Hardeman County, Tennessee

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Hardeman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,462.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Bolivar.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Hardeman County was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1823 from parts of Hardin County and "Indian lands." It is named for Thomas J. Hardeman<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (1788-1854), a veteran of the Creek War and the War of 1812 and a prominent figure in the fight for Texas independence. He served as a congressman in the Republic of Texas, and was also the father of Confederate brigadier general William Polk Hardeman.<ref name=tehc />

Settlers began arriving in the area that is now Hardeman County in 1819, following a treaty with the Chickasaw allowing settlement in West Tennessee signed on October 19, 1818.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Among these earliest settlers were the county's namesame Thomas Hardeman and Ezekiel Polk, the paternal grandfather of president James K. Polk.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Thereafter, further settlers arrived from Middle Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Virginia.<ref name=":0" />

The first permanent settlement was established in 1823 along the Hatchie River, dubbed Hatchie Town. The town's location along the river led to recurrent flooding, and ultimately the decision was made to relocate the settlement approximately one mile south to what is now Bolivar.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Hardeman County was the site of several battles and skirmishes in the Civil War. The largest of these was the Battle of Hatchie's Bridge which took place on October 5, 1862 and resulted in 900 total casualties. Much of downtown Bolivar was also burned down during the war.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The town of Grand Junction was the site of the first contraband camp, organized by John Eaton to shelter and employ enslaved individuals captured by the Union.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The county is the location of two of Tennessee's four private prisons, the Whiteville Correctional Facility and the Hardeman County Correctional Center. Both are medium-security facilities for men, operated by the Corrections Corporation of America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (0.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the fifth-largest county in Tennessee by area.

Demographics

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2020 census

**Hardeman County, Tennessee – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	15,994	15,197	13,970	56.91%	55.76%	54.87%
Black or African American alone (NH)	11,474	11,228	10,150	40.83%	41.20%	39.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	66	56	46	0.23%	0.21%	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	78	145	162	0.28%	0.53%	0.64%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	5	0	6	0.02%	0.00%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	13	18	68	0.05%	0.07%	0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	202	233	566	0.72%	0.85%	2.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	273	376	494	0.97%	1.38%	1.94%
Total	28,105	27,253	25,462	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,462 people, 8,891 households, and 5,816 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010 the racial makeup of the county was 56.1% White (non-Hispanic) or European American, 41.01% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR8" /> of 2000, there were 28,105 people, 9,412 households, and 6,767 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 10,694 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 57.34% White (non-Hispanic) or European American, 40.97% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,412 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 116.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,111, and the median income for a family was $34,746. Males had a median income of $27,828 versus $20,759 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,349. About 16.90% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.40% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Bolivar Central High School
Bolivar Middle School
Bolivar Elementary School
Whiteville Elementary School
Middleton High School
Middleton Elementary School
Toone Elementary School
Grand Junction Elementary School
Hornsby Elementary School

Communities

Cities

Bolivar (county seat and largest city)
Grand Junction (partial)
Middleton
Medon (mostly in Madison County)

Towns

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Census-designated places

Unincorporated and historic communities

Cloverport
Middleburg
New Castle
Piney Grove
Porters Creek
Rogers Springs
Serles
Van Buren
Vildo

Politics

References

External links

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