Sequatchie County, Tennessee

Sequatchie County, Tennessee
Sequatchie County Courthouse in Dunlap
Location in the state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded	1857
Seat	Dunlap
Largest city	Dunlap
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	266 sq mi (689 km²) 266 sq mi (689 km²) 0 sq mi (0 km²), .07%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	14,112 53/sq mi (20.5/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Sequatchie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 14,112. Its county seat is Dunlap.

Sequatchie County is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 266 square miles (689 km²), of which 266 square miles (689 km²) is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) (0.07%) is water.

The Sequatchie River bisects Sequatchie County as it flows from northeast to southwest down a remarkably straight valley. The Sequatchie Valley is a breached anticline, related to the mountain building that formed the Great Smoky Mountains further to the east and the Valley and Ridge topography of most of East Tennessee. The land west of the Sequatchie Valley is known as the Cumberland Plateau and the land to the east of the Sequatchie Valley is known as Walden Ridge.

Adjacent counties

• Van Buren County (north)
• Bledsoe County (northeast)
• Hamilton County (southeast)
• Marion County (southwest)
• Grundy County (west)
• Warren County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,112 people, 4,463 households, and 3,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 4,916 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.66% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age pyramid Sequatchie County

There were 4,463 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,959, and the median income for a family was $36,435. Males had a median income of $27,535 versus $20,422 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,468. About 13.50% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 20.30% of those age 65 or over.

Hang Gliding Capital of the East

Due to the juxtaposition of Sequatchie County across a valley of the same name, Dunlap / Sequatchie County was named "The Hang Gliding Capital of the East", due in no small part to the presence of a very active and popular hang gliding association, the Tennessee Tree Toppers. The Sequatchie Valley, which runs from northeast Alabama to east central Tennessee, provides unique and favorable flying conditions for these unpowered aircraft which are often able to fly well into northwestern Georgia and northeastern Alabama after launch. Located on the eastern wall of the valley and overlooking central Sequatchie County, the Tree Tooper's famous "radial ramp", also known as Henson's Gap, is the site of numerous hang gliding competitions. It is a popular tourist attraction for aficionodos of the sport from all over the world.

Schools

Sequatchie County has a consolidated school system which is located in Dunlap. The system operates with a Superintendent and an elected School Board.

The Sequatchie County school system has three schools

• Griffith Elementary School (Grades: K-4th)
• Sequatchie County Middle School (Grades: 5th-8th)
• Sequatchie County High School (Grades: 9th-12th)

Populated areas

• Dunlap
• Lone Oak (unincorporated)

See also

• Dunlap Coke Ovens
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sequatchie County, Tennessee

External links

• Sequatchie County at the Open Directory Project