Morgan County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morgan County
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Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg
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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 | 1817 |
| Named for | Daniel Morgan |
| Seat | Wartburg |
| Largest community | Coalfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 522 sq mi (1,350 km2) |
| • Land | 522 sq mi (1,350 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) 0.06%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 21,035  |
| • Density | 42/sq mi (16/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Morgan County is a county found in the state of Tennessee, USA. In 2020, about 21,035 people lived there. The main town and county seat (where the county government is) is Wartburg. Morgan County is also part of the larger Knoxville area.
Contents
History of Morgan County
Morgan County was created in 1817. It was formed from parts of two other counties: Anderson and Roane. The county was named after Daniel Morgan (1736–1802). He was a brave officer in the American Revolutionary War. He led troops to victory against the British at the Battle of Cowpens. Later, he became a U.S. congressman for Virginia.
The land that became Morgan County was once owned by the Cherokee people. They gave up these lands in 1805 with the Third Treaty of Tellico. The first county seat was Montgomery. But in 1870, the county seat was moved to Wartburg.
Tornado in 2002
On November 10, 2002, a powerful tornado hit Morgan County. It destroyed 50 homes. Sadly, seven people lost their lives in the communities of Mossy Grove and Joyner.
Geography and Nature
Morgan County covers about 522 square miles. Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water. The county is located on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau. This area is known for its rough, mountainous land and its cool, clear streams and rivers.
The Crab Orchard Mountains cover a large part of the county. This area includes special wilderness zones, Frozen Head State Park, and Lone Mountain State Forest.
The Emory River starts on the slopes of Bird Mountain, near Wartburg. The Obed River is a special "national wild and scenic river." It flows into the Emory River southwest of Wartburg. The Clear Fork river forms part of Morgan County's border with Fentress County. It joins the New River in Scott County to form the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.
The Cumberland Trail, a long hiking path, also goes through Morgan County.
Neighboring Counties
- Scott County (to the northeast)
- Anderson County (to the east)
- Roane County (to the south)
- Cumberland County (to the southwest)
- Fentress County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
Morgan County is home to parts of several important protected areas:
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
- Obed Wild and Scenic River
Tennessee State Parks and Forests
- Catoosa Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Frozen Head State Natural Area
- Frozen Head State Park
- Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park
- Lone Mountain State Forest
- North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Rugby State Natural Area
People of Morgan County (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,676 | — | |
| 1830 | 2,582 | 54.1% | |
| 1840 | 2,660 | 3.0% | |
| 1850 | 3,430 | 28.9% | |
| 1860 | 3,353 | −2.2% | |
| 1870 | 2,969 | −11.5% | |
| 1880 | 5,156 | 73.7% | |
| 1890 | 7,639 | 48.2% | |
| 1900 | 9,587 | 25.5% | |
| 1910 | 11,458 | 19.5% | |
| 1920 | 13,285 | 15.9% | |
| 1930 | 13,603 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 15,242 | 12.0% | |
| 1950 | 15,727 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 14,304 | −9.0% | |
| 1970 | 13,619 | −4.8% | |
| 1980 | 16,604 | 21.9% | |
| 1990 | 17,300 | 4.2% | |
| 2000 | 19,757 | 14.2% | |
| 2010 | 21,987 | 11.3% | |
| 2020 | 21,035 | −4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
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2020 Census Information
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 19,029 | 90.46% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 971 | 4.62% |
| Native American | 54 | 0.26% |
| Asian | 41 | 0.19% |
| Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 633 | 3.01% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 299 | 1.42% |
In 2020, there were 21,035 people living in Morgan County. These people made up 7,625 households, and 5,659 families.
Towns and Communities
Morgan County has several towns and communities.
Cities
- Harriman (most of this city is in Roane County)
- Sunbright
- Wartburg (this is the county seat)
Towns
- Oakdale
- Oliver Springs (part of this town is also in other counties)
Census-designated places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
Unincorporated communities
These are smaller communities that do not have their own local government.
- Annadel
- Deer Lodge
- Joyner
- Lancing
- Midway
- Rugby (part)
- Shady Grove
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Morgan (Tennessee) para niños
