Macon County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Macon County
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Macon County Courthouse in Lafayette
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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 | 1842 | |
| Named for | Nathaniel Macon | |
| Seat | Lafayette | |
| Largest city | Lafayette | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 307 sq mi (800 km2) | |
| • Land | 307 sq mi (800 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) 0.03%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,216  |
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| • Density | 72/sq mi (28/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 6th | |
Macon County is a special area called a county in the state of Tennessee, USA. In 2020, about 25,216 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Lafayette. Macon County is also part of the larger Nashville area.
Contents
History of Macon County
Macon County was created in 1842. It was formed from parts of two other counties: Smith and Sumner. The county was named after Nathaniel Macon. He was a hero from the American Revolutionary War and later served as a U.S. Senator. The county seat, Lafayette, was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who helped America in the Revolutionary War.
Macon County and the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Macon County was different from many nearby areas in Middle Tennessee. Most counties in Middle Tennessee supported the Confederate side. However, Macon County, much like its neighbors in Kentucky, mostly supported the Union (the North).
On June 8, 1861, Tennessee voted on whether to leave the Union. Macon County voted to stay in the Union by a vote of 697 to 447. It was one of only eight counties in Middle or West Tennessee to support the Union. Many people from Macon County joined Union army groups, especially the Ninth Infantry Regiment from Kentucky. They often had to cross into Kentucky because people who supported the Confederates in Tennessee made it hard for them to stay.
Red Boiling Springs Resort
Red Boiling Springs is the second-largest town in Macon County. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became a popular place to visit. People came for its mineral springs, which were thought to have healing powers. Three old hotels from that time are still open today: the Donoho Hotel, the Thomas House Hotel, and the Armour's Hotel. Only Armour's Hotel still offers mineral water treatments.
Geography of Macon County
Macon County covers about 307 square miles. Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water. The county is located in the northeastern part of the Highland Rim. This area is generally rugged and has many hills.
Neighboring Counties
Macon County shares borders with these other counties:
- Monroe County, Kentucky (to the northeast)
- Clay County (to the east)
- Jackson County (to the southeast)
- Smith County (to the south)
- Trousdale County (to the southwest)
- Sumner County (to the west)
- Allen County, Kentucky (to the northwest)
People of Macon County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 6,948 | — | |
| 1860 | 7,290 | 4.9% | |
| 1870 | 6,633 | −9.0% | |
| 1880 | 9,321 | 40.5% | |
| 1890 | 10,878 | 16.7% | |
| 1900 | 12,881 | 18.4% | |
| 1910 | 14,559 | 13.0% | |
| 1920 | 14,922 | 2.5% | |
| 1930 | 13,872 | −7.0% | |
| 1940 | 14,904 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 13,599 | −8.8% | |
| 1960 | 12,197 | −10.3% | |
| 1970 | 12,315 | 1.0% | |
| 1980 | 15,700 | 27.5% | |
| 1990 | 15,906 | 1.3% | |
| 2000 | 20,386 | 28.2% | |
| 2010 | 22,248 | 9.1% | |
| 2020 | 25,216 | 13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, the census counted 25,216 people living in Macon County. There were 9,170 households and 6,215 families. Most people in the county are White (about 89%). About 6.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Towns and Communities
Macon County has two main cities and several smaller communities.
Cities
- Lafayette (This is the county seat)
- Red Boiling Springs
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities or towns:
- Beech Bottom
- Beech Hill
- Hillsdale
- Siloam
- Webbtown
- Willette
Getting Around Macon County
Highways
Several state routes pass through Macon County, making it easy to travel:
SR 10
SR 52
SR 56
SR 80
SR 141
SR 151
SR 261
SR 262
Airport
The Lafayette Municipal Airport is also located in the county.
Media in Macon County
Newspapers
You can read local news from these newspapers:
- Macon County Chronicle
- Macon County Times
Radio
Tune into these local radio stations:
- WEEN 1460 AM and 97.5 FM
- WLCT 102.1 FM
Television
Macon County is part of the Nashville TV market. North Central Telephone Cooperative is the main company that provides cable television in the county.
Images for kids
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Old Galen Elementary School building near Lafayette
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Macon (Tennessee) para niños
