Editing Adamsville, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Adamsville, Tennessee
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = A-Ville, The Ville
| motto              = The Biggest Little Town in Tennessee

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = Pusser-home.jpg
| image_caption      = [[Buford Pusser]] home
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:McNairy County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Adamsville Highlighted 4700240.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Adamsville in McNairy County, Tennessee.

<!-- Location -->| coordinates        = {{coord|35|15|0|N|88|23|25|W|region:US-TN|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Tennessee]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Tennessee|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[McNairy County, Tennessee|McNairy]], [[Hardin County, Tennessee|Hardin]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Jackie Hamm <ref>http://www.cityofadamsville.com/boards_commissions/city_commission/index.html</ref>
| leader_title1      = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1       = Jennifer Frazier<ref>http://www.cityofadamsville.com/boards_commissions/city_commission/index.html</ref>
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1870

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='47'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 18.35
| area_land_km2      = 18.23
| area_water_km2     = 0.12
| area_total_sq_mi   = 7.09
| area_land_sq_mi    = 7.04
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.05
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 157
| elevation_ft       = 515

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total   = 2265
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_density_km2 = 124.25
| population_density_sq_mi = 321.78

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 38310
| area_code          = [[Area code 731|731]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 47-00240<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
| blank1_info        = 1269295<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofadamsville.com}}
}}

'''Adamsville''' is a city in [[Hardin County, Tennessee|Hardin]] and [[McNairy County, Tennessee|McNairy]] counties, [[Tennessee]], United States. The population was 2,207 at the 2010 census. Adamsville is named after George D. Adams, who operated an inn and stagecoach stop in the 1840s.<ref name=towns>{{cite book|title=Tennessee Towns: from Adams to Yorkville|first=Tom|last=Siler|publisher=East Tennessee Historical Society|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|year=1985|pages=1}}</ref> Adamsville's nickname is the "Biggest Little Town in Tennessee" and was the home of Sheriff [[Buford Pusser]].

==History==
The area in and around Adamsville was first surveyed by [[Davy Crockett]].<ref name="TN">{{cite web | year=2011 | title=Adamsville | publisher=[[Tennessee Department of Tourist Development]] | url=http://www.tnvacation.com/cities-towns/adamsville/ | access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref> Just after 1818, George C. Adams and his family were the first settlers of European ancestry to locate to the area. A trading post would be opened, just north of where the Adamsville Cemetery is today. The trading post served the local [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native]] communities and Anglo settlers. In 1838 the Bell's detachment of the [[Trail of Tears]] traveled through Adamsville. Settlers from [[North Carolina]] and [[Maury County, Tennessee]] migrated to the area and the settlement developed an agricultural economy. When the [[Battle of Shiloh]] was fought in 1862, [[Union Army]] soldiers were camped in Adamsville.<ref name="History">{{cite web|title=History of Adamsville |work=History |publisher=City of Adamsville |url=http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/history.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204054325/http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/history.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 }}

[[Ashley Durham]],</ref> Prior to that battle, the [[Skirmish at Adamsville]] resulted in a Confederate victory.

Adamsville was incorporated in 1870.<ref name="TN"/><ref>{{cite book|title=History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJ8KT_aU9pEC&pg=PA828|year=1886|publisher=Southern Historical Press|page=828| isbn=9780893080976 }}</ref> The town struggled to grow until roads were improved in the early 20th century. Agriculture remained the main economic developer until the textile industry came into the area with Myrna Mills factory opening, and then other factories following.<ref name="History"/>

===Severe Weather===
In 1991 a strong F3 tornado ripped through the little town destroying homes, the tornado had also moved through neighboring city of Selmer.

On October 26, 2019, Post Tropical Storm Olga moved through the area, Adamsville being caught in the eyewall remnants experienced the worst damage in the area. The incident caused one death.

On March 31, 2023, a large and destructive [[Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023#Bethel Springs–Adamsville–Hookers Bend–Hohenwald, Tennessee|EF3 tornado]] tore through the outskirts of town, killing 9 people and injuring 23. The tornado caused major damage to trees and many homes in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/StormDamage/DamageViewer/ | title=ArcGIS Web Application }}</ref>

==Geography==
Adamsville is located at {{Coord|35|15|0|N|88|23|25|W|type:city(1983)_region:US-TN}} (35.250124, -88.390311).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 6.9&nbsp;square miles (18.0&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), of which 6.9&nbsp;square miles (17.9&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) is land and 0.1&nbsp;square mile (0.1&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) (0.72%) is water.

Adamsville is located primarily in McNairy County; only a small part of the municipal area lies in Hardin County.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 459
|1920= 459
|1930= 643
|1940= 719
|1950= 927
|1960= 1046
|1970= 1344
|1980= 1453
|1990= 1745
|2000= 1983
|2010= 2207
|2020= 2265
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 4, 2012|title=Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses }}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:47&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Adamsville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4700240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,066
|91.21%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|59
|2.6%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|2
|0.09%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|10
|0.44%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|87
|3.84%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|41
|1.81%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,265 people, 836 households, and 519 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,983 people, 835 households, and 552 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|287.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 937 housing units at an average density of {{convert|135.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.13% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.01% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 835 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 72.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,929, and the median income for a family was $37,993. Males had a median income of $31,154 versus $21,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,806. About 13.0% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 36.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Adamsville has an 85-acre [[industrial park]] and four miles east of the town proper is the Tennessee Technology Center. [[Ripley Industries]], a parts supplier for the automotive industry and related industrial fabricators, has its corporate headquarters in the town. [[Jones Exhaust Systems]], engineering consultants [[Aqua Dynamics Group]], [[Langley Wire Cloth Products]], and [[Better Source Supply Company]] all have major locations in the town, as well.<ref name="Econ">{{cite web|title=Adamsville Industry |work=Industrial Park |publisher=City of Adamsville |url=http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/industry.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204054432/http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/industry.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 }}</ref> The Adamsville Partnership organization was formed by local businesses, property owners, professionals and related parties to promote the community.<ref name="Abiz">{{cite web | year=2010 | title=Adamsville Partnership | publisher=Adamsville Partnership | url=http://www.abiz.org/ | access-date=November 19, 2011}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Slug burger.jpg|thumb|right|A slugburger with [[onion ring]]s.]]
An Adamsville restaurant serves "[[slugburger]]s", a delicacy found in west Tennessee, northeast [[Mississippi]] and northwest [[Alabama]]. The Fat Cat slugburger consists of a hamburger patty made of beef and soy grits which is then deep fried and served on a bun with condiments. Another local delicacy found in restaurants is the baked cabbage.<ref name="restaurants">{{cite web | year=2010 | title=Dine | work=Our Town | publisher=Adamsville Partnership | url=http://www.abiz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=55 | access-date=November 19, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008064908/http://www.abiz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=55 | archive-date=October 8, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Annual events===
Adamsville holds a large number of annual events. Every [[Memorial Day]] weekend the four-day Buford Pusser Festival is held at the Buford Pusser Memorial Park. The local preliminary for [[Miss Tennessee]], the [[Miss Walking Tall Pageant]] is held at The Marty Community Center. A number of other cultural events such as the HeeHaw Show, Founders Day, and a 5K Run in the spring.<ref name="Events">{{cite web | year=2010 | title=Adamsville Events | work=Events | publisher=Adamsville Partnership | url=http://www.abiz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=72 | access-date=November 19, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008065539/http://www.abiz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=72 | archive-date=October 8, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Points of interest===
The [[Buford Pusser]] Home and Museum is located in Adamsville in the former home of the county sheriff.<ref name="Attract"/> Pusser is also buried in the Adamsville Cemetery.<ref name="SeeDo"/> Gibb's Gas & Oil Collectibles is an appointment only museum of old [[gas pump]]s, gas and oil signs, [[oil can]]s, and other [[Filling station|service station]] memorabilia.<ref name="Attract">{{cite web|title=City Attractions |work=Area Info |publisher=City of Adamsville |url=http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/attractions.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204054440/http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/attractions.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 }}</ref> Adamsville's public library is the Irving Meek Jr. Memorial Library.<ref name="PR"/> The local War Memorial Park is located off of Highway 64 and Old Stage. It commemorates veterans and those who died from Adamsville in World War I and II, the [[Korean War]] and [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="SeeDo">{{cite web | year=2010 | title=See & Do | work=Our Town | publisher=Adamsville Partnership | url=http://www.abiz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=56 | access-date=November 19, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008065113/http://www.abiz.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=56 | archive-date=October 8, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The Old Home Motel was built in 1960 by Joe and Juanita Richardson. Buford Pusser lived at the hotel for a time, and [[Elvis Presley]] stayed the night there.<ref name="SeeDo"/>

==Parks and recreation==
Established in 1998, the Adamsville Recreation & Parks Department maintains [[flag football|flag]] and [[American football]] leagues, a [[cheerleading]] team, [[basketball]] and [[soccer]] teams. The city also offers other sports for youth and adults including [[softball]] and baseball. Every year the department plans a 5K run to coincide with the annual Buford Pusser Memorial Festival. The city park, also named after Buford Pusser, sits on land that was founded as a [[sandlot ball|sandlot]] and [[horse barn]] by Pusser and the Adamsville [[Jaycees]] in 1973. The city park formed out of a fundraiser which featured musicians [[George Jones]] and [[Tammy Wynette]], and continued funding and grants go towards improving the park. The city park has a lighted basketball court and tennis courts, a playground, three ball fields, an open-air pavilion, grills and picnic tables, and a walking track.<ref name="PR"/> [[Shiloh Golf Course]] is an 18-hole [[golf course]]. The golf course is on historical land: the number two and number four greens lie along the road where General [[Lew Wallace]] marched his three brigades to the [[Battle of Shiloh]] on April 6, 1862.<ref name="Attract"/>

The department also maintains a senior center which distributes [[Meals on Wheels]] and related services. The Marty community center is also maintained by the Recreation & Parks department for public use and also has live entertainment, including the monthly Adamsville Bluegrass Jamboree.<ref name="Attract"/><ref name="PR">{{cite web|title=Recreation & Parks Department |work=Recreation |publisher=City of Adamsville |url=http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/rec.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204054417/http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/rec.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 }}</ref>

==Government==
Adamsville's government consists of the following: a City Commission, a mayor, and four commissioners. Every two years elections are held on the first Saturday of October, and the mayor and commissioners serve four year staggered terms. The city also has a city administrator, who serves in a full-time paid position overseeing general day-to-day needs of the city business.<ref name="Gov">{{cite web|title=Our City Leaders |work=City Leaders |publisher=City of Adamsville |url=http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/Leaders.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201163949/http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/Leaders.html |archive-date=December 1, 2011 }}</ref>

==Schools==
The town is served by two public schools: Adamsville Elementary School and Adamsville High School. The elementary school is accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] and serves Pre-Kindergarten 4 & 5 to 8th graders. The high school provides education to 9-12th graders in the county. The school has been listed as one of ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'s'' best high schools in America.

Adamsville High School's marching band has won 1st place at the TN Division 1 State Marching Band Championship nine times since 1999 and has not placed lower than 2nd since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.riverdaleband.com/div-1/#toggle-id-1 |title=Tennessee Division 1 State Marching Band Championship |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026015359/http://www.riverdaleband.com/div-1#toggle-id-1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As the school's attendance grew in number, the band was eventually promoted to Division 2 status in 2016. The band won its first Division 2 championship in 2017 and repeated as champions in 2018 and 2019 making the band 12 time state champions. The school mascot is the [[northern cardinal|cardinal]].<ref name="Ed">{{cite web|title=Adamsville Schools |work=Area Info |publisher=City of Adamsville |url=http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/school.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124013422/http://www.cityofadamsville.com/rwpc/school.html |archive-date=January 24, 2012 }}</ref>

==Historic people==
[[Buford Pusser]], legendary McNairy County [[sheriff]]<ref name="Pusser">{{cite web|year=2006 |title=Buford Pusser, the Man, his Career, and Tragedies |work=History |publisher=[[Buford Pusser Home & Museum]] |url=http://www.bufordpussermuseum.com/history.html |access-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003112305/http://www.bufordpussermuseum.com/history.html |archive-date=October 3, 2011 }}</ref>

[[Ray Blanton]], The 44th Governor of Tennessee.

[[Ashley Durham|Ashley Durham Booth]], Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2006, Miss Tennessee USA 2011, and runner-up Miss USA 2011.

[[Dewey Phillips]], Rock n' roll disc jockey. Phillips was the first DJ to spin a record of [[Elvis Presley]] on the air waves.<ref name="History"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cityofadamsville.com/ Adamsville Website]
*[http://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/public/CHARTERS.nsf/0/DDA2AA1E32771BDD8525716500409BDC/$File/adamsville.cht.pdf?OpenElement Town charter]

{{Hardin County, Tennessee}}
{{McNairy County, Tennessee}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Hardin County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Towns in McNairy County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Towns in Tennessee]]