Giles County, Tennessee

History

Giles County is named after William Branch Giles, a senator from Virginia who sponsored the admission of Tennessee as the 16th state into the Union. He also sponsored the building of the city and courthouse, which has burned four times. The current courthouse was built in 1909. One of Giles County's local heroes is James McCallum, who served as grandmaster of the Tennessee Masons, a member of the Confederate Congress, and mayor. He lived in Giles County for 70 years.

Until Maury County was established in November 1807, the area of the future Giles County was part of Williamson County. Two years after the formation of Maury County, Giles County was created from southern Maury County on November 14, 1809, by an act of the state legislature. Nearly half of the new county lay in Chickasaw territory until September 1816.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 611 sqmi, of which 0.2 sqmi (0.04%) is covered by water.

Adjacent counties

• Maury County (north)
• Marshall County (northeast)
• Lincoln County (east)
• Limestone County, Alabama (south)
• Lauderdale County, Alabama (southwest)
• Lawrence County (west)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014 2020 2023

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,346 and 7,807 families residing in the county. The median age was 44.0 years. 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 82.9% White, 9.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian,

26.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 73.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 12,327 households in the county, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.0% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,915 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,447 people, 11,713 households, and 8,363 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 /mi2. There were 13,113 housing units at an average density of 22 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.44% White, 11.80% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,713 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,824, and the median income for a family was $41,714. Males had a median income of $31,221 versus $22,221 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,543. About 9.00% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Crime

On November 15, 1995, Giles County received minor notoriety after a shooting occurred at Richland High School in the community of Lynnville. A senior student named Jamie Rouse shot two teachers and a student in the north entrance of the school. One teacher (Carolyn Foster) and the student (Diane Collins) were killed, while teacher Carolyn Yancey was wounded in the crime. Rouse was convicted of the shooting and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2000, there were 1,268 arrests made in Giles County, with 781 arrests in the city of Pulaski. One homicide occurred in that year. Based on a 2003 recording conducted by the Uniform Crime Report, the delinquency rate dropped to 71 arrests being made, with 8.8 percent of the county population being arrested that year. No homicides occurred in Giles County in 2003.

Transportation

Airport

Abernathy Field is a public use airport owned by Giles County and the City of Pulaski. It is located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Pulaski.

Major highways

Communities

Cities

• Ardmore (partial)
• Elkton
• Minor Hill
• Pulaski (county seat)

Town

• Lynnville

Census-designated places

• Frankewing
• Prospect

Unincorporated communities

• Aspen Hill
• Aymett Town
• Beech Hill
• Berea
• Campbellsville
• Five Points
• Goodspring
• Liberty Hill
• Olivet
• Waco
• Weakley

Politics

Although historically part of overwhelmingly Democratic and secessionist Middle Tennessee, Giles County has, like much of the rural white South, become overwhelmingly Republican since 2000 due to opposition to the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues.

Notable people

• Walter Herschel Beech, co-founder of Beechcraft Aircraft; born in Giles County.
• Aaron V. Brown, Governor of Tennessee from 1845 to 1847; resident of Giles County, Tennessee.
• Neill S. Brown, Governor of Tennessee from 1847 to 1849; born in Giles County.
• John C. Brown, Governor of Tennessee from 1871 to 1875; born in Giles County.
• James McCallum, Grandmaster of the Tennessee Masons, a member of the Confederate Congress, and mayor. He lived in Giles County for 70 years.
• John Crowe Ransom, educator, scholar, literary critic, poet, essayist and editor; born in Giles County.
• Tyree R. Rivers, US Army brigadier general, raised in Giles County
• William C. Rivers, US Army major general, raised in Giles County
• James David Vaughan, music teacher, composer, song book publisher, the founder of the Vaughan Conservatory of Music and the James D. Vaughan Publishing Company; born in Giles County.
• Archibald Wright, Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1858 to 1885; raised in Giles County.

References

References

1. Margaret Butler, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=544 Giles County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: June 28, 2013.
2. "QuickFacts: Giles County, Tennessee".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "Welcome to Giles County Tennessee". Gilescounty-tn.us.
5. McCallum, James. (1876). "A Brief Sketch of the Settlement and Early History of Giles County Tennessee".
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
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9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
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15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
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28. Davis, Henry Blaine Jr.. (1998). "Generals In Khaki". Pentland Press.
29. Albert D. Marks, "The Supreme Court of Tennessee", Part II, ''[[The Green Bag (1889–1914). The Green Bag]]'', Volume 5 (1893), p. 180-82.