Denmark, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denmark, Tennessee
Unincorporated community
Denmark, Tennessee Location in Tennessee Show map of Tennessee Denmark, Tennessee Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Madison
Elevation	459 ft (140 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	38391
Area code(s)	731
GNIS feature ID	1282335

Denmark is a small, unincorporated community in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. It is located about 14 miles southwest of Jackson. The zip code for Denmark is 38391.

Denmark was once a busy farming town. However, over time, a mix of human-made problems and natural disasters caused it to shrink. Today, only a few houses and the old pre-Civil War Denmark Presbyterian Church remain. Because of this, Denmark's official town status was removed in 1983. It is now an unincorporated community, meaning it doesn't have its own local government.

History of Denmark

Denmark was one of the first places settled in Madison County. The land where the town was built was first opened up by Thomas Sanders in 1822. Denmark officially became a town in 1854.

Early churches were started in the area. A Presbyterian church was built in 1833, and a Methodist church followed in 1842. By 1844, there were enough people for the Tennessee General Assembly to create an academy (a type of school) for boys. Before the American Civil War, Denmark grew a lot. It was almost as big as the nearby city of Jackson.

Denmark During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, a battle happened near Denmark. In September 1862, Union soldiers fought off a Confederate attack. This event is known as the Battle of Britton's Lane. Union troops stayed in Tennessee from that year until the war ended.

Decline of Denmark

After the Civil War, Denmark's economy started to struggle. This was mainly because no railroads were built through the town. All the new train lines in Madison County bypassed Denmark.

In 1886, Denmark had about 250 people. But its population kept getting smaller in the years that followed. On April 28, 1983, a court officially removed Denmark's town status. This happened after the Tennessee legislature passed a law. This law said that any town with fewer than 100 people would lose its official charter.

Schools in Denmark

Denmark also saw changes in its schools. The local high school, which started in 1885, joined with South Side High School in Jackson in 1992. The middle school in Denmark was closed. Its campus was then used to create the West Tennessee Regional Training Center. Today, Denmark Elementary is the only school still operating in the community.

Destructive Weather Events

Denmark has faced many severe weather events. These events have also contributed to the community's decline. On October 14, 1909, a powerful tornado hit the town. It was followed by a thunderstorm and fires, causing huge damage. Almost a century later, in 2003, another tornado caused just as much destruction.

Climate

Denmark's weather usually has warm temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Denmark has a Humid subtropical climate. This type of climate is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.

Famous People from Denmark

• Walt Bond: A baseball player who started in the Negro leagues. He later played for the Major League Baseball team, the Cleveland Indians.
• John Murrell: A well-known outlaw from the 1800s. He was known for stealing horses and had family who lived in Denmark while he was imprisoned.

Denmark in Books

Denmark is mentioned in two mystery novels. These books use a made-up version of the town in their stories:

• Such Vicious Minds: A Murder Mystery Featuring Elvis Presley by Daniel Klein
• Something Rotten by Alan Gratz