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Saulsbury, Tennessee
Town
Cows graze in rural Saulsbury, 2019
Cows graze in rural Saulsbury, 2019
Location of Saulsbury in Hardeman County, Tennessee.
Location of Saulsbury in Hardeman County, Tennessee.
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Hardeman
Area
 • Total 0.60 sq mi (1.57 km2)
 • Land 0.60 sq mi (1.57 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
535 ft (163 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 112
 • Density 185.12/sq mi (71.44/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
38067
Area code(s) 731
FIPS code 47-66680
GNIS feature ID 1300805

Saulsbury is a small town in the countryside of Hardeman County, Tennessee. You can find it along State Highway 57 in the southwestern part of Hardeman County. In 2020, about 112 people lived there. Saulsbury is the smallest town in Tennessee that has its own local government.

History of Saulsbury

Saulsbury's story began with an older settlement called Berlin, Tennessee. Berlin was located about one mile south of where Saulsbury is today. Two important mail roads met there. One road went from Bolivar to Ripley, Mississippi. The other went from LaGrange to Corinth, Mississippi.

From Berlin to Saulsbury

Where these roads crossed, a trading center grew. In 1839, a post office opened in Berlin. By 1846, Berlin became an official town. Within five years, 351 people lived there.

However, things changed when the Memphis and Charleston Railroad was built. The railroad needed to buy land for its tracks. One landowner in Berlin refused to sell their property. So, the railroad built its tracks one mile north instead. This new land belonged to Burrell Sauls and Berry Futrell.

The new railroad station and tracks were named Sauls-Berry Depot. Over time, people started moving from Berlin to this new settlement. Berlin eventually became empty. In 1856, Saulsbury was officially made a town.

Saulsbury During the Civil War

After the city of Memphis was taken in 1862, the Union Army also took control of Saulsbury. Fights continued in the area. Eventually, Saulsbury returned to Confederate control. Confederate soldiers used Saulsbury as a meeting point. From there, they would travel to Corinth to join their groups.

After the Civil War, many towns in the area struggled. But Saulsbury managed to stay strong. The town's cotton production also survived the war. Saulsbury became a top producer of cotton in the region. The town also produced eggs, turkeys, other poultry, and hogs. These products were often sent to Memphis to be sold. In the 1870s, sand mining became a big business. It provided 47 different kinds of sand for making brass items.

The 1999 Tornado Event

On January 17, 1999, an F1 tornado touched down near Saulsbury. An F1 tornado is a strong type of tornado. It moved northeast and caused a lot of damage. One person sadly died, and four others were hurt. Fourteen houses and mobile homes were completely destroyed. Another twenty-seven homes were damaged. Power lines and trees were also badly hit.

Because of this tornado, Saulsbury installed a tornado siren. It was placed at the local fire station. At that time, it was the only tornado siren in the area.

Geography and Location

Saulsbury is located at 35°2′57″N 89°5′20″W / 35.04917°N 89.08889°W / 35.04917; -89.08889. This tells you its exact spot on a map.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers about 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 337
1870 400 18.7%
1880 188 −53.0%
1910 199
1920 190 −4.5%
1930 207 8.9%
1940 202 −2.4%
1950 143 −29.2%
1960 141 −1.4%
1970 156 10.6%
1980 156 0.0%
1990 106 −32.1%
2000 99 −6.6%
2010 81 −18.2%
2020 112 38.3%
Sources:

A census is like a big count of all the people living in a place. The 2000 census showed 99 people in Saulsbury. By 2010, the population had gone down to 81. But in 2020, it went up to 112 people.

In 2000, there were 43 households in the town. A household is a group of people living together. About 25% of these households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together. Some households had a single female parent. Others were individuals living alone.

The average age of people in Saulsbury in 2000 was 46 years old. About 24% of the population was under 18. About 21% of the population was 65 or older.

Climate and Weather

Saulsbury's climate is much like other places in the Mid-South region.

Seasonal Weather Patterns

  • Summer: Summers are usually hot and humid. Temperatures often go above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, but they usually don't last long.
  • Early Autumn: This season is often drier and mild. It can stay warm until late October. Sometimes, there are sudden but short cold spells.
  • Late Autumn: This time of year is rainier and colder. December is one of the wettest months.
  • Winter: Winters are generally mild. However, cold spells can happen. Snowfall is not heavy, but it does snow most winters. There are usually one or two big winter storms by March.
  • Spring: Spring often starts in late February or early March. It begins with a quick warm-up. This season is also known as "severe weather season." This is because there are more tornadoes, hail, and strong thunderstorms. Spring months usually get more rain than other times of the year.

Historically, April has the most tornadoes. However, tornadoes can happen in any month. The amount of tornado activity in the Saulsbury area is higher than the average for Tennessee. The area gets a lot of sunshine, about 62.5% of the time.

Arts and Community Life

In the 1970s, the Saulsbury Methodist Church building was given to the town. This building, built in 1913, became the community library. People raised money to fix up the building. They added heating and air conditioning. They also made it easy for everyone to access.

Saulsbury has many old homes and buildings that are still standing from before the Civil War. These are called antebellum buildings. The town also has three active community clubs:

  • The Saulsbury Community Club
  • The Nifty Needles Women's Club
  • The Friendship Club

Annual Events and Activities

Saulsbury hosts three main events every December:

  • A Christmas tree-lighting ceremony
  • The Community Celebration
  • A home decorating contest

Throughout the year, the community also holds other events. These include a bake-off, a fish fry in June, and an annual stew sale in October. All these events help raise money for community projects.

Transportation

Main Roads

  • State Route 57 is the main road that goes through Saulsbury.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Saulsbury para niños

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