Editing Meigs County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Meigs County
 | state                = Tennessee
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1836
 | named for            = [[Return J. Meigs, Sr.|Return J. Meigs]]<ref name=tehc>Ann Toplovich, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=886 Meigs County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: March 11, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl              = Decatur
 | largest city wl      = Decatur
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 217
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 195
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 22
 | area percentage      = 10%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 12758 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 60
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://www.meigscounty.org/
 | ex image             = Meigs-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Meigs County Courthouse in Decatur
 | district             = 4th 
}}

'''Meigs 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 12,758.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47121.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607143451/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47121.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Decatur, Tennessee|Decatur]].<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>

It is a component of the [[Athens, Tennessee]] [[Micropolitan Area]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tnsdc.utk.edu/2023/08/21/new-metropolitan-and-micropolitan-area-boundaries-include-changes-for-eight-tennessee-counties/ | title=New Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Boundaries Include Changes for Eight Tennessee Counties | date=August 21, 2023 }}</ref>

==History==
Before 1819, the area that is now Meigs County was part of the [[Cherokee]] nation. It had been inhabited for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. European trades had interacted with the Cherokee since the late 17th century, coming from colonial settlements in [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]] and [[Province of South Carolina|South Carolina]].

Following the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[American pioneer|American settlers]] began to enter the territory in greater numbers. They established [[ferry|ferries]] across the [[Tennessee River]] from [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea County]] as early as 1807. [[Return J. Meigs, Sr.|Colonel Return J. Meigs]], a Revolutionary veteran and namesake for the county, was appointed as the United States Indian agent, based in Rhea County until 1817. He supervised trade with the Cherokee. That year, the agency was moved to an area in what is now Meigs County.

In 1819, the US made what is known as the Calhoun Treaty with the Cherokee, forcing them to cede lands north of the [[Hiwassee River]] for settlement.<ref>{{NRHP url|id=64000811|title=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Historic Resources of Meigs County}}, 1983</ref> Meigs County was formed by the Tennessee legislature in 1836 from parts of Rhea County.<ref name=tehc />

In 1830, the [[United States Congress]] passed the [[Indian Removal Act]], forcibly removing the  “[[Five Civilized Tribes]]” from the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]]. The Cherokee were the last to go. They were gathered in [[Internment|internment camps]] in Tennessee and Alabama before being forced on the long overland journey to [[Indian Territory]] (modern day [[Oklahoma]]), in a 19th-century event known as the "[[Trail of Tears]]." Many crossed the Tennessee River at [[Blythe Ferry]], in the southwestern part of Meigs County.<ref name=tehc />

In June 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, the people of Meigs County were among the few in East Tennessee to vote in favor of Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession. The county voted 481 to 267 in favor of the Ordinance, which severed the state's ties to the Union. The county provided troops for both sides during the course of the war.<ref name=tehc />

===20th century to present===
In 1985, the Meigs County Family and Community Education ("FCE") Club began a large quilt to commemorate the early history of Meigs County as part of Tennessee's 1986 Homecoming celebrations. It includes images of fourteen sites representing the early history of Meigs County. The central quilt design, including a map to locate the sites represented, was made by the late Flossie Bennett, a longtime leader of the FCE. A committee of representatives from Ten Mile, Peakland, Concord, Goodfield, and Decatur, decided which sites would be included.

These were the [[Elisha Sharp House]] (now the Sharp-Wasson-Worth House, c. 1825), the Stewart House (1830), R. H. Johnson's stable, Mount Zion church and Cemetery (1830), Zeigler's Mill (1850, previously called Gettys Mill), the Washington Ferry (1808), Pisgah Church (1818), the old gymnasium (c. 1822), the old Meigs County Courthouse (1904), the old Volunteer Electric Cooperative Building (1935), the Ashley House (1885), and the Sam Eaves Store (c. 1861). The quilt also included [[Hereford (cattle)|Hereford cattle]], since Meigs County is noted for its beef cattle.

The quilt was awarded "Best Original Design" at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum's Quilt Show. Initially displayed at the Meigs-Decatur Public Library, the quilt now hangs in the Meigs County Historical Museum in Decatur.<ref>Johnny Hutsell-Royster, "Meigs history told one stitch at a time," ''The Daily Post-Athenian,'' Athens, Tennessee (Wednesday, February 28, 2001), 12-13; "Meigs County historical quilt on display at library", ''The Daily Post-Athenian,'' Athens, Tennessee (date unknown, "1986 revisited").</ref>

A new building was constructed in Decatur to house the collection of the Meigs County Historical Museum. It opened in July 2002.<ref>Paulette Jones, "Meigs Historical Society Praises Nell Worth," ''The Daily Post Athenian,'' Athens, Tennessee, (July 23, 2010); Johnny, Hutshell-Royster, "$100,000 gift gives museum a boost," ''The Daily Post-Athenian'' (Thursday, February 15, 2001); and Ron Clayton, "$100,000 gift boosts Meigs museum fund," ''Chattanooga Times Free Press,'' Chattanooga, Tennessee (Friday, February 16, 2001), B2; and Johnny Hutsell-Royster, "Meigs Museum continues to grow and educate," ''The Daily Post-Athenian, Athens,'' Tennessee (Friday, March 26, 2004), C4</ref> The Meigs County Historical Museum houses many court and family records. On permanent display is a mural depicting Main Street in Decatur in the 1930s. The mural was funded by grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the VEC Customer shares program. It was painted by local artist Bill McDonald.<ref>[http://www.meigscountyhistoricalmuseum.com/id5.html Meigs County Historical Museum website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803002706/http://www.meigscountyhistoricalmuseum.com/id5.html |date=August 3, 2010 }}. Retrieved: March 11, 2013.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|217|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|195|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|22|sqmi}} (10%) 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 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

The main geographic feature of Meigs County is the [[Tennessee River]], which forms the county's western boundary. [[Watts Bar Dam]] is located along the river between Meigs and adjacent Rhea County. Above it is the manmade [[Watts Bar Lake]], which spans the river upstream to [[Fort Loudoun Dam]] just west of [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]]. Watts Bar Dam's tailwaters are part of [[Chickamauga Lake]], which stretches downstream to [[Chickamauga Dam]] in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]]. The mouth of the [[Hiwassee River]] flows into the Tennessee River at a point in southwestern Meigs County, near where Meigs, Rhea, and Hamilton counties meet.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Roane County, Tennessee]] (north)
*[[McMinn County, Tennessee]] (east)
*[[Bradley County, Tennessee]] (southeast)
*[[Hamilton County, Tennessee]] (south)
*[[Rhea County, Tennessee]] (west)

===State protected areas===
*Chickamauga Wildlife Management Area (part)
*Hiwassee Refuge (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 4794
|1850= 4879
|1860= 4667
|1870= 4511
|1880= 7117
|1890= 6930
|1900= 7491
|1910= 6131
|1920= 6077
|1930= 6127
|1940= 6393
|1950= 6080
|1960= 5160
|1970= 5219
|1980= 7431
|1990= 8033
|2000= 11086
|2010= 11753
|2020= 12758
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=June 9, 2017}}</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 9, 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 9, 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 9, 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 9, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF"/>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Meigs County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|150px|left|Age pyramid of Meigs County{{efn|Based on [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] data}}]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Meigs County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47121&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)
| 11,823
| 92.67%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 131
| 1.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 58
| 0.45%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 26
| 0.2%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 1
| 0.01%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 499
| 3.91%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 220
| 1.72%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 12,758 people, 4,938 households, and 3,331 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 11,086 people, 4,304 households, and 3,262 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,188 housing units at an average density of {{convert|27|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.65% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,304 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% 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 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,354, and the median income for a family was $34,114. Males had a median income of $29,521 versus $20,419 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,551. About 15.80% of families and 18.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
[[Tennessee State Route 58|State Route 58]] - The principal north–south highway, runs the entire length of the county dividing the county down the middle. The only link via the [[Hiwassee River Bridge]] to the southernmost part of the county.

[[Tennessee State Route 30|State Route 30]] - The principal east–west highway. This highway divides the county into north and south and intersects Highway 58 in [[Decatur, Tennessee|Decatur]]. The [[Tennessee Department of Transportation]] is in the process of upgrading Highway 30 from a 2-lane highway to a 4-lane divided highway. allowing for more major east–west traffic and faster connection to [[Interstate 75]]. (The section from Decatur eastward was finished in 2008.)

[[Tennessee State Route 68|State Route 68]] - A north–south main highway for the county, that actually runs east/west through the northern county. This highway crosses the [[Tennessee River]] at [[Watts Bar Dam]].

[[Tennessee State Route 60|State Route 60]] - A principal north–south highway forming the southern border of the county.

[[Tennessee State Route 304|State Route 304]] - An important local road, mainly for local residents that live off of the highway, and its northern portions allows access to [[Watts Bar Lake]]'s many marinas, resorts, and campgrounds. Also connects the [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] community of [[Ten Mile, Tennessee|Ten Mile]] with the county seat of Decatur.

[[Tennessee State Route 305|State Route 305]] - An important local road, connecting [[Interstate 75]] with [[Tennessee State Route 68]] and [[Tennessee State Route 58]]. This also connects the north-central part of the county with the neighboring city of [[Athens, Tennessee|Athens]] in [[McMinn County]].

[[Tennessee State Route 306|State Route 306]] - A secondary state highway in the southeast portion of the county connecting Highway 58 to [[Charleston, Tennessee|Charleston]] and [[Cleveland, Tennessee|Cleveland]].

==Communities==
[[File:Bradford-Rymer-Barn-tn1.jpg|right|210px|thumb|The 1930s-era Bradford Rymer Barn in [[Georgetown, Tennessee|Georgetown]]]]

===Town===
*[[Decatur, Tennessee|Decatur]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Big Spring, Meigs County, Tennessee|Big Spring]]
*[[Birchwood, Tennessee|Birchwood]] (partial)
* [[Euchee, Tennessee|Euchee]]
*[[Georgetown, Tennessee|Georgetown]] (partial)
*[[Ten Mile, Tennessee|Ten Mile]] (partial)

===Ghost town===
*[[Cute, Tennessee|Cute]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Meigs 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 11, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,085|968|46|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,467|1,008|57|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,342|856|122|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,734|1,163|67|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,797|1,372|68|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,500|1,595|37|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,797|1,555|38|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,228|1,476|264|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,355|1,673|456|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,507|1,048|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,575|1,012|15|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,278|999|39|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|975|1,254|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,052|539|44|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|729|493|442|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|824|816|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|901|691|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|847|759|25|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|850|754|21|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|748|788|54|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|532|727|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|573|889|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|740|994|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|564|840|4|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|719|589|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|657|574|14|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|915|712|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|608|541|1|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|337|517|164|Tennessee}}

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

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.meigscountytnchamber.org/ Meigs County-Decatur Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/meigs Meigs County, TNGenWeb] - free genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Meigs County, Tennessee
|North     = [[Roane County, Tennessee|Roane County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[McMinn County, Tennessee|McMinn County]]
|Southeast = [[Bradley County, Tennessee|Bradley County]]
|South     = [[Hamilton County, Tennessee|Hamilton County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Meigs County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|35.51|-84.81|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Meigs County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1836 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1836]]
[[Category:East Tennessee]]