Chester County, Tennessee

History

Chester County was the last county formed in Tennessee, created by the General Assembly in 1875 from adjacent parts of neighboring Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy, and Madison counties. This land was used to create a county named Wisdom County, but "Wisdom County" was never organized, and in March 1879 the Assembly repealed this and created Chester County out of the same land. Lawsuits by opponents of the creation of the new county delayed actual organization until 1882. Chester County was named for Colonel Robert I. Chester, a quartermaster in the War of 1812, an early postmaster in Jackson, and a federal marshal.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 sqmi, of which 286 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi (0.08%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Henderson County (northeast)
• Hardin County (southeast)
• McNairy County (south)
• Hardeman County (southwest)
• Madison County (northwest)

State protected areas

• Chickasaw State Park
• Chickasaw State Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 17,341 people, 6,503 households, and 4,471 families residing in the county.

The median age was 38.8 years, with 22.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 17.9% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males.

34.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 65.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,503 households in the county, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.6% were married-couple households, 17.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,212 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.

The county's racial composition from the 2020 census redistricting data is shown below.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,540 people, 5,660 households, and 4,199 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 /mi2. There were 6,178 housing units at an average density of 21 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.13% White (non-Hispanic), 10.03% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000 there were 5,660 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 14.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,349, and the median income for a family was $41,127. Males had a median income of $31,378 versus $21,615 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,756. About 11.10% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are six schools in the Chester County School District. Chester County High School serves the whole county and holds grades 9–12. Chester County Junior High School holds grades 6 through 8 for the entire county. Chester County Middle School serves the whole county's students in grades 4 and 5. East Chester County Elementary School, West Chester County Elementary School, and Jacks Creek Elementary School all hold kindergarten through 3rd grade. | access-date = May 29, 2008}}

Henderson is the home of Freed-Hardeman University.

Communities

City

• Henderson (County Seat)

Town

• Enville (partial)
• Milledgeville (partial)
• Silerton (partial)
• Finger (partial)

Census-designated place

• Jacks Creek

Unincorporated communities

• Deanburg
• Hickory Corners
• Masseyville
• Mifflin
• Montezuma
• Sweet Lips
• Woodville

In popular culture

• Country musician Eddy Arnold, a native of Henderson, titled his 1969 autobiography It's A Long Way From Chester County.
• The 1973 movie Walking Tall was filmed in Henderson and elsewhere in Chester County, including important scenes filmed in the county courthouse; many local residents served as extras or played bit parts.

Politics

Chester County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

References

References

1. Tara Mitchell Mielnik, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=241 Chester County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: June 23, 2013.
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Chester County, Tennessee". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. (2007). "Tennessee: Individual County Chronologies". [[The Newberry Library]].
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".