Editing Hickory Valley, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Hickory Valley, Tennessee
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = File:Hickory Valley Mural.jpg
|imagesize                = 270px
|image_caption            = The mural in central Hickory Valley, 2019
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Hardeman County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Hickory Valley Highlighted 4733920.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location of Hickory Valley in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

<!-- Location -->
|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|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hardeman County, Tennessee|Hardeman]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1820

<!-- 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_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 0.82
|area_land_km2            = 0.82
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.32
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.32
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
|population_total         = 78
|population_density_km2   = 95.06
|population_density_sq_mi = 246.06

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 172
|elevation_ft             = 564
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|9|18|N|89|7|36|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 38042
|area_code                = [[Area code 731|731]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 47-33920<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1287628<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Hickory Valley''' is a town in [[Hardeman County, Tennessee]], United States. The population was 99 at the 2010 census. Hickory Valley's origin dates back to the blending of three independent pioneer settlements in the area that were founded by three men: William Shinault in 1820, Drury Wood in 1826 and William Barnett in 1827.

==History==

Hickory Valley's origin dates back to the blending of three independent pioneer settlements in the area that were founded by three men: William Shinault in 1820, Drury Wood in 1826 and William Barnett in 1827. The Shinault Settlement formed before Hardeman County was organized and featured the first school in Hardeman County, which operated as early as 1823. The main buildings of the settlement were located one mile southwest of the present town and a former [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indian]] trail and the historical Boliver-LaGrange Road are still visible in some places south of Hickory Valley. In 1826 Drury Wood migrated to the area and founded the Hickory Valley settlement; a cemetery for the Wood family is still located in the area and marks the original site of the settlement. William Barnett would move into the area in 1827 and would establish Mt. Comfort Church and a campground about two miles west of the present town. The [[Chickasaw]] also resided in the area.<ref name="HV">{{cite web | author= | year=2011 | title=Hickory Valley | work=Cities & Towns | publisher=Hardeman County, Tennessee | url=http://hardemancountytn.com/government/cities-towns/hickory-valley.php | accessdate=November 15, 2011 | archive-date=April 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412211846/http://hardemancountytn.com/government/cities-towns/hickory-valley.php | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The construction of the railroad into the area in the 1850s brought a growth in population. A railroad levee that runs through the town is still visible, and is believed to have been built by slaves from a plantation owned by Darius Robinson. Railroad engineer [[Casey Jones]] was a frequenter of the town during his travels.<ref name="HV"/>

Hickory Valley was deeply affected by the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. The railroad fell under the control of the [[Union Army]] after being abandoned by the [[Confederate Army]]. Skirmishes were fought in the area as well. In 1873 the city was laid out again and the city began to revive until the [[yellow fever]] epidemic of 1878. The town's population was described by the ''Bolivar Bulletin'' as "fleeing from the scourge". The town was also quarantined in 1882 due to a [[smallpox]] outbreak.<ref name="HV"/>

==Geography==
Hickory Valley is located at {{coord|35|9|18|N|89|7|36|W|type:city}} (35.154873, -89.126577).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=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 {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 78
|1890= 157
|1960= 179
|1970= 180
|1980= 252
|1990= 159
|2000= 136
|2010= 99
|2020= 78
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=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|accessdate=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archivedate=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>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 136 people, 59 households and 35 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|418.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 65 housing units at an average density of {{convert|200.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 83.09% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] and 16.91% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]].

Of the 59 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 47.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder, and 39% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $15,313, and the median income for a family was $22,500. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $14,688 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $8,935. There were 18.4% of families and 16.2% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 16.3% of under eighteens and 16.7% of those over 64.

Two churches are located in Hickory Valley with over 30-year histories: Hickory Valley [[Methodist]] Church and Hickory Valley [[Baptist]] Church.<ref name="HV"/>

==Arts and culture==

Hickory Valley's architecture dates back to the [[Antebellum architecture|Antebellum]] period. The town maintains a historic working cotton gin and a small business district, which is a memory of the former railroad town. Hickory Valley has the only remaining sassafras mill in the United States, which sits in front of City Hall. The mill was built and owned by locals in the 1920s and the oil it produced was distributed throughout the country.<ref name="HV"/> Hickory Valley is home to the [[James Monroe Avent House]] which was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2001.

== Transportation ==
Transport to, from, and within Hickory Valley is generally sparse, though infrastructure does exist. [[Tennessee State Route 18]] is the primary way in and out, which runs in a north-northeast to south-southwest pattern throughout the city.

The closest airport to Hickory Valley is [[William L. Whitehurst Field]], located off State Route 18 halfway between the town and [[Bolivar, Tennessee]]. The airport, however, does not have any regularly-scheduled commercial service; the closest airports with commercial service are [[McKellar–Sipes Regional Airport]] (served exclusively by [[Southern Airways Express]]) and [[Memphis International Airport]].

==References==
<references />

{{Hardeman County, Tennessee}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Hardeman County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Towns in Tennessee]]