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 in the northwest corner of Tennessee. In 2020, about 30,787 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Union City. The county was started in 1823 and officially set up in 1824. It was named after the Obion River.
Obion County is part of the Union City, TN–KY Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's a smaller city area that connects to a larger one.
Contents
History of Obion County
In 1811, a series of big earthquakes happened along the New Madrid Fault Line. These powerful earthquakes created Reelfoot Lake.
Obion County was officially started in 1823 and set up in 1824. It was named after the Obion River, which flows through the county. The river is a branch of the nearby Mississippi River. The name "Obion" might come from a Native American word meaning "many forks." It could also be from an Irish trapper named O'Brien.
Obion County first grew because of new railroads. Over time, the county became known for its farming and manufacturing.
In 2013, Discovery Park of America opened in Union City. This is a huge museum and park, covering 50 acres. It has exhibits about local and national history, military history, art, science, and technology.
Geography and Nature
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Obion County covers about 556 square miles. Most of this area, 545 square miles, is land. The rest, 11 square miles, is water. The county is located in the "rolling hills of northwest Tennessee."
Neighboring Counties
- Fulton County, Kentucky (north)
- Hickman County, Kentucky (northeast)
- Weakley County (east)
- Gibson County (southeast)
- Dyer County (southwest)
- Lake County (west)
Protected Natural Areas
Obion County has several important natural areas:
- Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- 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 Roads
I-69
US 45
US 45E
US 45W
US 51
SR 5
SR 21
SR 22
SR 157
People of Obion County
| 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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In 2020, there were 30,787 people living in Obion County. There were 12,717 households and 8,389 families.
Education in Obion County
Obion County has two main school districts: Obion County Schools and Union City Schools.
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 |
Fun Things to Do
Obion County has many fun places to visit and activities to enjoy.
- Discovery Park of America is a big museum focusing on nature, science, technology, history, and art. It's a major reason tourists visit Obion County.
- Reelfoot Lake is a protected natural area. You can go hiking, boating, and enjoy nature there.
- Masquerade Theatre is a local theater group. It started in the old Capitol Theater, which has been updated for the community.
- The Obion County Fair is one of the biggest events each year. It has rides, farm displays, pageants, and more. It happens every year in late August.
Local Media
- WENK-AM 1240 "The Greatest Hits of All Time" (radio station)
- WWGY 99.3 "Today's Best Music with Ace & TJ in the Morning" (radio station)
- WQAK-FM 105.7 "The Quake" (alternative rock radio station)
- The Union City Daily Messenger (the county's newspaper since 1926)
Communities in Obion County
Cities
- South Fulton
- Union City (the county seat)
- Woodland Mills
Towns
- Hornbeak
- Kenton (partly in Gibson County)
- Obion
- Rives
- Samburg
- Trimble (mostly in Dyer County)
- Troy
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or towns.
- Cunningham
- Dixie
- Midway
- Protemus
- Walnut Log
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Obion para niños
