Morgan County, Tennessee

Morgan County, Tennessee
Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg
Location in the state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded	1817
Named for	Daniel Morgan
Seat	Wartburg
Largest city	Oliver Springs
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	522 sq mi (1,353 km²) 522 sq mi (1,352 km²) .4 sq mi (1 km²), .07%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	19,757 38/sq mi (15/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.morgancountytn.org

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 19,757. Its county seat is Wartburg. Morgan County is Part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 522 square miles (1,350 km²), of which 522 square miles (1,350 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.07%) is water. The county, which lies on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau, is known for its rugged mountain terrain, and cold mountain streams and rivers. The Crab Orchard Mountains comprise a large area of the county, which includes several designated wilderness areas, Frozen Head State Park, and Lone Mountain State Forest.

Adjacent counties

• Scott County (northeast)
• Anderson County (east)
• Roane County (south)
• Cumberland County (southwest)
• Fentress County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (part)
• Obed Wild and Scenic River (part)

History

Morgan County was formed in 1817 from portions of Anderson and Roane counties. It was named in honor of Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), an American Revolutionary War officer who commanded the troops that defeated the British at the Battle of Cowpens, and who later served as a U.S. congressman from Virginia.

Tornado

On November 10, 2002, a tornado destroyed 50 homes. At least seven people were killed in the Morgan County community of Mossy Grove.

Demographics

Age pyramid Morgan County, based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,757 people, 6,990 households, and 5,235 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 7,714 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.72% White, 2.23% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,990 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 114.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,712, and the median income for a family was $31,901. Males had a median income of $25,683 versus $18,606 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,925. About 13.50% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Populated places

• Coalfield (unincorporated)
• Deer Lodge (unincorporated)
• Elgin (unincorporated)
• Joyner (unincorporated)
• Lancing (unincorporated)
• Oakdale
• Petros (unincorporated)
• Rugby (unincorporated)
• Sunbright
• Wartburg

Further reading

• Dickenson, W. Calvin (1987). Morgan County. Memphis, Tenn.: Memphis State University Press. ISBN 978-0878701575
• Humphreys, James (2012). "Becoming Americans: Social Change in Morgan County, Tennessee, 1850–1870." Journal of East Tennessee History, Vol. 84, pp. 23-39.

See also

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

External links

• Official site
• Morgan County, TNGenWeb - free genealogy resources for the county
• Morgan County at the Open Directory Project
• Morgan county landforms