Lauderdale County, Tennessee

Lauderdale County, Tennessee
Location in the state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded	1818
Seat	Ripley
Largest city	Ripley
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	507 sq mi (1,313 km²) 470 sq mi (1,218 km²) 37 sq mi (95 km²), 7.23%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	27,101 58/sq mi (22/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

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 [1]. Its county seat is Ripley.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 507 square miles (1,313.1 km²), of which 470 square miles (1,217.3 km²) is land and 37 square miles (95.8 km²) (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)

National protected area

• Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge
• Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (part)

History

Lauderdale County is named for James Lauderdale.

Battle of Fort Pillow 1864

Main article: Battle of Fort Pillow

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 museum and also has reconstructed fortifications on the original site of the fort.

Demographics

Age pyramid Lauderdale County

As of the census 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.

Scenic view in Lauderdale County (2004)

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

Sleepy John Estes

Sleepy John Estes was a U.S. blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, born in Ripley, Tennessee. He died on June 5, 1977 in his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. Sleepy John is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County.

Veterans' Museum in Halls, TN

Main article: Arnold Field (Tennessee)

The Veterans' Museum on the grounds of the former Dyersburg Army Air Base in Halls, Tennessee is dedicated to the preservation 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.

Government and infrastructure

The Tennessee Department of Corrections operates the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in unincorporated Lauderdale County, near Henning. Previously the Cold Creek Correctional Facility was located in the area.

Cities and towns

A-7 Corsair II in front of the Veterans' Museum in Halls (2006)

• Durhamville (unincorporated)
• Fulton (unincorporated)
• Golddust (unincorporated)
• Gates
• Halls
• Henning
• Orysa (unincorporated)
• Ripley

Major Highways US Highway 51 Tennessee State Route 88 Tennessee State Route 19 Tennessee State Route 180 Tennessee State Route 87 Tennessee State Route 371 Tennessee State Route 181

Notable natives

Alex Haley's boyhood home in Henning (2007)

• Alex Haley - author of Roots
• Sleepy John Estes, blues guitarist born in Ripley
• Jim Hickman - Professional Baseball All-Star
• Miles O'Keeffe Television and film actor most well known for starring in the 1981 film Tarzan, the Ape Man and the Ator movies. O'Keeffe is a native of Ripley and still maintains a home in the area.

See also

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

External links

• Lauderdale County at the Open Directory Project
• Official Lauderdale County Website
• Lauderdale County Department of Education
• Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce