imported>SamuelNelsonGISP: Moving from Category:Populated places established in 1845 to Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1845 using Cat-a-lot

2026-04-20T17:31:16Z

Moving from Category:Populated places established in 1845 to Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1845 using Cat-a-lot

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{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Decatur, Tennessee}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Decatur County
| state = Tennessee
| ex image = Decatur-County-Courthouse-tn.jpg
| ex image size =
| ex image cap = Decatur County Courthouse in [[Decaturville, Tennessee|Decaturville]]
| seal = File:Dectur co seal.jpg
| founded = November 1845
| named for = [[Stephen Decatur]]<ref name=tehc>Teresa Biddle-Douglass, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=365 Decatur County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: June 26, 2013.</ref>
| seat wl = Decaturville
| largest city wl = Parsons
| area_total_sq_mi = 345
| area_land_sq_mi = 334
| area_water_sq_mi = 11
| area percentage = 3.2%
| census yr = 2020
| pop = 11435
| pop_est_as_of = 2025
| population_est = 11820 {{increase}}
| density_sq_mi = 35
| time zone = Central
| footnotes =
| web = https://decaturcountytn.gov/
| district = 7th
}}

'''Decatur County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 11,435.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47039.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607141035/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47039.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Decaturville, Tennessee|Decaturville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Perry County, Tennessee#History}}
This county is named after naval hero [[Stephen Decatur|Stephen Decatur Jr.]], who gained national recognition in the [[First Barbary War]], the [[Second Barbary War]], and the [[War of 1812]] by his leadership and achievements at sea. The county was created in November 1845 from the part of [[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry County]] west of the [[Tennessee River]] in response to a petition by citizens on the west side of the river.<ref name=tehc />

Like several other counties west of the Tennessee River, Decatur County was substantially pro-[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] during [[American Civil War|the Civil War]], contrary to the generally pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] sympathies of [[West Tennessee|West]] and [[Middle Tennessee]]. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Decatur County voted to remain in the Union by a margin of 550 to 310,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votearchive.com/tn-sec-ref-1861/|publisher=Vote Archive|title=Tennessee Secession Referendum, 1861}}</ref> being one of only eight counties in West or Middle Tennessee to support the Union. Earlier on February 9, 1861, Decatur County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 514 to 251.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votearchive.com/tn-sec-conv-vote-1861/|title=Tennessee Vote on Secession Convention, 1861|publisher=[[The Fayetteville Observer|Fayetteville Observer]]|date=March 21, 1861}}</ref>

In 2015, the Decatur County [[clerk of court]] and the entire staff of that office resigned, to express conscientious objection to the [[United States Supreme Court]]'s ruling in ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges]]'', which would oblige the office to issue [[marriage license]]s to [[same-sex couple]]s.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.alternet.org/entire-staff-tenn-county-clerks-office-resigns-over-same-sex-marriage
|title = Entire staff in Tenn. county clerk's office resigns over same-sex marriage
|magazine = Alternet
|date = July 5, 2015
|access-date = July 9, 2015
|last = Boggioni
|first = Tom
}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|345|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|334|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (3.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_47.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Benton County, Tennessee|Benton County]] (north)
*[[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry County]] (east)
*[[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne County]] (southeast)
*[[Hardin County, Tennessee|Hardin County]] (south)
*[[Henderson County, Tennessee|Henderson County]] (west)
*[[Carroll County, Tennessee|Carroll County]] (northwest)

===National protected area===
*[[Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

===State protected area===
*Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area
*Cypress Pond Refuge

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 6003
|1860= 6276
|1870= 7772
|1880= 8498
|1890= 8995
|1900= 10439
|1910= 10093
|1920= 10198
|1930= 10106
|1940= 10261
|1950= 9442
|1960= 8324
|1970= 9457
|1980= 10857
|1990= 10472
|2000= 11731
|2010= 11757
|2020= 11435
|estyear=2025
|estimate=11820
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 11, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}}
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF"/>
| align = right
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Decatur County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47039&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|10,462
|91.49%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|270
|2.36%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|9
|0.08%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|42
|0.37%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|5
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|289
|2.53%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|358
|3.13%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], the county had a population of 11,435, 4,894 households, and 3,059 families residing in the county.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A039&in=state%3A47|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 31, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The median age was 47.6 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 4,894 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 6,557 housing units, of which 25.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.7% were owner-occupied and 23.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A039&in=state%3A47|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 31, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.13% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A039&in=state%3A47|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 31, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 11,731 people, 4,908 households, and 3,415 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|35|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}.

There were 6,448 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.12% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.47% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.20% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.95% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,908 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,741, and the median income for a family was $34,919. Males had a median income of $25,945 versus $20,155 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,285. About 13.80% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 22.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===City===
*[[Parsons, Tennessee|Parsons]]

===Towns===
*[[Decaturville, Tennessee|Decaturville]] (county seat)
*[[Scotts Hill, Tennessee|Scotts Hill]] (partial)

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Bath Springs, Tennessee|Bath Springs]]
*[[Bible Hill, Tennessee|Bible Hill]]
* [[Dunbar, Tennessee|Dunbar]]
*[[Holladay, Tennessee|Holladay]] (partial)
* [[Hopewell, Decatur County, Tennessee|Hopewell]]
*[[Lick Skillet, Tennessee|Lick Skillet]]
*[[Perryville, Tennessee|Perryville]]
*[[Sugar Tree, Tennessee|Sugar Tree]]

==Politics==
Decatur County – like all of rural Tennessee – is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was Al Gore in 2000, and even before the collapse of traditional rural Democratic support after [[Bill Clinton]] the county had a sizeable [[Southern Unionist|Unionist]] population that caused it to vote Republican several times during the “[[System of 1896]]”.{{PresHead|place=Decatur County, Tennessee|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|405|758|506|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|893|887|17|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,608|1,149|23|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|799|877|20|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|748|809|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|601|1,020|22|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|919|1,502|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,275|1,832|10|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,235|1,515|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,291|1,565|164|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,406|1,681|13|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,512|1,554|35|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,684|1,321|70|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,429|1,813|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,409|877|1,544|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,368|1,187|100|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,637|2,432|47|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,095|2,139|46|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,390|2,031|20|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,286|1,880|25|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,667|2,633|361|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,712|2,262|250|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,046|2,278|46|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,566|2,268|45|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,101|1,566|96|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,874|1,303|74|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,588|894|110|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,229|904|108|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,596|819|51|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tennessee#Decatur County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Decatur County, Tennessee]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.decaturcountytn.org/ Official site]
* [http://decaturcountytennessee.org/ Decatur County Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.decaturcountyschools.com/ Decatur County Schools]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/decatur Decatur County, TNGenWeb] – genealogy resources

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Decatur County, Tennessee
|North = [[Benton County, Tennessee|Benton County]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry County]]
|Southeast = [[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne County]]
|South = [[Hardin County, Tennessee|Hardin County]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[Henderson County, Tennessee|Henderson County]]
|Northwest = [[Carroll County, Tennessee|Carroll County]]
}}

{{Decatur County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}

{{coord|35.61|-88.11|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Decatur County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1845 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1845]]
[[Category:West Tennessee]]

Decatur County, Tennessee - Revision history

imported>SamuelNelsonGISP: Moving from Category:Populated places established in 1845 to Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1845 using Cat-a-lot