Weakley County, Tennessee

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Weakley County is a county located in the northwest of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,902.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Dresden.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Its largest city is Martin, the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. The county was established by the Tennessee General Assembly on October 21, 1823, and is named for U.S. Congressman Robert Weakley (1764–1845). Weakley County comprises the Martin, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Weakley County was created in October 1823 from some of the land that the Chickasaw people ceded to the United States in the Treaty of 1818. The county was named after Colonel Robert Weakley, a member of the House of Representatives, a speaker of the State Senate, and the man commissioned to treat (negotiate) with the Chickasaw.<ref name="About Dresden">Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 19th century, the county was the state's largest corn producer. By the latter half of the 20th century, soybeans became the county's leading crop.<ref name=tehc />

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The North Fork of the Obion River flows through the northern half of the county, the Middle Fork flows across the central portion of the county, and the South Fork flows across the southern part of the county. The Obion is a tributary of the Mississippi River.

Adjacent counties

Hickman County, Kentucky (northwest)
Graves County, Kentucky (north)
Henry County (east)
Carroll County (southeast)
Gibson County (southwest)
Obion County (west)

State protected areas

Bean Switch Refuge
Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area
Big Cypress Tree State Park
Harts Mill Wetland Wildlife Management Area (part)
Obion River Wildlife Management Area (part)

Demographics

Template:US Census population Template:Stack

2020 census

Weakley County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	27,813	84.53%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,593	7.88%
Native American	52	0.16%
Asian	192	0.58%
Pacific Islander	3	0.01%
Other/Mixed	1,344	4.08%
Hispanic or Latino	905	2.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,902 people, 13,640 households, and 8,677 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 34,895 people, 13,599 households, and 9,124 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,928 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 90.27% White, 6.95% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,599 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

The population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 15.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,008, and the median income for a family was $38,658. Males had a median income of $28,597 versus $20,845 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,408. About 11.10% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 16.20% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Radio

WWGY 99.3 "Today's Best Music with "Ace & TJ in the Morning"
WRQR-FM 105.5 "Today's Best Music with "Ace & TJ in the Morning"
WENK-AM 1240 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
WTPR-AM 710 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
WTPR-FM 101.7 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
WCMT-AM 1410 100.5FM
WCMT-FM 101.3
WUTM-FM 90.3
(WCDZ FM 95.1 and 102.9FM)
WCMT-AM 1410 "your best friend"

Print

Dresden Enterprise - located in Dresden, the county seat.<ref>Dresden Enterprise official site. Retrieved: April 24, 2013.</ref>
The Weakley County Press - located in Martin
The Pacer - Student newspaper of the University of Tennessee at Martin

Education

Weakley County Schools

School District website - http://www.weakleyschools.com/

School Name	Team Mascot	School Colors	School Website
Dresden Elementary School	Lions	Black, Gold	http://www.des.weakleyschools.com/
Dresden Middle School	Lions	Black/Gold	http://www.dms.weakleyschools.com/
Dresden High School	Lions	Black/Gold	http://www.dhs.weakleyschools.com/
Gleason School	Bulldogs	Orange/Black	http://www.gls.weakleyschools.com/cms/One.aspx
Greenfield School	Yellowjackets	Black/Orange	http://www.grs.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Elementary School	Chargers	Blue/White	http://www.mes.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Middle School	Chargers	Blue/White	http://www.mms.weakleyschools.com/
Martin Primary School	N/A	Blue/Yellow	http://www.mps.weakleyschools.com/
Sharon School	Eagles	Purple/Yellow	http://www.ss.weakleyschools.com/
Westview High School	Chargers	Royal Blue/Yellow Gold	http://www.whs.weakleyschools.com/