Humphreys County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Humphreys County
|
|
|---|---|
Humphreys County Courthouse in Waverly
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
|
|
 Tennessee's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1809 |
| Named for | Parry Wayne Humphreys |
| Seat | Waverly |
| Largest city | Waverly |
| Area | |
| • Total | 557 sq mi (1,440 km2) |
| • Land | 531 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Water | 26 sq mi (70 km2) 4.6%% |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 18,990  |
| • Density | 34/sq mi (13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
Humphreys County is a county located in the western part of Middle Tennessee, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,990. Its county seat is Waverly.
The county is named after American jurist and politician Parry Wayne Humphreys. It was established in 1809 from the southern portion of Stewart County.
Contents
History
Humphreys County was established in 1809 from parts of Stewart County, and named for Parry Wayne Humphreys, a young Justice of the State Supreme Court, who was later elected as US Congressman from this area. The county seat was initially located at Reynoldsburg, near the mouth of Dry Creek. When the western half of the county was taken to form Benton County to the west in 1835, the seat of Humphreys was newly designated as Waverly, a town that was more centrally located in the redefined jurisdiction.
During the Civil War, the Battle of Johnsonville was fought for two days in the western half of the county in November 1864. The remnants of the battle site are preserved and interpreted at Johnsonville State Historic Park. But much of the battlefield has been submerged by Kentucky Lake, created by dams on the Tennessee River for flood control.
Since the mid-20th century, this area developed increasing ties with the major city of Nashville. Agricultural areas have been developed for residential communities and suburban businesses. As Nashville and the region have prospered, businesses and supporting services have also developed in this county.
21st century
On the morning of August 21, 2021, storms riding along a stationary front in western Middle Tennessee produced widespread flash flooding across the counties of Stewart, Houston, Dickson, Hickman, and Humphreys. Especially hard hit were the towns of McEwen and Waverly, where many homes and businesses were destroyed by floodwaters along Trace Creek. Twenty people were killed as a result of the flooding throughout the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 557 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 531 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (4.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Houston County (north)
- Dickson County (northeast)
- Hickman County (southeast)
- Perry County (south)
- Benton County (west)
National protected area
State protected area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,511 | — | |
| 1820 | 4,067 | 169.2% | |
| 1830 | 6,187 | 52.1% | |
| 1840 | 5,195 | −16.0% | |
| 1850 | 6,422 | 23.6% | |
| 1860 | 9,096 | 41.6% | |
| 1870 | 9,326 | 2.5% | |
| 1880 | 11,379 | 22.0% | |
| 1890 | 11,720 | 3.0% | |
| 1900 | 13,398 | 14.3% | |
| 1910 | 13,908 | 3.8% | |
| 1920 | 13,482 | −3.1% | |
| 1930 | 12,039 | −10.7% | |
| 1940 | 12,421 | 3.2% | |
| 1950 | 11,030 | −11.2% | |
| 1960 | 11,511 | 4.4% | |
| 1970 | 13,560 | 17.8% | |
| 1980 | 15,957 | 17.7% | |
| 1990 | 15,795 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 17,929 | 13.5% | |
| 2010 | 18,538 | 3.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,990 | 2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
|||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 17,102 | 90.06% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 494 | 2.6% |
| Native American | 43 | 0.23% |
| Asian | 57 | 0.3% |
| Other/Mixed | 845 | 4.45% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 449 | 2.36% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,990 people, 6,763 households, and 4,375 families residing in the county.
Communities
Cities
- McEwen
- New Johnsonville
- Waverly (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
- Bakerville
- Buffalo
- Cedar Grove
- Hurricane Mills
- Hustburg
- Polecat
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Humphreys (Tennessee) para niños
