Editing Waverly, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Waverly, Tennessee
| settlement_type          = City
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Humphreys-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Humphreys County Courthouse in Waverly
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = File:Humphreys County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Waverly Highlighted 4778560.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Waverly in Humphreys County, Tennessee.
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Tennessee]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Tennessee|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Humphreys County, Tennessee|Humphreys]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1838<ref name=waverly.net />
| named_for                = [[Waverley Novels]] of [[Walter Scott|Sir Walter Scott]]<ref name=waverly.net />

<!-- 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_sq_mi         = 8.71
| area_land_sq_mi          = 8.71
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 4297
| population_density_sq_mi = 493.11

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_ft             = 535
| coordinates              = {{coord|36|5|9|N|87|47|13|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 37185
| area_code                = [[Area code 931|931]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 47-78560<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1273950<ref name="GR3">{{cite web |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=US Board on Geographic Names |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|waverlytn.org}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| area_total_km2           = 22.57
| area_land_km2            = 22.57
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| population_density_km2   = 190.40
}}
'''Waverly''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Humphreys County, Tennessee|Humphreys County]], [[Tennessee]], United States.<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 population was 4,297 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2010census-pop">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-44.pdf |title=Tennessee: 2010, Population and Housing Unit Counts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |page=27 |date=September 2012}}</ref>

==History==
Waverly was established by Steven Pavatt as a stop along the stagecoach road between Nashville and Memphis in the early 19th century. Pavatt was a fan of the author Sir [[Walter Scott]], and named the community after Scott's [[Waverley Novels]]. When Humphreys County was created in 1803, Reynoldsburg, located northwest of Waverly along the Tennessee River, was chosen as the county seat. However, when county lands on the west bank of the Tennessee split off to become part of the newly created [[Benton County, Tennessee|Benton County]] in 1835, the Humphreys County seat was moved to Waverly, which had become the more central location in the county. A courthouse was built in 1836, and the town was officially incorporated in 1838.<ref name="waverly.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.waverly.net/hcchamber/history.htm |title=History of Humphreys County Tennessee |work=Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516154432/http://www.waverly.net/hcchamber/history.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2007}}</ref>

[[Image:Waverly-tennessee-reynoldsburg1.jpg|left|210px|thumb|THC marker in Waverly recalling the now-defunct town of Reynoldsburg]]

Like most of Middle and West Tennessee, Waverly was staunchly pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] during the [[American Civil War]]. Humphreys County voted unanimously in favor of [[secession]] in 1861. [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] troops occupied the town in 1863 to guard the railroad between White Bluff and Johnsonville (now Old Johnsonville), the latter being a Federal supply depot and transfer station. The Union troops managed to build a fort at the courthouse square, although they were constantly harassed by Confederate guerillas. On November 4, 1864, Confederate troops under [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] attacked and destroyed the Federal depot in what became known as the [[Battle of Johnsonville]].<ref name="waverly.net" /> The battle occurred approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} west of Waverly at the mouth of Trace Creek.

[[Hurricane Mills, Tennessee|Hurricane Mills]], located a few miles south of Waverly along TN-13, was the site of a substantial mill and [[carding]] factory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian-era]] prehistoric village (known as the Duck River Temple Mounds or Link Farm Site)<ref>National Register of Historic Places; Item #73001791, Record #365523.</ref> and a farm owned by [[Jesse James]] were both located near the Link farm site in the vicinity of Hurricane Mills.<ref name="waverly.net" />

On February 24, 1978, a [[Waverly, Tennessee, tank car explosion|propane tank car explosion]] occurred in downtown Waverly after an [[Louisville and Nashville Railroad|L&N]] train derailed. The explosion, which killed 16 people, led to an overhaul of the methods used by the [[Tennessee Emergency Management Agency]] when responding to hazardous material spills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnema.org/Archives/Waverly/Waverly1.htm |title=The Waverly Explosion |work=Tennessee Emergency Management Agency |year=2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516064527/http://www.tnema.org/Archives/Waverly/Waverly1.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2006}}</ref> It also led to various strengthened standards and regulations (e.g., for design and construction of rail cars) by the [[National Transportation Safety Board]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ali, MD|first= Yasmine S.|date= April 2023|title=''Walk through fire'' |url= |magazine=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]]|pages=14–21|location= |publisher=[[Kalmbach Media]]}}</ref>

During the morning of August 21, 2021, very heavy rainfall and totals of over {{convert|17|in|cm|}} caused Trace Creek to overflow in the middle of town, leading to [[2021 Tennessee floods|catastrophic flooding]] in Waverly. Floodwaters impacted many homes and businesses, electric, telephone, and water services, churches, and Waverly Elementary School. Many structures were flooded with up to {{convert|4|ft|m|}} of water, with numerous homes washed completely off their foundations. All roads in and out of town were made impassable, and 20 people were killed in Humphreys County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/sheriff-multiple-deaths-others-still-missing-after-flooding-in-humphreys-county/|title=Authorities: Multiple deaths reported after flooding in Humphreys County|date=August 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/flood-related-deaths-in-humphreys-county-rises-to-19|title = Flood-related deaths in Humphreys County rises to 20; No more considered missing|date = August 25, 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
Waverly is located at {{coord|36|5|9|N|87|47|13|W|type:city}} (36.085847, −87.786917).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The city is situated in the Trace Creek Valley, just over {{convert|10|mi|km}} east of the creek's confluence with the [[Kentucky Lake]] impoundment of the [[Tennessee River]]. The low ridges that "wall in" Waverly to the north and south represent the fringe of the western section of the [[Highland Rim]].

Waverly is centered on the junction of [[U.S. Route 70 in Tennessee|U.S. Route 70]], which connects the city to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] to the east and [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] to the west, and [[State Route 13 (Tennessee)|State Route 13]], which connects the city to Hurricane Mills and [[Interstate 40 (Tennessee)|Interstate 40]] to the south and the rural areas around [[Erin, Tennessee|Erin]] to the north.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|8.1|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 174
|1860= 288
|1870= 207
|1880= 510
|1900= 786
|1910= 947
|1920= 1054
|1930= 1152
|1940= 1318
|1950= 1892
|1960= 2891
|1970= 3794
|1980= 4405
|1990= 3925
|2000= 4028
|2010= 4105
|2020= 4297
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=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|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=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>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Waverly racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4778560&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)
| 3,657
| 85.11%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 282
| 6.56%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 12
| 0.28%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 18
| 0.42%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 184
| 4.28%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 144
| 3.35%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 4,297 people, 1,730 households, and 939 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,105 people with a population density of {{convert|468|PD/sqmi|/sqkm|abbr=out}}. There were 1,877 housing units at an average density of {{convert|214|/sqmi|/sqkm|abbr=out}}.<ref name="2010census-pop" />

===2000 census===
As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> the racial makeup of the city was 88.75% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.51% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.22% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population is [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

[[Image:Waverly-tennessee-ncourtsq1.jpg|left|210px|thumb|North Court Square in Waverly]]

There were 1,716 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,614, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $30,610 versus $19,297 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,139. About 10.9% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable residents==
* [[Deborah Adams]], author
* [[Murray Bowen]], psychiatrist and professor
* Susan Goodman, 1983 [[Mrs. America (contest)|Mrs. America]]<ref name="ocala19830501">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19830501&id=EjExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zQUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5705,9036 |title=Susan Goodman Wins Mrs. American Pageant |work=[[Ocala Star-Banner]] |volume=39 |issue=243 |date=May 1, 1983 |access-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref>
* [[George Morgan (singer)|George Morgan]], country music singer
* [[Daryl Mosley]], singer, musician, and songwriter.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author=Yasmine S. Ali, MD|year=2023|title=WALK THROUGH FIRE: The Train Disaster that Changed America|publisher=[[Citadel Press]]|isbn=978-0-8065-4218-8}}

==External links==
* [http://waverlytn.org/ City of Waverly official website]
* [http://www.humphreyscountychamberofcommerce.com/ Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce]

{{Humphreys County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Humphreys County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:County seats in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Cities in Tennessee]]