Editing Morgan County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Morgan County
 | state                = Tennessee
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1817
 | named for            = [[Daniel Morgan]]<ref name=tehc>Donald Todd, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=942 Morgan County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: March 11, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl              = Wartburg
 | largest city wl      = Coalfield
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 522
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 522
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.3
 | area percentage      = 0.06%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 21035 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 42
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.morgancountytn.gov
 | ex image             = Morgan-County-Courthouse-tn2.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg
 | district             = 3rd 
}}

'''Morgan 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 21,035.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Morgan County, Tennessee|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Morgan_County,_Tennessee?g=0500000US47129|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Wartburg, Tennessee|Wartburg]].<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> Morgan County is part of the [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]], TN [[Knoxville metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].<ref>Heidi Wigdahl, "[http://www.wbir.com/news/article/262187/2/Knoxville-metropolitan-area-expands- Knoxville Metropolitan Area Expands] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130412042322/http://www.wbir.com/news/article/262187/2/Knoxville-metropolitan-area-expands- |date=2013-04-12 }}," WBIR.com, March 28, 2013. Retrieved: January 8, 2014.</ref>

==History==
Morgan County was formed in 1817 from portions of Anderson and Roane counties. It was named in honor of [[Daniel Morgan]] (1736&ndash;1802), an [[American Revolutionary War]] officer who commanded the troops that defeated the British at the [[Battle of Cowpens]], and who later served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. congressman]] from [[Virginia]]. The county had been part of lands relinquished by the [[Cherokee]] with the signing of the Third Treaty of Tellico in 1805.<ref name=tehc /> The original county seat was [[Montgomery, Morgan County, Tennessee|Montgomery]] until 1870, when it was moved to Wartburg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tngenweb.org/morgan/goodspeeds-history-of-morgan-county-1887/|title=Goodspeed's History of Morgan County (1887)|work=tngenweb.org|date=October 31, 2013 }}</ref>

===Tornado===
On [[2002 Veterans Day weekend tornado outbreak|November 10, 2002]], a [[tornado]] destroyed 50 homes. At least seven people were killed in the Morgan County communities of Mossy Grove and Joyner.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|522|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|522|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi}} (0.06%) 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 county, which lies on the eastern edge of the [[Cumberland Plateau]], is known for its rugged mountain terrain, and cold mountain streams and rivers. The [[Crab Orchard Mountains]] comprise a large area of the county, which includes several designated wilderness areas, [[Frozen Head State Park]], and [[Lone Mountain State Forest]].

[[File:Oakdale-from-bridge-tn1.jpg|right|thumb|210px|[[Emory River]] at [[Oakdale, Tennessee|Oakdale]]]]

The [[Emory River]] rises on the slopes of Bird Mountain near Wartburg. The [[Obed River]], a designated [[National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|national wild and scenic river]], empties into the Emory southwest of Wartburg. The [[Clear Fork (Big South Fork Cumberland River)|Clear Fork]], which forms part of Morgan's boundary with [[Fentress County, Tennessee|Fentress County]], joins the [[New River (Tennessee)|New River]] in [[Scott County, Tennessee|Scott County]] to the north to form the [[Big South Fork of the Cumberland River]].

The [[Cumberland Gap|Cumberland Trail]] passes through Morgan County.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Scott County, Tennessee|Scott County]] (northeast)
*[[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson County]] (east)
*[[Roane County, Tennessee|Roane County]] (south)
*[[Cumberland County, Tennessee|Cumberland County]] (southwest/CST Border)
*[[Fentress County, Tennessee|Fentress County]] (northwest/CST Border)

===National protected areas===
* [[Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area]] (part)
* [[Obed Wild and Scenic River]] (part)

===State protected areas===
*[[Catoosa Wildlife Management Area]] (part)
*Frozen Head State Natural Area
*[[Frozen Head State Park]]
*[[Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park]]
*[[Lone Mountain State Forest]]
*North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (part)
*Rugby State Natural Area

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 1676
|1830= 2582
|1840= 2660
|1850= 3430
|1860= 3353
|1870= 2969
|1880= 5156
|1890= 7639
|1900= 9587
|1910= 11458
|1920= 13285
|1930= 13603
|1940= 15242
|1950= 15727
|1960= 14304
|1970= 13619
|1980= 16604
|1990= 17300
|2000= 19757
|2010= 21987
|2020= 21035
|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 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">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47129.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705174131/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47129.html|archive-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Morgan County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|150px|left|Age pyramid Morgan County, based on 2000 census data]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Morgan County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47129&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)
| 19,029
| 90.46%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 971
| 4.62%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 54
| 0.26%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 41
| 0.19%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 8
| 0.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 633
| 3.01%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 299
| 1.42%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 21,035 people, 7,625 households, and 5,659 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 19,757 people, 6,990 households, and 5,235 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|38|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 7,714 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.72% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.14% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 6,990 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,712, and the median income for a family was $31,901. Males had a median income of $25,683 versus $18,606 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $12,925. About 13.50% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===Cities===
[[File:Wartburg-from-Watertank-tn1.jpg|right|210px|thumb|[[Wartburg, Tennessee|Wartburg]]]]
*[[Harriman, Tennessee|Harriman]] (mostly in [[Roane County, Tennessee|Roane County]])
*[[Sunbright, Tennessee|Sunbright]]
*[[Wartburg, Tennessee|Wartburg]] (seat)

===Towns===
*[[Oakdale, Tennessee|Oakdale]]
*[[Oliver Springs, Tennessee|Oliver Springs]] (part)

===Census-designated places===
*[[Coalfield, Tennessee|Coalfield]]
*[[Petros, Tennessee|Petros]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Annadel, Tennessee|Annadel]]
*[[Deer Lodge, Tennessee|Deer Lodge]]
*[[Joyner, Tennessee|Joyner]]
*[[Lancing, Tennessee|Lancing]]
* [[Midway, Morgan County, Tennessee|Midway]]
*[[Rugby, Tennessee|Rugby]] (partial)
* [[Shady Grove, Morgan County, Tennessee|Shady Grove]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Morgan 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|7,427|1,054|79|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,930|1,167|131|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,441|1,054|210|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,669|1,725|110|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,717|1,969|136|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,401|2,924|35|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,144|2,921|97|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,070|2,767|487|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,306|3,190|688|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,576|1,941|29|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,903|2,121|52|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,823|2,094|98|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,949|2,953|37|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,531|1,084|88|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,803|968|1,028|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,842|1,957|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,241|1,576|38|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,402|1,379|42|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,565|1,492|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,570|1,500|15|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,399|1,201|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,448|1,783|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,225|1,291|9|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|1,184|983|18|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,481|446|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,103|411|243|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,248|816|8|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,265|563|40|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|312|466|876|Tennessee}}

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

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

==Further reading==

* Dickenson, W. Calvin (1987). ''Morgan County''. Memphis, Tenn.: Memphis State University Press.  {{ISBN|978-0878701575}}
* Humphreys, James (2012). "Becoming Americans: Social Change in Morgan County, Tennessee, 1850&ndash;1870."  ''Journal of East Tennessee History'', Vol. 84, pp.&nbsp;23–39.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.morgancountytn.org/ Official site]
* [http://morgancountychamber.com/ Morgan County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/morgan Morgan County, TNGenWeb] - free genealogy resources for the county
* Morgan county [https://tnlandforms.us/landforms/countylf.php?county=Morgan landforms]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Morgan County, Tennessee
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Scott County, Tennessee|Scott County]]
|East      = [[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Roane County, Tennessee|Roane County]]
|Southwest = [[Cumberland County, Tennessee|Cumberland County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Fentress County, Tennessee|Fentress County]]
}}

{{Morgan County, Tennessee}}
{{Knoxville Metro}}
{{Tennessee}}

{{coord|36.13|-84.64|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Morgan County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1817 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1817]]
[[Category:Knoxville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:East Tennessee]]