DeKalb County, Tennessee

DeKalb County, Tennessee
Dekalb County Courthouse in Smithville, Tennessee
Location in the state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded	c. 1837-1838
Seat	Smithville
Largest city	Smithville
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	329 sq mi (852 km²) 305 sq mi (789 km²) 24 sq mi (63 km²), 7.42%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	18,723 57/sq mi (22/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 18,723.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 329 square miles (852.1 km²), of which 305 square miles (789.9 km²) is land and 24 square miles (62.2 km²) (7.42%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Putnam County (northeast)
• White County (east)
• Warren County (south)
• Cannon County (southwest)
• Wilson County (west)
• Smith County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 17,423 people, 6,984 households, and 4,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 8,409 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.58% White, 1.43% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.62% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age pyramid DeKalb County^[2]

There were 6,984 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,359, and the median income for a family was $36,920. Males had a median income of $29,483 versus $20,953 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,217. About 11.80% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

History

DeKalb County was formed around 1837-1838 from land in Cannon, Warren and White Counties. Historian Will T. Hale believes that the first settlers in the county were at Liberty and came from Maryland in 1797.^[3] If so, Adam Dale was the first settler. He may have come over the Cumberland Mountains, although some sources claim he came down the Ohio, up the Cumberland to Nashville, and then overland about 56 miles.^[4] It was almost primeval forest. A middle Tennessee land office was opened in 1783.

DeKalb County was the site of several saltpeter mines. Saltpeter is the main ingredient of gunpowder and was obtained by leaching the earth from several local caves. Overall Cave was named for Abraham Overall who moved from Luray County, Virginia and settled near the present site of Liberty in 1805. He reportedly had many slaves and owned a large plantation on which Overall Cave is located. Two saltpeter leaching vats in the cave may date from the War of 1812, although this area was mined again during the Civil War. Other caves in DeKalb County that were mined for saltpeter include Avant Cave, located near Dowelltown, Indian Grave Point Cave, located in the Dry Creek Valley, and Tempereance Saltpeter Cave, located near Temperance Hall. (Thomas C. Barr, Jr., "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961, 568 pages.)

Cities and towns

• Alexandria
• Dowelltown
• Liberty
• Smithville

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in DeKalb County, Tennessee

References

1. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ Based on 2000 census data
3. ^ Hale, Will T. History of Dekalb County, TN. Nashville, P. Hunter, 1915. 254 pp. (reprinted McMinnville, B. Lomond Press, 1969).
4. ^ Id.

External links

• DeKalb County at the Open Directory Project
• DTC Communications - Member owned telecommunications cooperative.

Coordinates: 35°59′N 85°50′W / 35.98°N 85.83°W / 35.98; -85.83