Hancock County, Tennessee

Infobox U.S. County
county = Hancock County
state = Tennessee


seallink =
founded =
seat = Sneedville
largest city = Sneedville
area_total_sq_mi = 224
area_total_km2 = 579
area_land_sq_mi = 222
area_land_km2 = 576
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 3
area percentage = .54%
census yr = 2000
pop = 6786
density_sq_mi = 30
density_km2 = 12
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset= -4
footnotes =
web = |

Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 6,786. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 6,704. [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-47.xls] . Its county seat is SneedvilleGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 224 square miles (579 km²), of which 222 square miles (576 km²) is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) (0.54%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Lee County, Virginia (north)
*Scott County, Virginia (northeast)
*Hawkins County (east)
*Grainger County (southwest)
*Claiborne County (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,786 people, 2,769 households, and 1,938 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.91% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,769 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $19,760, which was the lowest median household income of any county in Tennessee [ [http://www.tennessee.gov/tacir/County_Profile/hancock_profile.htm Hancock County, Tennessee, Selected Statistical Information] , Tennessee Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, accessed April 26, 2008] and the 27th lowest in the nation. The median income for a family was $25,372. Males had a median income of $23,150 versus $18,199 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,986. About 25.30% of families and 29.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.50% of those under age 18 and 30.70% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Hancock County is known particularly for its population of people of Melungeon ancestry, who are believed to be of mixed European, African, and Native American heritage.

Cities and towns

*Kyles Ford
*Sneedville
*Treadway

References

Further reading

*Johnson, Mattie Ruth (1997). "My Melungeon Heritage: A Story of Life on Newman's Ridge". Johnson City, Tennessee: Overmountain Press.
*Price, Henry R. (1966). "Melungeons: The Vanishing Colony of Newman's Ridge." Conference paper. American Studies Association of Kentucky and Tennessee. March 25-26, 1966.

External links

*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Tennessee/Counties/Hancock/|Hancock County