Editing Saulsbury, Tennessee

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = File:Saulsbury fields, May 2019.jpg
|imagesize                = 260px
|image_caption            = Cows graze in rural Saulsbury, 2019
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Hardeman County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Saulsbury Highlighted 4766680.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location of Saulsbury 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        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- 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           = 1.57
|area_land_km2            = 1.57
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.60
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.60
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
|population_total         = 112
|population_density_km2   = 71.44
|population_density_sq_mi = 185.12

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 163
|elevation_ft             = 535
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|2|57|N|89|5|20|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 38067
|area_code                = [[Area code 731|731]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 47-66680<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              = 1300805<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 = 
}}
'''Saulsbury''' is a town in rural [[Hardeman County, Tennessee]]. It is located along [[Tennessee State Highway 57|State Highway 57]] in southwest Hardeman County. The population was 99 at the 2000 census and 81 at the 2010 census showing a decrease of 18. Saulsbury is the least-populated incorporated municipality in Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/502234/smallest-town-each-50-states | title=The Smallest Town in Each of the 50 States | work=Mental Floss | date=August 25, 2017 | accessdate=June 25, 2018 | author=Rivero, Nicolas}}</ref>

==History==

Saulsbury's historical roots stem from a former settlement named [[Berlin, Tennessee]], which was located one mile south of the current location of Saulsbury. Two regional mail roads—one from [[Bolivar, Tennessee|Bolivar]] to [[Ripley, Mississippi]], and another from [[LaGrange, Tennessee|LaGrange]] to [[Corinth, Mississippi]]. These mail roads met at an intersection which would form into a trading center. In 1839 a post office was established there, and Berlin would be incorporated in 1846, and within five years it would be home to 351 people. Upon the completion of the [[Memphis and Charleston Railroad]], Berlin was bypassed due to one landowner's refusal to sell their property to the railroad. A track was instead laid one mile north of Berlin, on land that was owned by Burrell Sauls and Berry Futrell. The finished [[railroad station]] and track would be called Sauls-Berry Depot. Eventually Berlin would be deserted as people moved to the new settlement and in 1856 Saulsbury was incorporated.<ref name="History"/>

===Civil War===

Just after the taking of [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] in 1862, the [[Union Army]] took Saulsbury. Skirmishes continued throughout the area, and eventually Saulsbury would return to [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] control. Confederate soldiers used Saulsbury as a rally point to travel to Corinth to join their regiments. After the Civil War, Saulsbury maintained itself as a town, unlike others in the area which barely survived the war. Saulsbury's [[cotton]] production survived the war as well, and Saulsbury emerged as a leader in cotton production in the region. The town also became a producer of eggs, turkeys, poultry and hogs; which were often sent to Memphis for sale. [[Sand mining]] became a major industry in the 1870s, providing 47 different types of sand for [[brass]] [[molding (process)|molding]].<ref name="History"/>

===1999 Tornado===
On [[Tornado outbreak of January 17–18, 1999|January 17, 1999]], an F1 tornado formed just southwest of Saulsbury, and moved northeast until dissipating near [[Rogers Springs, Tennessee|Rogers Springs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornado map|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/meg/events/01172299/saulsbury.gif|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southern Region Headquarters|accessdate=June 6, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606193930/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/meg/events/01172299/saulsbury.gif|archivedate=June 6, 2011}}</ref> One person was killed, four others were injured. Fourteen houses and [[mobile homes]] were destroyed, and twenty-seven others were damaged. Power lines and trees also sustained significant damage.{{citation needed|date=July 2010}}
As a result, the town of Saulsbury installed a tornado siren at the local fire station, the only one in the area at the time.<ref name="History"/>

==Geography==
Saulsbury is located at {{coord|35|2|57|N|89|5|20|W|type:city}} (35.049276, -89.088858).<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|0.4|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 337
|1870= 400
|1880= 188
|1910= 199
|1920= 190
|1930= 207
|1940= 202
|1950= 143
|1960= 141
|1970= 156
|1980= 156
|1990= 106
|2000= 99
|2010= 81
|2020= 112
|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 99 people, 43 households, and 26 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|271.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 53 housing units at an average density of {{convert|145.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 85.86% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 12.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], and 2.02% from two or more races.

There were 43 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 15.2% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $28,125 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,335. There were 22.2% of families and 29.7% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 48.8% of under eighteens and none of those over 64. Most of those living below the [[poverty line]] receive [[federal aid]].

==Climate==

Saulsbury's [[climate]] is generally similar to the rest of the [[East South Central States|Mid-South]]. The summer months are persistently hot and humid with afternoon temperatures frequently above 90 degrees [[Fahrenheit]]. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent during some summers, but usually brief, lasting no longer than an hour. Early autumn is pleasantly drier and mild, but can remain hot until late October. Abrupt but short-lived cold snaps are common. Late autumn is rainy and colder, December being the third rainiest month of the year. Winters are mild, but cold snaps can occur. Snowfall is not abundant but does occur during most winters, with usually one or two major winter weather events occurring by the end of March. [[Spring (season)|Spring]] often begins in late February or early March, following the onset of a sharp warmup. This season is also known as "severe weather season" due to the higher frequency of tornadoes, [[hail]], and [[thunderstorms]] producing strong winds. Average rainfall is slightly higher during the spring months (except November) than the rest of the year. Historically, April is the month with the highest frequency of tornadoes, though tornadoes have occurred every month of the year. Saulsbury-area historical tornado activity is above [[Tennessee]] state average. It is 155% greater than the overall U.S. average. The area is sunny about 62.5% of the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Grand-Junction-Tennessee.htm|title = Grand Junction, Tennessee (TN 38039) profile: Population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==

In the 1970s the Saulsbury [[Methodist]] Church, which was built in 1913, was deeded to town for the community library. Upon the completion of fundraising, the town was able to renovate the building; they installed heating and air conditioning, and made it [[accessibility|accessible]]. A number of [[antebellum architecture|antebellum]] homes and buildings are preserved in Saulsbury. The town has three active community clubs: the Saulsbury Community Club, the Nifty Needles Women's Club, and the Friendship Club.<ref name="History"/>

===Annual cultural events===

Saulsbury hosts three major events each year: a Christmas tree-lighting, the Community Celebration, and a [[home decorating]] contest, all in December. The community also hosts year round [[bake-off]], a [[fish fry]] in June, and an annual [[stew]] sale in October; all which benefit community projects.<ref name="History"/>

===In popular culture===

The final destination for the principal characters, Lena Grove and Byron Bunch, in William Faulkner's novel, ''[[Light in August]]'', is Saulsbury.

==Government==

Saulsbury is governed by a mayor and a board of six [[aldermen]] who are elected every four years.<ref name="History">{{cite web|title=Saulsbury|website=Hardeman County Tennessee|publisher=Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce|url=http://hardemancountytn.com/government/cities-towns/saulsbury.php|accessdate=November 17, 2011}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Major Thoroughfares===
* [[Tennessee State Route 57|State Route 57]]

==References==
<references />

{{Hardeman County, Tennessee}}

{{authority control}}

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