Hamblen County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamblen County
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Hamblen County Courthouse in Morristown
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| Motto(s):
Service, Community, Industry
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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 |
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| State |  Tennessee |
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| Founded | 1870 | |
| Named for | Hezekiah Hamblen | |
| Seat | Morristown | |
| Largest city | Morristown | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 176 sq mi (460 km2) | |
| • Land | 161 sq mi (420 km2) | |
| • Water | 15 sq mi (40 km2) 8.3%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 64,499  |
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| • Density | 400.61/sq mi (154.68/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Hamblen County is a county in the state of Tennessee, USA. In 2020, about 64,499 people lived here. The main city and county seat is Morristown. Hamblen County is part of the larger Morristown area, which also includes Jefferson County. This whole area is then part of an even bigger region called the Knoxville-Morristown-Sevierville Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Hamblen County
Hamblen County was created in 1870. It was formed from parts of Jefferson, Grainger, and Hawkins counties. The county is named after Hezekiah Hamblen (1775–1854). He was an early settler, a landowner, and a lawyer. He also served on the Hawkins County Court for many years.
Governor Dewitt Clinton Senter helped create the county. He lived in Hamblen County and used his power to make it happen. The Hamblen County Courthouse was finished in 1874.
Hamblen County in World Wars
During World War I, Hamblen County was special. It was the only county in the United States to have two Medal of Honor winners. These brave soldiers were Edward R. Talley and Calvin Ward. They both earned their medals fighting on the Western Front in Europe.
During World War II, a naval ship was named after the county. This ship was called the USS Hamblen.
Historic Places to Visit
- Bethesda Presbyterian Church
- Crockett Tavern Museum
- Morristown College, which is now Fulton-Hill Park
- Morristown Main Street Historic District
- Rose Center
Geography and Nature
Hamblen County covers about 176 square miles (456 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 161 square miles (417 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers), is water. It is one of the smallest counties in Tennessee.
Neighboring Counties
Hamblen County shares borders with these other counties:
- Hawkins County (to the northeast)
- Greene County (to the east)
- Cocke County (to the south)
- Jefferson County (to the southwest)
- Grainger County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
- Panther Creek State Park
- Rankin Wildlife Management Area (part of it)
Main Roads in Hamblen County
These are some of the major highways that run through Hamblen County:
I-81
US 11E
US 25E
SR 66
SR 113
SR 160
SR 340
SR 341
SR 342
SR 343
SR 344
Cherokee Lake: A Big Waterway
The main water source in Hamblen County is Cherokee Lake. This lake was made by people during World War II. It was part of a big project to create hydroelectric power. Many creeks and runoff waters feed into the lake.
Cherokee Lake starts in Hawkins County and flows through Grainger County before reaching Hamblen County. It ends at Cherokee Dam, where its water flows into the Holston River. The lake has a huge surface area of 28,780 acres (116.5 square kilometers). It also has 400 miles (640 kilometers) of shoreline, though only a part of this is in Hamblen County.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 10,187 | — | |
| 1890 | 11,418 | 12.1% | |
| 1900 | 12,728 | 11.5% | |
| 1910 | 13,650 | 7.2% | |
| 1920 | 15,056 | 10.3% | |
| 1930 | 16,616 | 10.4% | |
| 1940 | 18,611 | 12.0% | |
| 1950 | 23,976 | 28.8% | |
| 1960 | 33,092 | 38.0% | |
| 1970 | 38,696 | 16.9% | |
| 1980 | 49,300 | 27.4% | |
| 1990 | 50,480 | 2.4% | |
| 2000 | 58,128 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 62,544 | 7.6% | |
| 2020 | 64,499 | 3.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 66,216 | 5.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
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Age pyramid Hamblen County, based on 2000 census data
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Population in 2020
In 2020, the census counted 64,499 people living in Hamblen County. There were 24,456 households and 16,391 families.
Most people in Hamblen County are White (76.28%). Other groups include Black or African American (5.27%), Asian (1.1%), and Native American (0.2%). About 14.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 62,544 people in the county. The population density was about 388 people per square mile. Most people were White (91.74%). About 10.73% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had 2.51 people. The average family had 2.98 people. About 23.30% of the population was under 20 years old. About 15.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in the county was 39.6 years.
Economy and Jobs
Hamblen County has grown a lot in its economy recently. There are several large industrial parks here. These parks are home to factories for companies from the region, the country, and even other parts of the world.
Towns and Communities
City
- Morristown (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are. Small parts of Morristown are also in Jefferson County.)
Town
- White Pine (Most of this town is in Jefferson County.)
Census-Designated Place
- Russellville (This is a community that the census bureau defines for statistics, but it's not an official city or town.)
Other Communities
- Lowland
- Talbott (part of it)
- Whitesburg
- Witt
Schools and Education
The Hamblen County Department of Education runs the public schools. They have two high schools, four middle schools, and eleven elementary/intermediate schools. There is also one alternative school.
Walters State Community College is located in Morristown. There is also a technical college for job training, called the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Morristown.
The school system's goal is to help students learn and be ready to succeed in their future jobs. In the 2019–2020 school year, about 10,424 students were enrolled in Hamblen County public schools.
Elementary Schools
- Alpha Elementary School
- Alpha Intermediate School
- Fairview-Marguerite Elementary School
- Hillcrest Elementary School
- John Hay Elementary
- Lincoln Heights Elementary School
- Manley Elementary
- Russellville Elementary School
- Russellville Intermediate School
- Union Heights Elementary
- West Elementary School
- Whitesburg Elementary School
- Witt Elementary School
Middle Schools
- East Ridge Middle School
- Lincoln Heights Middle School
- Meadowview Middle School
- West View Middle School
High Schools
- Morristown-Hamblen High School East
- Morristown-Hamblen High School West
Colleges
- Walters State Community College
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Morristown
Alternative School
- Miller Boyd Alternative School
Private Schools
Hamblen County also has several private schools.
Lakeway Christian Schools
Lakeway Christian Schools is a group of private schools.
- Cornerstone Christian Academy teaches students from Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade.
- Lakeway Christian Academy teaches students from 6th to 12th grade.
- Tri-Cities Christian Academy teaches students from 9th to 12th grade.
Their goal is to provide a Christian-focused education that helps students grow in wisdom and faith.
All Saints' Episcopal School
All Saints' Episcopal School started in 1967 as a preschool. It grew over time and now teaches students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade.
Faith Christian Academy
Faith Christian Academy teaches students from 1st to 12th grade.
Morristown Covenant Academy
Morristown Covenant Academy was founded in 1985. It teaches students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. High school students can choose different learning paths. These paths can prepare them for general education, college, or specific jobs. The academy also has a daycare and a Pre-Kindergarten program.
