Editing Lewis County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lewis County
 | state                = Tennessee
 | flag                 = Flag of Lewis County, Tennessee.png
 | seal                 = Seal of Lewis County, Tennessee.png
 | founded              = December 23, 1843
 | named for            = [[Meriwether Lewis]]<ref name=tehc>Marjorie Graves, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=782 Lewis County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: October 21, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl              = Hohenwald
 | largest city wl      = Hohenwald
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 282
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 282
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.4
 | area percentage      = 0.1%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 12582 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 43
 | web                  = www.lewiscountytn.com
 | time zone            = Central
 | ex image             = Lewis County Courthouse, Tennessee.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Lewis County Courthouse, April 2014
 | ex image size        = 200px
 | district             = 5th 
}}

'''Lewis 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 12,582.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Lewis County, Tennessee|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lewis_County,_Tennessee?g=0500000US47101|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Hohenwald, Tennessee|Hohenwald]].<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}}</ref> The county is named for explorer [[Meriwether Lewis]], who died and was buried at [[Grinder's Stand]] near Hohenwald in 1809.

==History==
[[File:Meriwether Lewis National Monument and Gravesite.jpg|thumb|[[Meriwether Lewis]] National Monument and Gravesite, April 2014.]]
Lewis County was formed in 1843 from parts of [[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry]], [[Hickman County, Tennessee|Hickman]], [[Lawrence County, Tennessee|Lawrence]], [[Maury County, Tennessee|Maury]] and [[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne]] counties.<ref name=tehc /> It was named for explorer Meriwether Lewis of the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n134 185]}}</ref> Lewis's grave is located at the geographic center of the county. The bill for its creation was proposed by [[Powhatan Gordon]] in the Tennessee State Senate.<ref name="lewiswhitetennessean">{{cite news|last1=White|first1=John A.|title=Lewis. Awful Tragedy Connected With Name of the County|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119324332/?terms=%22Powhatan%2BGordon%22|access-date=September 28, 2016|work=The Tennessean|date=June 26, 1910|page=30|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|url-access=registration |quote=The bill creating the County of Lewis was introduced by the Hon. Powhatan Gordon, of Maury County, the main purpose of the bill being to perpetuate the name of Lewis.}}</ref>

On October 7, 2009, a ceremony was held at the cemetery to commemorate the bicentennial of Lewis's death. A bust of Lewis was presented to the [[National Park Service]], which manages the site.<ref>"[http://news.tn.gov/node/2414 First National Memorial Service for Meriwether Lewis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712025019/http://news.tn.gov/node/2414 |date=July 12, 2011 }}, August 21, 2009. Retrieved: October 21, 2013.</ref>

Lewis County was the site of the [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tennessee#History|Cane Creek Massacre]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|282|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|282|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi}} (0.1%) 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 7, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Hickman County, Tennessee|Hickman County]] (north)
*[[Maury County, Tennessee|Maury County]] (east)
*[[Lawrence County, Tennessee|Lawrence County]] (south)
*[[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne County]] (southwest)
*[[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry County]] (west)

===National protected area===
* [[Natchez Trace Parkway]] (part)

===State protected areas===
* Auntney Hollow State Natural Area
* Devil's Backbone State Natural Area
* Dry Branch State Natural Area
* Hick Hill Wildlife Management Area
* Langford Branch State Natural Area
* Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area
* [[Lewis State Forest]]

=== Major highways ===
* {{jct|state=TN|US|412}}
* {{jct|state=TN|TN|20}}
* {{jct|state=TN|TN|48}}
* {{jct|state=TN|TN|99}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 4438
|1860= 2241
|1870= 1986
|1880= 2181
|1890= 2555
|1900= 4455
|1910= 6033
|1920= 5707
|1930= 5258
|1940= 5849
|1950= 6078
|1960= 6269
|1970= 6761
|1980= 9700
|1990= 9247
|2000= 11367
|2010= 12161
|2020= 12582
|estref=
|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 7, 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 7, 2015}}</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 7, 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 7, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47101.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607142920/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47101.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Lewis County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|150px|left|Age pyramid Lewis County<ref>Based on [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] data</ref>]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Lewis County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47101&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)
| 11,510
| 91.48%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 184
| 1.46%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 31
| 0.25%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 55
| 0.44%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 5
| 0.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 471
| 3.74%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 326
| 2.59%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 12,582 people, 4,715 households, and 3,175 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 11,367 people, 4,381 households, and 3,215 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,821 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.07% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.45% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,381 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,444, and the median income for a family was $35,972. Males had a median income of $27,060 versus $19,847 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,664. About 10.30% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

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

===Census-designated place===
*[[Summertown, Tennessee|Summertown]] (Mostly in Lawrence County)

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*Buffalo Valley
*[[Gordonsburg, Tennessee|Gordonsburg]]
*[[Kimmins, Tennessee|Kimmins]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Lewis County, Tennessee|whig=no|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 11, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,852|991|47|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,474|1,072|63|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,585|890|147|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,117|1,447|130|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,951|1,804|79|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,819|2,192|43|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,037|2,281|102|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,298|1,971|329|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,218|2,491|443|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,324|1,419|18|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,733|1,556|17|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,076|2,190|43|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|617|2,391|28|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|1,056|1,138|54|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|455|1,088|997|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|388|2,061|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|580|1,723|9|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|522|1,321|11|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|540|1,308|11|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|381|1,148|107|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|252|955|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|368|1,343|5|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|331|1,068|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|137|799|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|269|414|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|191|310|25|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|446|403|4|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|414|387|6|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|126|370|150|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|354|465|2|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|220|415|21|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|202|400|2|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|204|329|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|95|231|36|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|132|254|3|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|64|209|1|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|37|200|1|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|12|206|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|34|133|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1868|Republican|33|0|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|8|0|295|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|0|242|25|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1852|Democratic|43|186|0|Tennessee}}

Historically, like all of secessionist Middle Tennessee, Lewis County was overwhelmingly Democratic. Although it did vote for [[Charles Evans Hughes]] in 1916 and [[Warren G. Harding]] in 1920, Lewis County would be firmly Democratic for the next six decades, being one of only two Tennessee counties to remain loyal to both [[Hubert Humphrey]] in 1968 and [[George McGovern]] in 1972. [[Ronald Reagan]] broke this Democratic sequence with a 177-vote majority over [[Walter Mondale]] in his 1984 landslide, but Lewis County would subsequently remain Democratic up to 2000. Since then, however, like much of the rural white South, it has become overwhelmingly Republican due to opposition to the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues.<ref>Cohn, Nate; [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’], ''[[New York Times]]'', April 24, 2014</ref>

==Education==
The county is served by [[Lewis County High School (Tennessee)|Lewis County High School]].

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

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.lewiscountytn.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/lewis Lewis County, TNGenWeb] - free genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lewis County, Tennessee
|North     = [[Hickman County, Tennessee|Hickman County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Maury County, Tennessee|Maury County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Lawrence County, Tennessee|Lawrence County]]
|Southwest = [[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne County]]
|West      = [[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Lewis County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}

{{coord|35.52|-87.49|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lewis County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]
[[Category:Middle Tennessee]]