Gibson County, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gibson County
U.S. county
Gibson County Courthouse in Trenton
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	1823
Named for	John H. Gibson
Seat	Trenton
Largest city	Milan
Area
• Total	604 sq mi (1,560 km2)
• Land	603 sq mi (1,560 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	50,429
• Density	82/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th

Gibson County is a county in the state of Tennessee. In 2020, about 50,429 people lived here. Its main town, or county seat, is Trenton.

The county was created in 1823. It was named after John H. Gibson. He was a brave soldier who fought in the Natchez Expedition and the Creek War.

History

Gibson County was once known as "Indian Land." This land belonged to the Chickasaw Native American people. In 1819, the Chickasaw Cession agreement opened this area. This allowed new settlers to move in.

The first log cabin in Gibson County was built by Thomas Fite. It was about 8 miles (13 km) east of where Trenton is today. At first, this area was part of Carroll County. As more people moved in, they asked for a new county to be formed.

So, on October 21, 1823, Gibson County was officially created. It was named after Colonel John H. Gibson. He was a soldier from Tennessee. He fought in the War of 1812 and the Creek Wars.

In its early years, Gibson County grew very quickly. The land was easier to clear for farming than other nearby areas. Farmers grew crops like cotton and corn. By 1824, the county had a lot of land that could be taxed. The first machine for cleaning cotton, called a cotton gin, was built in 1826.

Geography

Gibson County covers a total area of about 604 square miles (1,564 km²). Most of this is land, about 603 square miles (1,562 km²). A small part, about 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), is water.

Neighboring Counties

• Weakley County (to the northeast)
• Carroll County (to the east)
• Madison County (to the south)
• Crockett County (to the southwest)
• Dyer County (to the west)
• Obion County (to the northwest)

Protected Natural Areas

• Horns Bluff Refuge (part of it)
• Maness Swamp Refuge
• Obion River Wildlife Management Area (part of it)
• Tigrett Wildlife Management Area (part of it)

People and Population

The number of people living in Gibson County has changed over time. In 1830, there were 5,801 residents. By 2020, the population had grown to 50,429 people.

Most people in Gibson County are White. There is also a large Black or African American community. Other groups include Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races. About 2.85% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Transportation

Gibson County has two airports. These help people travel by air.

• Humboldt Municipal Airport (M53) is owned by the City of Humboldt.
• Gibson County Airport (TGC) is located between Trenton and Milan. It is owned by the City of Milan and Gibson County.

Court System

Trenton is the main county seat. However, Gibson County's court system is split. Both Trenton and Humboldt handle civil and criminal cases. This has been the case since just after the Civil War.

Education

Gibson County has five special school districts. These are Bradford, Gibson County, Humboldt, Milan, and Trenton. Each district has its own school board and director. There are six high schools in the county.

High Schools

Media

Gibson County has several ways to get local news and entertainment.

Radio Stations

• Victory 93.7 - The Victory 93.7 FM—WTKB ATWOOD-MILAN
• WJPJ AM 1190 & 99.9 "La Poderosa 99.9 FM & 1190 AM"
• WTJK 105.3 "Fox Sports Jackson 105.3"

Newspapers

• Tennessee Magnet Publications (a free monthly paper)
• The Tri-City Reporter in Dyer
• The Gazette in Trenton
• The Chronicle in Humboldt
• The Mirror-Exchange in Milan

Events

Gibson County hosts several fun events throughout the year.

The Gibson County Fair happens every August in Trenton. It is known as the "oldest continuously running fair in the South." The fair first started in 1856 and has been held every year since 1869.

The Teapot Festival began in 1981. It celebrates a special collection of porcelain teapots. This festival lasts for a week. It starts with a ceremony where teapots are lit up at City Hall. The festival includes music, fireworks, a parade, and a chocolate event. There are also sports tournaments, an arts and crafts show, and an antique car display. You can see the teapot collection all year round.

The West Tennessee Strawberry Festival is held every May in Humboldt. This festival has been happening since 1934. It can attract up to 100,000 people! Popular events include the Jr. Parade, which is one of the world's largest non-motorized parades. There's also a Grand Floats Parade, a Horse Show, and a carnival. Other fun activities include singing contests, races, and concerts.

Communities

Skullbone

Gibson County has several towns and cities where people live.

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or towns.

Notable People

Many interesting people have come from Gibson County.

• Doug Atkins was a famous NFL football player. He is in the Hall of Fame.
• Wallace Wade was a well-known football coach.
• Avery Williamson is an NFL linebacker.

Images for kids

• 

  This chart shows the age groups of people in Gibson County.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Gibson (Tennessee) para niños