Hardin County, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hardin County
U.S. county
Hardin County Courthouse in Savannah
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	1819
Named for	Joseph Hardin, Sr.
Seat	Savannah
Largest city	Savannah
Area
• Total	596 sq mi (1,540 km2)
• Land	577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Water	19 sq mi (50 km2)  3.2%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	26,831
• Density	45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th

Hardin County is a place in Tennessee, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 26,831 people lived there. Its main town, or county seat, is Savannah. Hardin County is located near the borders of Mississippi and Alabama.

The county was started in November 1819. It was named after Colonel Joseph Hardin, a brave soldier from the American Revolutionary War. He also served as a representative for the Province of North Carolina and other early territories. Hardin County was also where a very important battle, the Battle of Shiloh, took place during the American Civil War.

History of Hardin County

The dedication plaque for the Savannah, TN courthouse, which honors Col. Joseph Hardin.

Early Settlers Arrive

In the spring of 1816, two groups of settlers, about 26 people in total, left Knoxville, Tennessee. They were heading for the area that would later become Savannah, Tennessee. The first group traveled by boat along the Tennessee River. They landed in May near Cerro Gordo.

The second, larger group traveled by land and faced some delays. Both groups finally met up at Johnson Creek, close to where Savannah is today. It was July, and these pioneers began to build the first lasting settlement in the area. These were the first non-Native Americans to settle there.

The Hardin Family's Role

The second group was led by Joseph Hardin, Jr. His father, Colonel Joseph Hardin, had received many land grants in the area for his service in the Revolutionary War. Joseph Jr. came with his brother, James Hardin. James started the first county seat, which was called Hardinville. This settlement was built in 1817 near Hardin’s Creek. Both brothers also received land for their own service in the war.

Other settlers from this trip went further down the river. They started another community called Saltillo in 1817.

How the County Was Formed

When Hardin County was first created in November 1819, its borders stretched all the way from Wayne County to the Mississippi River. But over time, as new counties like Shelby County were formed, Hardin County became smaller. It eventually reached its current size. The county was named after Joseph Hardin, a hero of the Revolutionary War. He was also a leader in the government of North Carolina and other early territories.

Hardin County During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, many people in Hardin County supported the Union (the North). This was different from most of West and Middle Tennessee, where people often supported the Confederacy (the South).

On June 8, 1861, Tennessee voted on whether to leave the Union. Hardin County voted to stay in the Union by a large number: 1,051 votes to 498. It was one of only eight counties in West or Middle Tennessee to support the Union. Even earlier, in February 1861, Hardin County voters had voted against even holding a meeting about leaving the Union.

Hardin County was also the place of the famous Battle of Shiloh in 1862. This battle is also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. The battlefield is a few miles south of Savannah and even goes into Tishomingo County, Mississippi.

Geography and Nature

Hardin County covers about 596 square miles. Most of this is land (577 square miles), and about 19 square miles (3.2%) is water.

The county is in the western part of southern Tennessee. The Tennessee River flows through the county, dividing it into two almost equal parts. The river enters the county from the south and flows north, leaving near the northeast corner. From north to south, the county is about 30 miles long, and its widest part from east to west is about 21 miles.

Pickwick Dam and Lake

Neighboring Counties

Protected Natural Areas

• Shiloh National Military Park
• Dry Creek Wildlife Management Area
• Pickwick Landing State Park
• Walker Branch State Natural Area
• White Oak Wildlife Management Area

People and Population

Age pyramid Hardin County

In 2020, there were 26,831 people living in Hardin County. There were 10,137 households and 7,203 families. Most of the people living in Hardin County are White (90.46%). Other groups include Black or African American (3.0%), Native American (0.3%), Asian (0.55%), and people of mixed races (3.58%). About 2.11% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Schools and Learning

Hardin County has several schools for different age groups. There are community and city elementary schools, and also a middle school. The county has one high school, Hardin County High School, where the sports teams are called "The Tigers."

The Savannah-Hardin County Center is a part of Jackson State Community College. It has been in Savannah since 1998, offering a degree in General Studies. The University of Memphis has also offered classes there sometimes. There is also the Tennessee Technology Center at Crump, which helps people learn job skills.

Hardin County Public Schools

• Hardin County High School
• Hardin County Middle School
• East Hardin Elementary School
• West Hardin Elementary School
• Northside Elementary School
• Pickwick Southside Elementary School
• Parris South Elementary School

Private Schools

• Savannah Christian Academy

Emergency Services

Hardin County has its own advanced medical center, Hardin Medical Center, in Savannah. This center provides emergency medical care with a 24/7 ambulance service. The city of Savannah has a paid Fire Department with two stations. The rest of Hardin County is protected by a mix of paid and volunteer firefighters and first responders. They work out of 15 different fire districts. The county also has special teams for disasters and hazardous materials.

Communities in Hardin County

Cities

• Adamsville (mostly in McNairy County)
• Crump
• Savannah (county seat)

Towns

• Milledgeville (partial)
• Saltillo

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.

• Olivet
• Walnut Grove

Other Small Communities

Ghost Town

• Hardinville (a town that no longer exists)

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Hardin (Tennessee) para niños