Weakley County, Tennessee Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Weakley County

U.S. county

Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee

Tennessee's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Tennessee

Founded

October 21, 1823

Robert Weakley

Largest city

Area

• Total

582 sq mi (1,510 km²)

• Land

580 sq mi (1,500 km²)

• Water

1.4 sq mi (4 km²) 0.2%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

32,902

• Density

57/sq mi (22/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

8th

Weakley County is a county located in the northwest of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,902. Its county seat is Dresden. Its largest city is Martin, the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. The county was established by the Tennessee General Assembly on October 21, 1823, and is named for U.S. Congressman Robert Weakley (1764–1845). Weakley County comprises the Martin, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Geography
- Adjacent counties
- State protected areas
Demographics
- 2020 census
Media
- Radio
- Print
Education
- Weakley County Schools
Communities
See also

History

Weakley County was created in October 1823 from some of the land that the Chickasaw people ceded to the United States in the Treaty of 1818. The county was named after Colonel Robert Weakley, a member of the House of Representatives, a speaker of the State Senate, and the man commissioned to treat (negotiate) with the Chickasaw.

During the 19th century, the county was the state's largest corn producer. By the latter half of the 20th century, soybeans became the county's leading crop.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles (1,510 km²), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (0.2%) is water. The North Fork of the Obion River flows through the northern half of the county, the Middle Fork flows across the central portion of the county, and the South Fork flows across the southern part of the county. The Obion is a tributary of the Mississippi River.

Adjacent counties

Hickman County, Kentucky (northwest)
Graves County, Kentucky (north)
Henry County (east)
Carroll County (southeast)
Gibson County (southwest)
Obion County (west)

State protected areas

Bean Switch Refuge
Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area
Big Cypress Tree State Park
Harts Mill Wetland Wildlife Management Area (part)
Obion River Wildlife Management Area (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	4,797	—
1840	9,870	105.8%
1850	14,608	48.0%
1860	18,216	24.7%
1870	20,755	13.9%
1880	24,538	18.2%
1890	28,955	18.0%
1900	32,546	12.4%
1910	31,929	−1.9%
1920	31,053	−2.7%
1930	29,262	−5.8%
1940	29,498	0.8%
1950	27,962	−5.2%
1960	24,227	−13.4%
1970	28,827	19.0%
1980	32,896	14.1%
1990	31,972	−2.8%
2000	34,895	9.1%
2010	35,021	0.4%
2020	32,902	−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

Age pyramid for Weakley County

2020 census

Weakley County racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	27,813	84.53%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,593	7.88%
Native American	52	0.16%
Asian	192	0.58%
Pacific Islander	3	0.01%
Other/Mixed	1,344	4.08%
Hispanic or Latino	905	2.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,902 people, 13,640 households, and 8,677 families residing in the county.

Media

Radio

WWGY 99.3 "Today's Best Music with "Ace & TJ in the Morning"
WRQR-FM 105.5 "Today's Best Music with "Ace & TJ in the Morning"
WENK-AM 1240 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
WTPR-AM 710 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
WTPR-FM 101.7 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
WCMT-AM 1410 100.5FM
WCMT-FM 101.3
WUTM-FM 90.3
(WCDZ FM 95.1 and 102.9FM)
WCMT-AM 1410 "your best friend"

Print

Dresden Enterprise - located in Dresden, the county seat.
The Weakley County Press - located in Martin
The Pacer - Student newspaper of the University of Tennessee at Martin

Education

Weakley County Schools

School District website - http://www.weakleyschools.com/

School Name	Team Mascot	School Colors	School Website
Dresden Elementary School	Lions	Black, Gold	http://www.des.weakleyschools.com/
Dresden Middle School	Lions	Black/Gold	http://www.dms.weakleyschools.com/
Dresden High School	Lions	Black/Gold	http://www.dhs.weakleyschools.com/
Gleason School	Bulldogs	Orange/Black	http://www.gls.weakleyschools.com/cms/One.aspx
Greenfield School	Yellowjackets	Black/Orange	http://www.grs.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Elementary School	Chargers	Blue/White	http://www.mes.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Middle School	Chargers	Blue/White	http://www.mms.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Primary School	N/A	Blue/Yellow	http://www.mps.weakleyschools.com/
Sharon School	Eagles	Purple/Yellow	http://www.ss.weakleyschools.com/
Westview High School	Chargers	Royal Blue/Yellow Gold	http://www.whs.weakleyschools.com/