Rutherford County, Tennessee

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

Rutherford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located in Middle Tennessee. As of a 2023 estimate, the population was 367,101,<ref name="USCensusEst20232">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the fifth-most populous county in Tennessee. A study conducted by the University of Tennessee projects Rutherford County to become the third largest county in Tennessee by population by 2050.<ref name="explosive">Template:Cite news</ref> Its county seat is Murfreesboro,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> which is also the geographic center of Tennessee. As of 2010, it is the center of population of Tennessee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rutherford County is included in the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Early history

Rutherford County was formed in 1803 from parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties,<ref name="tehc" /> and named in honor of Griffith Rutherford (1721–1805).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Rutherford was a North Carolina colonial legislator and an American Revolutionary War general, who settled in Middle Tennessee after the Revolution. He was appointed President of the Council of the Southwest Territory (the upper chamber of the territorial legislature) in 1794.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Civil War

Rutherford County strongly supported the Confederacy during the Civil War, having voted 2,392 to 73 in favor of Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession on June 8, 1861.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rutherford County's central location and proximity to Nashville during the Civil War made it a contested area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was home to one of the bloodiest battles of the war, the Battle of Stones River, which was fought between December 31, 1862, and January 2, 1863.

On July 13, 1862, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest conducted a series of cavalry operations known locally as Forrest's Raid. The raid successfully led to the surrender of all Union forces occupying the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Soon after his departure, Union troops returned to the area and held it until the end of the war.

Reconstruction and latter 19th century

File:Bradley-academy-murfreesboro-tn1.jpg

Opened in 1884, Bradley Academy was Rutherford County's first high school for African Americans

In August 1869, rampaging white men drove close to 100 African American farmers from their homes, and out of the county, to Nashville.<ref name="tennessee_lawless_1869_08_31_nytimes_com">"TENNESSEE.; Lawless Proceedings in Rutherford County—Negroes Driven from their Homes—Proclamation by Governor Senter," August 31, 1869, New York Times archive, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref>

In 1884, Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro became Rutherford County's first accredited high school for African Americans. The co-educational school was operated by the Murfreesboro City Schools system. Bradley Academy was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Modern history

In the early 2000s, Muslim immigrants settled in the county, particularly in and around Murfreesboro. Their efforts to develop a mosque, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (and its subsequent replacement) became the focus of intense local controversy and opposition from non-Muslims,<ref name="tennessee_mosque_2021_07_19_bbc">"Tennessee mosque gets go-ahead after legal fight," July 19, 2012, BBC, United Kingdom, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref><ref name="feds_file_2010_10_19_ap_taiwannews">Hall, Kristin M. (Associated Press): "Feds file legal brief in support of Tenn. mosque," October 19, 2010, Taiwan News, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_05_30_tribune_com_pk">Reuters News Service: "US judge halts construction of Tennessee mosque: Judge ruled that local government had failed to follow proper procedures before granting building permit," May 30, 2012, The Express Tribune, Pakistan, retrieved October 16, 2021</ref><ref name="vandals_apologize_2018_03_10_ap_globalnews_ca">Associated Press: "Tennessee mosque vandals apologize for ‘dumb, foolish’ actions," March 10, 2018, Global News, Canada, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref> and were stymied by political and legal battles,<ref name="feds_file_2010_10_19_ap_taiwannews" /><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_05_30_tribune_com_pk" /><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_08_10_ap_foxnews">Associated Press: "Embattled Tennessee mosque opens," August 10, 2012, updated December 1, 2015, Fox News, retrieved October 16, 2021</ref><ref name="a_fight_2014_02_13_theatlantic">Ohlheiser, Abby: "A Fight Over a Tennessee Mosque Has Cost One County $343,276 (so Far)," February 13, 2014, The Atlantic, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref> arson, bomb threats and vandalism.<ref name="vandals_apologize_2018_03_10_ap_globalnews_ca" /><ref name="faith_leaders_2012_08_10_washingtonpost">Markoe, Lauren: "Faith leaders urge Americans to combat attacks on religious minorities," August 10, 2012, Washington Post, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref><ref name="arson_caused_fire_2012_09_04_ap_foxnews">Associated Press: "Arson Caused Fire at Tennessee Mosque Site, Police Say," September 4, 2012, updated November 30, 2015, Fox News, retrieved October 22, 2021</ref><ref name="a_fight_2014_02_13_theatlantic" /><ref name="a_fight_2012_07_18_nytimes">Severson, Kim: "Judge Allows Muslims to Use Tennessee Mosque," July 18, 2012, New York Times, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref> A federal court forced the local authorities to allow the mosque,<ref name="tennessee_mosque_2021_07_19_bbc" /><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_08_10_ap_foxnews" /><ref name="a_fight_2012_07_18_nytimes" /> and opposition subsided, but sporadic incidents continued.<ref name="vandals_apologize_2018_03_10_ap_globalnews_ca" />

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 (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Wilson County (north)
Cannon County (east)
Coffee County (southeast)
Bedford County (south)
Marshall County (southwest)
Williamson County (west)
Davidson County (northwest)

National protected area

Stones River National Battlefield

State protected areas

Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area
Gattinger's Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area (part)
Long Hunter State Park (part)
Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area
Overbridge State Natural Area
Percy Priest Wildlife Management Area (part)
Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area
Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area
Sunnybell Cedar Glade State Natural Area
Stones River Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area
Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area

Demographics

Template:US Census population Template:Stack

2020 census

Rutherford County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	219,194	64.19%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	53,270	15.6%
Native American	789	0.23%
Asian	12,394	3.63%
Pacific Islander	219	0.06%
Other/Mixed	17,303	5.07%
Hispanic or Latino	38,317	11.22%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 341,486 people, 113,797 households, and 78,348 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 262,604 people, 96,232 households, and 66,810 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert, and the housing unit density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 80.67% White, 12.65% Black or African American, 3.08% Asian, 0.36% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 2.04% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origins were 6.67% of the population.

Of the 96,232 households, 35.19% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 51.61% were married couples living together, 5.04% had a male householder with no wife present, 12.77% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.59% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.38% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.

Of the 262,604 residents, 26.17% were under the age of 18, 65.62% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 8.21% were 65 years of age and older. The median age was 33.1 years. 50.60% of all residents were female and 49.40% were male.

The median household income in the county was $53,770 and the median family income was $63,483. Males had a median income of $43,306 versus $35,437 for females. The per capita income was $24,390. About 8.8% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 and over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 182,023 people, 66,443 households, and 47,440 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert, and there were 70,616 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 85.73% White, 9.51% Black or African American, 1.90% Asian, 0.29% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 66,443 households, out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 13.20% from 18 to 24, 33.50% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,312, and the median income for a family was $53,553. Males had a median income of $36,788 versus $26,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,938. About 5.80% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

The 2010 census put the population of Rutherford County at 262,604. This represents a greater than 40% population growth since the 2000 U.S. Census. As of 2009, it was estimated that the total minority fraction of the population had grown to almost 20% of the total, with Hispanic population at 5.58%, African-American population at 12.09%, and Asian population at 2.66% of the total.<ref>Rutherford County Pop-Facts: Demographic Snapshot Report Template:Webarchive from the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce</ref>

Government and politics

File:Rutherford County Judicial Building.jpg

Rutherford County Judicial Building in Murfreesboro

County Commission

The Board of County Commissioners, the county legislative body, consists of 21 members elected for four-year terms from single-member districts based on roughly equal populations.

County Mayor

The county mayor is the chief executive officer and is elected from the county at-large.

Assessor of Property

The Assessor of Property is responsible for the valuation of all property in order that it be taxed by the county commission and mayor to raise funds necessary to operate county government and is elected from the county at-large. Rob Mitchell is the current Assessor of Property and has held office since 2012.

Presidential politics

Political history

This area of the state was predominately Democratic following the American Civil War, but the significant minority of African Americans joined the Republican Party. The white-dominated state legislature in the 1880s passed four laws that effectively disenfranchised most blacks and many poor whites, particularly due to the requirement of payment of a poll tax in order to register to vote, which reduced the competitiveness of the Republican Party in this part of the state.<ref name=leip/>

Since the late 20th century, the majority of white conservatives in Rutherford County shifted toward the Republican Party. Since this time, the changing demographics of the county has shown a significant increase in minorities; however, this change has resulted in no significant impact to party alignment. In recent years, the county has favored Republican candidates for local, state, and national elections. Democratic strength is largely concentrated in La Vergne and parts of Murfreesboro itself, with La Vergne having voted Democratic in every recent statewide election except 2022 and Murfreesboro being carried by Phil Bredesen in 2018 and lost by Karl Dean and Joe Biden by single-digit margins in 2018 and 2020 respectively.<ref>https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::c0ed8258-ce44-4eec-9736-2cc3b86a9d16</ref> Nonetheless, Rutherford County has no Democratic state legislators due to Republicans splitting Democratic voters in La Vergne and Murfreesboro among all five state House districts assigned to the county,<ref>https://mtsusidelines.com/2024/11/03/are-rutherford-countys-new-house-districts-fair/</ref><ref>https://wpln.org/post/what-do-you-see-in-tennessees-new-legislative-map-for-democrats-its-bad-signs-and-gerrymandering/</ref><ref>https://mtsusidelines.com/2024/09/10/mtsu-campus-was-legally-cut-in-half-by-tennessees-most-recent-round-of-political-gerrymandering/</ref> leaving it with no districts Bredesen would've won despite his strength in La Vergne and flip of Murfreesboro.<ref>https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::c0ed8258-ce44-4eec-9736-2cc3b86a9d16</ref>

Sheriff and jail

In 2008, the county built a $23,300,000 expansion to the county jail.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /><ref name="work_begins_2007_02_16_murfreesboropost_com">Template:Cite news</ref> It is alleged that some county officials viewed the jail as a for-profit business.<ref name="jail_promo_video_2021_10_07_propublica_on_youtube" /><ref name="work_begins_2007_02_16_murfreesboropost_com" />

In May 2016, Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold, his Chief Administrative Deputy Joe L. Russell and the sheriff's uncle were named in a 14-count federal indictment charging fraud, bribery, extortion, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy for operating an e-cigarette business, for personal gain, in the jail. State officials reported that the JailCigs business gained over $110,000 in revenues pocketed by Arnold and Russell. All pleaded guilty. Arnold was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison, his deputy to 15 months.<ref name="sheriff_pleads_guilty_2017-01-18_dnj_com">"Rutherford County sheriff pleads guilty to fraud, extortion," January 18, 2017, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal retrieved October 27, 2021</ref><ref name="former_deputy_2017_11_19_wmsr_am">"Former Rutherford County Sheriff Chief Administrative Deputy Headed to Federal Prison," WMSR (AM), retrieved October 27, 2021</ref><ref name="sheriff_sentenced_2017_05_04_justice_gov">"Former Tennessee Sheriff Sentenced on Federal Corruption Charges," May 4, 2017, Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref> Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh replaced Arnold.<ref name="tbi_assisting_2017_11_17_murfreesboro_post">Stockard, Sam: "TBI assisting investigation into inmate’s attempted suicide," November 17, 2017, Murfreesboro Post, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref> Sheriff's Major Terry McBurney pleaded guilty to unrelated charges, losing his citizenship.<ref name="major_expected_2017_01_26_tennessean_com">Barchenger, Stacey: USA Today Network - Tennessee: "Rutherford sheriff's major expected to plead guilty," January 26, 2017, Nashville Tennessean, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref><ref name="mcburney_pleads_guilty_2016_04_15_murfreesboro_post">Stockard, Sam: "McBurney pleads guilty," February 2, 2017, Murfreesboro Post, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref>

In December 2016, following multiple deaths in the jail that year, including two suicides<ref name="third_inmate_death_2016_04_15_murfreesboro_post">Stockard, Sam: " Third inmate death this year ," April 15, 2016, Murfreesboro Post, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref><ref name="tbi_assisting_2017_11_17_murfreesboro_post" /><ref name="state_decertifies_2016_12_07_tennessean_com">Broden, Scott: "State decertifies Rutherford County jail," December 7, 2016 Nashville Tennessean, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref> (one resulting in a $260,000 lawsuit settlement against the county),<ref name="settlement_reached_2021_12_09_murfreesboropost">"Settlement reached in jail suicide lawsuit," December 9, 2016, updated October 26, 2017, Murfreesboro Post, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref> state inspectors decertified the jail, citing faults in the jail's policies, programs, staffing and the physical plant.<ref name="tbi_assisting_2017_11_17_murfreesboro_post" /><ref name="state_decertifies_2016_12_07_tennessean_com" /><ref name="jail_recertified_2017_06_07_dnj_com">Ragland-Hudgins, Mealand: "Rutherford County jail recertified by state," January 18, 2017, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal retrieved October 27, 2021</ref> Following numerous changes to policies and facilities—particularly inmate supervision and monitoring, and converting 400 beds to bunk beds, to allow the jail to hold 950 people—the jail was recertified in 2017.<ref name="tbi_assisting_2017_11_17_murfreesboro_post" /><ref name="jail_recertified_2017_06_07_dnj_com" />

Juvenile justice and jail

Template:See also In 2000, Rutherford County created the post of Juvenile Court Judge to oversee the county's juvenile justice procedures.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /><ref name="judge_jailed_minors_bogus_charges_2021_10_12_pbs_org" />

As part of the $23 million development of the county jail, in 2008, a juvenile detention center (JDC) was added.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /><ref name="work_begins_2007_02_16_murfreesboropost_com" /> Some county officials allegedly viewed the juvenile jail as a for-profit business.<ref name="jail_promo_video_2021_10_07_propublica_on_youtube" /><ref name="work_begins_2007_02_16_murfreesboropost_com" /> At a public meeting, JDC director Lynn Duke stated that, “If we have empty beds, we will fill them with a paying customer" and "We get a lot of business” A county commissioner added, that "Hey, it’s a business. Generating revenue."<ref>"$11 Million Settlement Reached in Tennessee Suit Alleging False Arrest and False Imprisonment of Minors" Edward Lyon, Prison Legal News, May 1, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.</ref>

The county then solicited other counties in Tennessee and surrounding states to send detained youth to the Rutherford County juvenile jail for incarceration, at $175 per day per child, and said that over 20 Tennessee counties had contracted with Rutherford's juvenile jail.<ref name="jail_promo_video_2021_10_07_propublica_on_youtube">"What Can the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center Do For You?" (video, with text annotations), government of Rutherfound County, Tennessee, obtained by ProPublica and posted October 7, 2021, retrieved October 12, 2021.</ref><ref name=JDCvideo/> The county released a marketing video, "What Can the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center Do For You?” featuring images of children in black-and-white striped prison uniforms, and narrated by Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport, to solicit business for the JDC. As of 2021, 39 Tennessee counties were contracting with Rutherford County to incarcerate youth, along with the U.S. Marshals Service.<ref name=JDCvideo>"We Reported on a County That Has Jailed Kids for a Crime That Doesn’t Exist. Readers Reacted." Brooke Stephenson, ProPublica, October 15, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.</ref>

It is alleged that in subsequent years, the singular Rutherford County juvenile judge and local authorities, including the county's Juvenile Detention Center director Lynn Duke, colluded in the arrest and incarceration of hundreds of children, some as young as seven years old, on various misdemeanor charges, including schoolyard fights, truancy and cursing. All arrested children were jailed in the detention center, pending adjudication and assessment.<ref name="judge_jailed_minors_bogus_charges_2021_10_12_pbs_org" /><ref name="rutherford_county_judge_2021_10_11_wkrn_com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="judge_faces_criticism_2021_10_14_abcnews_go_com">"Judge faces criticism following report that Black children were illegally jailed in Tennessee county," October 14, 2021, ABC News, retrieved October 15, 2021</ref>

In 2021, journalists reported that children were being incarcerated in the county's juvenile jail at a rate ten times higher than the state's average,<ref name="sickening_2021_10_12_tennesseelookout_com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="judge_jailed_minors_bogus_charges_2021_10_12_pbs_org">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="new_report_2021_10_09_msbnc_com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="judge_faces_criticism_2021_10_14_abcnews_go_com" /> and that some children were arrested and jailed for alleged violations of non-existent laws.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /><ref name="judge_faces_criticism_2021_10_14_abcnews_go_com" /><ref name="tennessee_county_2021_10_08_forbes">Template:Cite news</ref> Class action federal lawsuits resulted in the county ending solitary confinement of children in custody.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /> In May 2017, a federal court said that children were being illegally detained in Rutherford County, and ordered the county to stop using its "filter" system because it "departs drastically" from ordinary juvenile detention standards.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /><ref name="judge_faces_criticism_2021_10_14_abcnews_go_com" />

In June 2021, Rutherford County settled with plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit, agreeing to payments of up to $11 million, to up to 1,450 potential claimants for wrongful arrest or incarceration, but denying any wrongdoing.<ref name="black_children_jailed_2021_10_08_propublica_org" /><ref name="minors_settlement_2021_09 _29_dnj_com">"Illegally jailed as minors, 1,450 eligible in $11M settlement from Rutherford County," September 29, 2021, updated October 18, 2021, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, retrieved October 27, 2021</ref> The settlement amount was amended to $5.1 million in December 2021.<ref>"Rutherford County officials rejected 2004 study showing they jailed too many children" Scott Broden, Daily News Journal, June 23, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.</ref> The settlement was subsequently denied by the county's insurer, Lloyd's of London, which wrote that the county was aware of its illegal juvenile detention practices prior to its coverage by the insurer, but "concealed or misrepresented material facts" to obtain the policy, which voided the policy; the county filed a federal lawsuit against the insurer in December 2022.<ref>"Rutherford County is back in court over juvenile arrests, now fighting insurer to cover its payouts" Meribah Knight, December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.</ref>

In August 2022, Republican Juvenile Court nominee Travis Lampley won the judgeship, stating the goals of restoring confidence in the juvenile court, and pledged "to uphold the integrity of the family unit", while the Rutherford County Commission is assembling a new Juvenile Detention Board to "oversee incarceration operations", including juvenile detention staff, who report to Judge Davenport.<ref>"Travis Lampley wins Rutherford County Juvenile Court judge race" Scott Broden, Daily News Journal, August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2022.</ref>

Privatized corrections

Rutherford County outsourced some of its probation administration to Providence Community Corrections, and, in 2015, the arrangement was alleged in court to have violated racketeering laws—jailing impoverished people who did not pay court fines for misdemeanor offenses and traffic violations, and refusing to waive fees for indigent convicts. Seven probationers, many sick or disabled, living on food stamps, charged in court that they lost housing, jobs, cars—after multiple threats from Providence that they would be jailed for failing to pay.<ref name="Private_Probation_Company_nytimes_com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="probation_violations_2014_10_18_commercialappeal_com">Willard, Michelle: "Probation violations help fill county jail," October 18, 2014 Murfreesboro Daily News Journal in Memphis Commercial Appeal, retrieved October 22, 2021</ref> In 2017, Rutherford County consented to end the use of for-profit, private probation companies, and PCC agreed to pay $14 million, spread among up to 25,000 court-identified victims, to settle the class action lawsuit.<ref name="thousands_2019_01_08_newschannel5_com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="settlement_2018_05_07_prisonlegalnews_org">Template:Cite news</ref>

Economy

The top employers in the county are listed below. Rutherford County government including Rutherford County Schools also employ 7,441 individuals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>