Editing DeKalb County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = DeKalb County
 | state                = Tennessee
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1837
 | named for            = [[Johann de Kalb]]<ref name=tehc>{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Thomas G.|url=http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=369|title=Dekalb County|publisher=Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture}} Retrieved: June 26, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl              = Smithville
 | largest city wl      = Smithville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 329
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 304
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 25
 | area percentage      = 7.5
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 20080 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 62
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = dekalbtennessee.com
 | ex image             = Dekalb county tennessee courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Dekalb County Courthouse in Smithville
 | district             = 6th 
}}

'''DeKalb County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 20,080.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47041.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607141042/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47041.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Its county seat is [[Smithville, Tennessee|Smithville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was created by the General Assembly of Tennessee on December 2, 1837, and was named for [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] hero Major General [[Johann de Kalb]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n102 103]}}</ref>

==History==
DeKalb County was formed in 1837 from land in [[Cannon County, Tennessee|Cannon]], [[Warren County, Tennessee|Warren]] and [[White County, Tennessee|White]] counties. Historian Will T. Hale believes that the first settlers in the county were at [[Liberty, Tennessee|Liberty]] and came from [[Maryland]] in 1797.<ref name=hale>Hale, Will T. ''History of Dekalb County, Tennessee''. Nashville, P. Hunter, 1915. 254 pp. (reprinted McMinnville, B. Lomond Press, 1969).</ref> If so, Adam Dale was the first settler. He may have come over the Cumberland Mountains, although some sources claim she came down the [[Ohio River|Ohio]], up the [[Cumberland River|Cumberland]] to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], and then overland about {{convert|69|mi|km|}} to Liberty.<ref name=hale />

DeKalb County was the site of several [[potassium nitrate|saltpeter]] mines, the main ingredient of gunpowder, and was obtained by leaching the earth from several local caves. Overall Cave was named for Abraham Overall who moved from [[Luray, Virginia]], and settled near the present site of Liberty in 1805. He reportedly had many slaves and owned a large plantation on which Overall Cave is located. Two saltpeter leaching vats in the cave may date from the [[War of 1812]], although this area was mined again during [[American Civil War|the Civil War]]. Other caves in DeKalb County that were mined for saltpeter include Avant Cave, located near [[Dowelltown, Tennessee|Dowelltown]], Indian Grave Point Cave, located in the Dry Creek Valley, and Temperance Saltpeter Cave, located near [[Temperance Hall, Tennessee|Temperance Hall]].<ref>Thomas C. Barr, Jr.,  "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961, 568 pages.</ref>

Unlike most of generally pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[Middle Tennessee]], DeKalb County was seriously divided during [[American Civil War|the Civil War]].<ref name="Reluctant">{{cite book|last=Crofts|first=Daniel W.|title=Reluctant Confederates Upper South Unionists in the Secession Crisis|date=July 2, 2014 |page=347|publisher=UNC Press Books |isbn=978-1469617015}}</ref> In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, DeKalb County voted to secede only by a margin of 833 to 642, which constituted the smallest margin by any county voting to secede.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votearchive.com/tn-sec-ref-1861/|publisher=Vote Archive|title=Tennessee Secession Referendum, 1861}}</ref> Earlier on February 9, 1861, DeKalb County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 1,009 to 336.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votearchive.com/tn-sec-conv-vote-1861/|title=Tennessee Vote on Secession Convention, 1861|publisher=[[The Fayetteville Observer|Fayetteville Observer]]|date=March 21, 1861}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Center-hill-lake-pollen-tn1.jpg|right|thumb|210px|Center Hill Lake at [[Edgar Evins State Park]]]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|329|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|304|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|25|sqmi}} (7.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_47.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]] (northeast)
*[[White County, Tennessee|White County]] (east)
*[[Warren County, Tennessee|Warren County]] (south)
*[[Cannon County, Tennessee|Cannon County]] (southwest)
*[[Wilson County, Tennessee|Wilson County]] (west)
*[[Smith County, Tennessee|Smith County]] (northwest)

===State protected areas===
*[[Edgar Evins State Park]]
*Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 5868
|1850= 8016
|1860= 10573
|1870= 11425
|1880= 14813
|1890= 15650
|1900= 16460
|1910= 15434
|1920= 15370
|1930= 14213
|1940= 14588
|1950= 11680
|1960= 10774
|1970= 11151
|1980= 13589
|1990= 14360
|2000= 17423
|2010= 18723
|2020= 20080
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=April 4, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF"/>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA DeKalb County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid DeKalb County<ref>Based on [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] data</ref>]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+DeKalb County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47041&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 17,526
| 87.28%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 234
| 1.17%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 44
| 0.22%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 76
| 0.38%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 5
| 0.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 746
| 3.72%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 1,449
| 7.22%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 20,080 people, 7,704 households, and 5,401 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 17,423 people, 6,984 households, and 4,986 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 8,409 housing units at an average density of {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.58% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.62% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.94% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 6,984 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.60% 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 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,359, and the median income for a family was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,483 versus $20,953 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,217. About 11.80% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===City===
*[[Smithville, Tennessee|Smithville]] (county seat)

===Towns===
*[[Alexandria, Tennessee|Alexandria]]
*[[Dowelltown, Tennessee|Dowelltown]]
*[[Liberty, Tennessee|Liberty]]

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Belk, Tennessee|Belk]]
*[[Midway, DeKalb County, Tennessee|Midway]]
*[[Temperance Hall, Tennessee|Temperance Hall]]

==Education==
The DeKalb County School District consists of five public schools, one private school, and an adult education center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjleradio.com/archives/architect-study-recommends-replacing-repurposing-smithville-elementary-school-view-options-for-each-school-here/|title=Architect Study Recommends Replacing/Repurposing Smithville Elementary School (VIEW OPTIONS FOR EACH SCHOOL HERE) – WJLE Radio Archives|date=December 4, 2017 }}</ref>
* DeKalb Christian Academy (PreK-12) – opened 2017
* [[DeKalb County High School]] (9–12) – opened 1963
* DeKalb Middle School (6–8) – opened 1971
* DeKalb West School (PreK–8) – opened 1973
* Northside Elementary School (2–5) – opened 2000
* Smithville Elementary School (PreK–2) – opened 1958

DeKalb County operated two high schools from the 1920s to 1963, [[Liberty, Tennessee|Liberty High School]] and Smithville High School (originally Pure Fountain High School and later DeKalb County High School). In January 1962, Smithville High School burned down, and the present high school was constructed in a different part of town. When the school opened, Liberty High was closed and consolidated with DeKalb County beginning in September 1963.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjleradio.com/archives/dchs-class-of-1964-celebrates-50th-year-reunion/|title = DCHS Class of 1964 Celebrates 50th Year Reunion – WJLE Radio Archives| date=October 22, 2014 }}</ref>

==Politics==
DeKalb County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was [[Al Gore]] in 2000. Even before the rapid trend of the upland South away from the Democratic Party, DeKalb County was unusual for [[Middle Tennessee]] as it had significant [[Southern Unionist|Unionist]] sympathy<ref name="Reluctant"/> and was a competitive county for the GOP even at the height of the “[[Solid South]]” era.
{{PresHead|place=DeKalb County, Tennessee|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,599|1,706|111|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,672|1,750|91|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,171|1,569|215|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,143|2,174|116|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,085|2,832|148|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,685|3,445|43|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,411|3,765|89|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,696|3,213|393|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,714|4,382|626|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,098|2,452|31|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|2,337|2,645|28|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,841|2,948|79|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,443|3,222|37|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,014|1,243|63|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,532|847|1,516|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,402|2,291|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,440|1,547|39|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,690|1,982|21|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,814|1,949|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,751|2,412|249|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,161|2,341|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,041|2,830|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,140|2,947|18|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,530|2,323|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,261|1,690|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,406|1,829|22|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,572|1,983|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,343|1,407|10|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1,219|1,394|267|Tennessee}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tennessee#DeKalb County|National Register of Historic Places listings in DeKalb County, Tennessee]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.dekalbtennessee.com/ Official site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130515045812/http://www.dekalbtn.org/dekalbtn.org/SmithvilleDeKalbCountyChamberofCommerce.aspx Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://web.dekalb.k12tn.net/ DeKalb County Schools]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/dekalb DeKalb County, TNGenWeb] &ndash; genealogy resources

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = DeKalb County, Tennessee
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]]
|East      = [[White County, Tennessee|White County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Warren County, Tennessee|Warren County]]
|Southwest = [[Cannon County, Tennessee|Cannon County]]
|West      = [[Wilson County, Tennessee|Wilson County]]
|Northwest = [[Smith County, Tennessee|Smith County]]
}}

{{DeKalb County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}

{{coord|35.98|-85.83|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:DeKalb County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:Middle Tennessee]]