Lauderdale County, Tennessee

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


seallink =
founded = 1818
seat = Ripley
largest city = Ripley
area_total_sq_mi = 507
area_total_km2 = 1313
area_land_sq_mi = 470
area_land_km2 = 1218
area_water_sq_mi = 37
area_water_km2 = 95
area percentage = 7.23%
census yr = 2000
pop = 27101
density_sq_mi = 58
density_km2 = 22
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = |

Lauderdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 27,101. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 26,795 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-47.xls] . Its county seat is RipleyGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 507 square miles (1,313 km²), of which, 470 square miles (1,218 km²) of it is land and 37 square miles (95 km²) of it (7.23%) is water.

Lauderdale County is situated on the southeastern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, an area with a high earthquake risk.

Adjacent counties

*Dyer County (north)
*Crockett County (east)
*Haywood County (southeast)
*Tipton County (south)
*Mississippi County, Arkansas (west)

History

Battle of Fort Pillow 1864

In 1861, the Confederate States Army built extensive fortifications in Lauderdale County and named the site for General Gideon J. Pillow. Because of its strategic location, the fort was taken by the Union Army in 1864.

Fort Pillow State Park is home to a mueseum and also has reconstructed fortifications on the original site of the fort.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 27,101 people, 9,567 households, and 6,811 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 10,563 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.82% White, 34.08% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,567 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,751, and the median income for a family was $36,841. Males had a median income of $28,325 versus $21,238 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,682. About 16.20% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 26.50% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Lauderdale County Tomato Festival

The Lauderdale County Tomato Festival is an annual celebration of the tomato in Ripley, Lauderdale County.

Veterans' Museum in Halls, TN

The Veterans' Museum on the grounds of the former Dyersburg Army Air Base in Halls, Tennessee is dedicated to the and documentation of materials related to military activities from World War I to the Iraq war, as well as documenting the history of the air base itself.

Cities and towns

*Durhamville (unincorporated)
*Golddust (unincorporated)
*Gates
*Halls
*Henning
*Orysa (unincorporated)
*Ripley

Notable natives

*Alex Haley - author of "Roots"
*Sleepy John Estes, blues guitarist born in Ripley
*Jim Hickman - Professional Baseball All-Star

References

External links

*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Tennessee/Counties/Lauderdale/|Lauderdale County
* [http://www.lctn.com Official Lauderdale County Website]
* [http://www.lced.net Lauderdale County Department of Education]
* [http://laudcc.com Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce]