Editing Overton County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Overton County
 | state                = Tennessee
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = September 1806
 | named for            = [[John Overton (judge)|John Overton]]<ref name=tehc>Michael Birdwell, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1028 Overton County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: March 17, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl              = Livingston
 | largest city wl      = Livingston
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 435
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 433
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.4
 | area percentage      = 0.3%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 22511 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 51
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.overtoncountytn.com
 | ex image             = Overton-County-Courthouse-SE-tn.jpg 
 | ex image cap         = Overton County Courthouse in Livingston
 | district             = 6th 
}}

'''Overton 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 22,511.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47133.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607144217/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47133.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Livingston, Tennessee|Livingston]].<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> Overton County is part of the [[Cookeville, Tennessee|Cookeville]], TN [[Cookeville, Tennessee micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
On May 10, 1933, a half-mile wide F4 [[May 10, 1933 Beatty Swamps tornado|tornado]] struck the small community of Beatty Swamps (also referred to as Bethsadia). The tornado destroyed every structure in the town and either killed or injured nearly every inhabitant, with 33 of the 35 deaths occurring in the area. Much of the area was swept clean of debris, a [[reaper-binder]] was thrown {{convert|500|yd|m|}}, and cars were moved hundreds of feet.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606123956/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/?n=historicalevents Assorted Historical Events in Middle Tennessee]. Archived June 6, 2011.</ref><ref name=NWSnews>{{cite web|title=20 Dead, Many Hurt in Overton Tornado |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/research/beatty_swamps/livingston_enterprise_article.htm |access-date=April 22, 2013 |author=Neal, Samuel K. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523102231/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/research/beatty_swamps/livingston_enterprise_article.htm |archive-date=May 23, 2007 |url-status=unfit }}</ref><ref name=Grazulis1>Grazulis, ''Significant'', pp. 850-851</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|435|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|433|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.4|sqmi}} (0.3%) 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>

Overton County straddles the Eastern [[Highland Rim]], and generally consists of low, rolling hills divided by narrow creek valleys. The backwaters of [[Dale Hollow Lake]], namely the Mitchell Creek and Big Eagle Creek sections, spill over into the northern part of the county. The county is located on the [[Cumberland Plateau]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Pickett County, Tennessee|Pickett County]] (northeast)
*[[Fentress County, Tennessee|Fentress County]] (east)
*[[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]] (south)
*[[Jackson County, Tennessee|Jackson County]] (west)
*[[Clay County, Tennessee|Clay County]] (northwest)

===State protected areas===
*Alpine Mountain Wildlife Management Area
*Jackson Swamp Wildlife Management Area
*[[Standing Stone State Forest]] (part)
*[[Standing Stone State Park]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1810= 5643
|1820= 7128
|1830= 8242
|1840= 9279
|1850= 11211
|1860= 12637
|1870= 11297
|1880= 12153
|1890= 12039
|1900= 13353
|1910= 15854
|1920= 17617
|1930= 18079
|1940= 18883
|1950= 17566
|1960= 14661
|1970= 14866
|1980= 17575
|1990= 17636
|2000= 20118
|2010= 22083
|2020= 22511
|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=July 20, 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 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 Overton County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|150px|left|Age pyramid Overton County<ref>Based on 2000 [[census]] data</ref>]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Overton County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47133&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)
| 21,223
| 94.28%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 86
| 0.38%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 60
| 0.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 61
| 0.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 737
| 3.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 344
| 1.53%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 22,511 people, 9,140 households, and 6,220 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 20,118 people, 8,110 households, and 5,920 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|46|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 9,168 housing units at an average density of {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.59% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.49% from two or more races. 2.69% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 8,110 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,915, and the median income for a family was $32,156. Males had a median income of $25,287 versus $19,674 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,910. About 12.30% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

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

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
*[[Allons, Tennessee|Allons]]
*[[Allred, Tennessee|Allred]]
*[[Alpine, Tennessee|Alpine]]
*[[Crawford, Tennessee|Crawford]]
*[[Hardy's Chapel, Tennessee|Hardy's Chapel]]
*[[Hilham, Tennessee|Hilham]]
*[[Mineral Springs, Overton County, Tennessee|Mineral Springs]]
*[[Monroe, Tennessee|Monroe]]
*[[Rickman, Tennessee|Rickman]]
*[[Timothy, Tennessee|Timothy]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==

* [[Lester Flatt]], Bluegrass musician
* [[Thomas D. Harp]], California state senator born in Overton County
* [[Albert H. Roberts]], Governor of Tennessee
* [[Roy Roberts (blues artist)|Roy Roberts]], Blues singer
* Catherine "Bonny Kate" Sevier, widow of [[John Sevier]] first Governor of Tennessee
* [[Cordell Hull]] United States Secretary of State
* [[Josiah Gregg]] merchant, explorer, naturalist, and author of [[Commerce of the Prairies]]
* [[Benoni Strivson]] Medal of Honor Recipient Indian Wars

==Politics==
Overton County was once a Democratic stronghold. Starting in 2008, the county has consistently voted Republican by increasing margins. In 2024, Republican [[Donald Trump]] won over 80% of the county's vote, the best-ever performance by a Republican.
{{PresHead|place=Overton 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 12, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|9,042|1,931|117|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,918|2,033|86|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,059|1,945|225|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,775|2,805|84|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,497|3,419|176|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|3,941|4,518|51|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,875|4,507|114|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,756|3,800|476|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,657|4,489|505|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,873|2,511|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|2,054|2,749|27|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,869|3,343|55|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,115|3,897|35|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,947|1,573|74|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,258|1,592|1,176|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,155|3,258|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,831|2,389|32|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,508|2,385|30|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,453|2,209|19|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|917|1,835|153|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|935|1,449|5|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|988|1,718|27|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|942|1,608|6|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|661|2,231|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,195|1,105|7|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|900|1,532|45|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,939|1,779|17|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,030|1,512|47|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|743|1,531|247|Tennessee}}

==See also==
* [[Alpine Institute]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tennessee#Overton County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Overton County, Tennessee]]
* [[Standing Stone State Park]]
* [[USS Overton County (LST-1074)|USS ''Overton County'' (LST-1074)]]

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

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Overton County, Tennessee}}
* [http://www.overtoncountytn.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/overton Overton County, TNGenWeb] - free genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Overton County, Tennessee
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Pickett County, Tennessee|Pickett County]]
|East      = [[Fentress County, Tennessee|Fentress County]]
|Southeast = [[Cumberland County, Tennessee|Cumberland County]]
|South     = [[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Jackson County, Tennessee|Jackson County]]
|Northwest = [[Clay County, Tennessee|Clay County]]
}}

{{Overton County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}

{{coord|36.34|-85.29|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Overton County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1806 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1806]]
[[Category:Cookeville, Tennessee micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Middle Tennessee]]