned down. A new high school was built in a different part of town. When the new school opened in September 1963, Liberty High School closed. Its students then joined the new DeKalb County High School.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de DeKalb (Tennessee) para niños
