Obion County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Obion County
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Obion 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 |
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| State |  Tennessee |
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| Founded | 1824 | |
| Named for | Obion River | |
| Seat | Union City | |
| Largest city | Union City | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 556 sq mi (1,440 km2) | |
| • Land | 545 sq mi (1,410 km2) | |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (30 km2) 1.9% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,787  |
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| • Density | 58/sq mi (22/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 8th | |
Obion County is a county located in the northwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,787. The county seat is Union City. The county was formed in 1823 and organized in 1824. It was named after the Obion River.
Obion County is part of the Union City, TN–KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Martin–Union City, TN Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
In the year, 1811 there was a large seismic activity located on the New Madrid Fault Line. The series of earthquakes, while devastating, formed Reelfoot Lake.
Obion was later established in 1823 and organized the following year. It was named for the Obion River, which flows through the county and is a tributary of the nearby Mississippi River. The word "Obion" is believed to be derived from a Native American word meaning "many forks", or from an Irish trapper named O'Brien.
The founding of Obion County originally came from the expansion of railroads. The county has since moved towards many agricultural and manufacturing productions.
In 2013, Discovery Park of America opened in Union City. Discovery Park is a 50-acre encyclopedic museum and heritage park with exhibits pertaining to local and national history, military history, art, science, and technology.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 556 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 545 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.9%) is water. It is located in the "rolling hills of northwest Tennessee".
Adjacent counties
- Fulton County, Kentucky (north)
- Hickman County, Kentucky (northeast)
- Weakley County (east)
- Gibson County (southeast)
- Dyer County (southwest)
- Lake County (west)
National protected area
- Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge (part)
State protected areas
- Glover Wetland Wildlife Management Area
- Gooch Wildlife Management Area
- Hop-In Refuge
- Obion River Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Reelfoot Lake State Natural Area (part)
- Reelfoot Lake State Park (part)
- Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area
Major highways
I-69
US 45
US 45E
US 45W
US 51
SR 5
SR 21
SR 22
SR 157
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 2,099 | — | |
| 1840 | 4,814 | 129.3% | |
| 1850 | 7,633 | 58.6% | |
| 1860 | 12,817 | 67.9% | |
| 1870 | 15,584 | 21.6% | |
| 1880 | 22,912 | 47.0% | |
| 1890 | 27,273 | 19.0% | |
| 1900 | 28,286 | 3.7% | |
| 1910 | 29,946 | 5.9% | |
| 1920 | 28,393 | −5.2% | |
| 1930 | 29,086 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 30,978 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 29,056 | −6.2% | |
| 1960 | 26,957 | −7.2% | |
| 1970 | 29,936 | 11.1% | |
| 1980 | 32,781 | 9.5% | |
| 1990 | 31,717 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 32,450 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 31,807 | −2.0% | |
| 2020 | 30,787 | −3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 24,736 | 80.35% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,137 | 10.19% |
| Native American | 50 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 103 | 0.33% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,187 | 3.86% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,574 | 5.11% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,787 people, 12,717 households, and 8,389 families residing in the county.
Education
Obion County Schools
- School District website
| School Name | Team Mascot | School Colors | School Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Road Elementary School | Generals | Blue/Orange | [1] |
| Hillcrest Elementary School | Cougars | Red/Navy Blue | [2] |
| Ridgemont Elementary School | Mustangs | Red/Yellow | [3] |
| Black Oak Elementary School | Eagles | Yellow/Blue | [4] |
| South Fulton Elementary School | Red Devils | Red/White | [5] |
| South Fulton Middle and High School | Red Devils | Red/White | [6] |
| Obion County Central High School | Rebels | Red/White/Blue | [7] |
Union City Schools
- School District Website
| School Name | Team Mascot | School Colors | School Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union City Elementary School | Tornadoes | Purple/Gold | 1 |
| Union City Middle School | Tornadoes | Purple/Gold | 1 |
| Union City High School | Tornadoes | Purple/Gold | 1 |
Attractions
Obion County is home to many attractions and activities.
- Discovery Park of America focuses on nature, science, technology, history, and art. Discovery Park is the main source of tourism to Obion County.
- Reelfoot Lake is a protected area in Obion County. It is a venue for hiking, boating, and nature.
- Masquerade Theatre is a local theater groups. What started as the historical Capitol Theater has now been renovated to meet the community's needs.
- The Obion County Fair is one of the biggest events held in the county. Fair Rides, Agricultural displays, pageants, and much more are held in late August every year.
Media
- WENK-AM 1240 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
- WWGY 99.3 "Today's Best Music with Ace & TJ in the Morning"
- WQAK-FM 105.7 "The Quake" (alternative rock)
- The Union City Daily Messenger The county's Newspaper since 1926
Other services
Obion County has a public library, with a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) building and a catalog of over 70,000 books, video and audio materials.
Residents of the county's unincorporated communities have the option of paying $75 per year if they want firefighting services from the city of South Fulton.
Communities
Cities
- South Fulton
- Union City (county seat)
- Woodland Mills
Towns
- Hornbeak
- Kenton (partly in Gibson County)
- Obion
- Rives
- Samburg
- Trimble (mostly in Dyer County)
- Troy
Unincorporated communities
- Cunningham
- Dixie
- Midway
- Protemus
- Walnut Log
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Obion para niños
