Trousdale County, Tennessee

History

Trousdale County was formed in 1870 from parts of Macon, Smith, Sumner and Wilson counties. It was named for William Trousdale (1790–1872), Brigadier General in the Mexican War, Governor of Tennessee, 1849–1851, and U.S. Minister to Brazil, 1853–1857. Hartsvillians had initially sought the creation of their own, separate county in 1849, but the effort failed.

On December 7, 1862, The Battle of Hartsville occurred within the boundaries of the county (although Trousdale County was not officially a county until 1870), with the Confederate forces under John Hunt Morgan defeating the Union forces of Absalom B. Moore in a surprise attack on their campsite. Morgan captured most of the Union forces and marched them South to Lebanon, Tennessee.

In the early part of the 20th century, a series of floods left the county seat devastated, with some floodwaters reaching flood stage of nine to twelve feet. There are photographs showing residents of the county canoeing in front of the flooded courthouse. During the Second World War, American infantry often trained in Trousdale County, simulating battles and participating in minor war games on the countryside owned by local farmers. After the war, the county flourished with the railroad running through the county. However, after the trains stopped running through the county, business slowed and suffered economically.

In 2020, an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, a privately operated prison, made Trousdale County the county with the highest per capita infection rate in the United States as of May 5, 2020. As of May 8, 1,284 prisoners at Trousdale had tested positive for the coronavirus, as had 50 employees and contractors at the facility.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 117 sqmi, of which 114 sqmi is land and 2.5 sqmi (2.1%) is water. It is the smallest county by area in Tennessee.

Adjacent counties

• Macon County (north)
• Smith County (east)
• Wilson County (south)
• Sumner County (west)

State protected areas

• Old Hickory Wildlife Management Area (part)

Highways

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,615 people, 3,469 households, and 2,083 families residing in the county.

The median age was 39.1 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 152.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 165.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% White, 16.5% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.8% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,469 households in the county, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.0% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,749 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,259 people, 2,780 households, and 2,034 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 /mi2. There were 3,095 housing units at an average density of 27 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.57% White, 11.35% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,780 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% 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 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,212, and the median income for a family was $37,401. Males had a median income of $27,466 versus $21,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,838. About 9.70% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like most other Middle Tennessee counties, Trousdale was formerly a Democratic stronghold that in the 21st century has transformed along with other rural counties in this region into becoming safely Republican. The only Republican presidential candidate to win the county before John McCain in 2008 was Richard Nixon in his 1972 landslide re-election. Since McCain's victory, the Republican margin of victory has dramatically increased with each presidential election.

Communities

Hartsville, the county seat, is the only officially constituted municipality in Trousdale County. Former Unincorporated communities include:

• Beech Grove
• Shady Grove

References

References

1. "[http://www.genealogyinc.com/tennessee/trousdale-county/] ''Genealogy Inc. Trousdale County, Tennessee Facts''. Retrieved: June 12, 2016.
2. Jeffrey Durbin, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1405 Trousdale County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: April 19, 2013.
3. [http://www.usa.com/hartsville-trousdale-county-tn.htm Hartsville/Trousdale County], USA.com. Retrieved: November 6, 2013.
4. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
6. Ridley Wills II, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1381 Thoroughbred Horse Breeding and Racing]." ''The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture'', 2009. Retrieved: February 11, 2013.
7. Tennessee Department of Correction. (April 30, 2020). "Tennessee Bed Space and Operating Capacities Report".
8. See [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html "Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count" ''The New York Times'' May 15, 2020.]
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10. Finley, Jeremy. (May 8, 2020). "Recorded conversations reveal life inside prison ravaged by COVID-19". WSMV Nashville.
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15. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
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19. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
20. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
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22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".