Haywood County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haywood County
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Haywood County Courthouse
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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 | 1823 |
| Named for | John Haywood |
| Seat | Brownsville |
| Largest city | Brownsville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 534 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Land | 533 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2 km2) 0.2%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,864 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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17,328  |
| • Density | 33.45/sq mi (12.916/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | Haywood County |
Haywood County is a county located in the state of Tennessee, in a part called West Tennessee. In 2020, about 17,864 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Brownsville. Haywood County is special because it's one of only two counties in Tennessee where most of the people are African-American.
Contents
History of Haywood County
Haywood County was created in 1823–1824. It was formed from a part of Madison County. The county was named after John Haywood, who was a judge and historian in Tennessee. The state government chose Brownsville to be the county seat. Later, Haywood County became smaller when Lauderdale and Crockett counties were created from its land.
For a long time, farming was the most important part of the county's economy. People mostly grew cotton. Before the Civil War, large farms called plantations used enslaved people to do the work. After slavery ended in 1865, these large farms were mostly divided up. Many people then became tenant farmers or sharecroppers. This meant they rented land to farm and often shared their crops with the landowner.
Geography of Haywood County
Haywood County covers about 534 square miles. Most of this area, about 533 square miles, is land. Only a very small part, about 0.9 square miles, is water.
Haywood County is located near the edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone. This area has a higher risk of earthquakes.
Neighboring Counties
Haywood County shares borders with these other counties:
- Crockett County (to the north)
- Madison County (to the east)
- Hardeman County (to the southeast)
- Fayette County (to the south)
- Tipton County (to the west)
- Lauderdale County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
People of Haywood County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 5,334 | — | |
| 1840 | 13,870 | 160.0% | |
| 1850 | 17,259 | 24.4% | |
| 1860 | 19,232 | 11.4% | |
| 1870 | 25,094 | 30.5% | |
| 1880 | 26,053 | 3.8% | |
| 1890 | 23,558 | −9.6% | |
| 1900 | 25,189 | 6.9% | |
| 1910 | 25,910 | 2.9% | |
| 1920 | 25,386 | −2.0% | |
| 1930 | 26,063 | 2.7% | |
| 1940 | 27,699 | 6.3% | |
| 1950 | 26,212 | −5.4% | |
| 1960 | 23,393 | −10.8% | |
| 1970 | 19,596 | −16.2% | |
| 1980 | 20,318 | 3.7% | |
| 1990 | 19,437 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 19,797 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 18,787 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 17,864 | −4.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,328 | −7.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2014 |
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In 2020, the census counted 17,864 people living in Haywood County. There were 7,181 households and 4,727 families.
In 2010, about 50.4% of the people were Black or African American. About 45.9% were White. A small number of people were Native American or Asian. About 3.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Economy of Haywood County
Farming is the biggest industry in Haywood County. The county grows more cotton than any other county in Tennessee. In 2003, farmers grew 189,000 bales of cotton on 103,000 acres of land. Soybeans were the second most important crop, followed by corn. In 2004, farming and related businesses brought in over $130 million for Haywood County. By 2017, other crops like grains and tobacco also brought in a lot of money, but cotton was still the top crop.
In 2009, a large area of land was set aside for a big industrial site near Stanton. This site was meant for a major factory or business, like a car factory. In 2021, the Ford company and SK Innovation announced they would build a huge complex there called "Blue Oval City". This facility will make electric vehicles and batteries. It is expected to open in 2025 and will cost about $5.6 billion. This is the largest single investment ever made in Tennessee. It is also expected to create about 5,700 jobs.
Communities in Haywood County
Cities
- Brownsville (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Towns
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or towns.
Notable People from Haywood County
Many interesting people have lived in Haywood County.
One famous person was Sleepy John Estes. He was a blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He was born around 1899 or 1900 and lived most of his life in Brownsville. He passed away in Brownsville in 1977.
Other notable residents include:
- Tony Delk: A basketball player who was picked early in the NBA draft. He grew up in Brownsville.
- Hambone Willie Newbern: A blues musician from the Brownsville area.
- Tina Turner: A world-famous singer who spent her childhood in Nutbush, Haywood County. Her song "Nutbush City Limits" was inspired by the town.
- Elbert Williams: An activist who worked to protect voting rights.
Images for kids
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Age pyramid for Haywood County
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Haywood (Tennessee) para niños
