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Sequatchie County, Tennessee

Coordinates: 35°22′N 85°25′W / 35.37°N 85.41°W / 35.37; -85.41
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Not to be confused with Sequatchie, Tennessee.

Sequatchie County
County
Sequatchie County Courthouse in Dunlap
Sequatchie County Courthouse in Dunlap
Map of Tennessee highlighting Sequatchie County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°22′N 85°25′W / 35.37°N 85.41°W / 35.37; -85.41
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedDecember 9, 1857[1]
Named forCherokee chief[2]
SeatDunlap
Largest cityDunlap
Area
 • Total
266 sq mi (690 km2)
 • Land266 sq mi (690 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.07%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
15,826 Increase
 • Density53/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitesequatchiecounty-tn.gov

Sequatchie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,826.[3] Its county seat is Dunlap.[4] Sequatchie County is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Sequatchie County was created in 1857 from two districts of Marion County and one district of Bledsoe County. It was named for the Sequatchie Valley, which in turn had been named for a Cherokee chief. The word sequachee from ᏏᏆ ᎤᏤᏥᏍᏘ siqua utsedsdi in Cherokee means 'opossum' or 'he grins.'[5] Settlers began arriving in what is now Sequatchie by the early 19th century, drawn to the area by the fertile land in the valley.[1]

At the outset of the Civil War, Sequatchie was divided over the issue of secession. On June 8, 1861, Sequatchie Countians voted in favor of Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession by a vote 153 to 100.[6] In October 1863, Confederate General Joseph Wheeler led a raid into Sequatchie, burning nearly a thousand wagons and capturing livestock.[1]

During the late 19th century, the Douglas Coal and Coke Company (later the Chattanooga Iron and Coal Corporation) conducted extensive mining activities in the Dunlap area. The company constructed 268 beehive ovens, now known as the Dunlap Coke Ovens, to convert coal into coke. The ovens are now the focus of a local park.[1]

Geography

View over Sequatchie County from an overlook off TN-111

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 266 square miles (690 km2), of which 266 square miles (690 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.07%) is water.[7]

Sequatchie is one of three counties (along with Bledsoe and Marion) situated in the Sequatchie Valley, a long, narrow valley running northeast-to-southwest across the eastern portion of the Cumberland Plateau. The county is flanked by the Plateau's Walden Ridge escarpment on the east. The Sequatchie River, which spans the valley, passes through the county.

Two major highways, U.S. Route 127 and Tennessee State Route 111, intersect in Dunlap.

While the two other counties in the Sequatchie Valley, Bledsoe and Marion, are grouped with the East Tennessee grand division, Sequatchie is grouped with Middle Tennessee.[8]

Adjacent counties

State protected areas

  • North Chickamauga Creek State Natural Area (part)
  • Prentice Cooper State Forest (part)
  • Savage Gulf State Natural Area (part)
  • South Cumberland State Park (part)

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,120—
18702,33510.1%
18802,5659.9%
18903,02718.0%
19003,3269.9%
19104,20226.3%
19203,632−13.6%
19304,04711.4%
19405,03824.5%
19505,68512.8%
19605,9154.0%
19706,3317.0%
19808,60535.9%
19908,8633.0%
200011,37028.3%
201014,11224.1%
202015,82612.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2014[13] Its county seat is Dunlap.[4]
Age pyramid Sequatchie County[14]

2020 census

Sequatchie County racial composition[15]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 14,409 91.05%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 72 0.45%
Native American 49 0.31%
Asian 65 0.41%
Pacific Islander 4 0.03%
Other/Mixed 606 3.83%
Hispanic or Latino 621 3.92%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,826 people, 5,528 households, and 4,192 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 14,112 people, 4,463 households, and 3,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 inhabitants per square mile (17/km2). There were 4,916 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/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. Sequatchie County was mentioned as an "Extreme Whitopia" in Rich Benjamin's book, Searching for Whitopia.[17]

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.

Education

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:

Recreation

Sequatchie County is known as "The Hang Gliding Capital of the East", due in part to the presence of an active hang gliding association, the Tennessee Tree Toppers. This group maintains a hang gliding ramp at Henson's Gap, along the eastern wall of the Sequatchie Valley, where favorable flying conditions allow these unpowered aircraft to fly well into northwestern Georgia and northeastern Alabama after launch. The gap is the site of numerous hang gliding competitions, and is a popular tourist attraction for aficionados of the sport from all over the world.

Sequatchie County became the home to its first ever licensed distillery on March 24th, 2022. Rolling Oak Distillery is in the process of building a new facility in the Lewis Chapel community. The Distillery Specializes in Real TN. Moonshine, Vodka and Tennessee whiskey. Tourism to the Distillery is expected to begin late summer 2023. Rolling Oak Distillery's signature line is Misty Mountain Moonshine a tradition made for 160 years.

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Media

Sequatchie County is served by numerous local, regional and national media outlets which reach approximately one million people in four states including: Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina.

Newspapers

  • The Dunlap Tribune: The periodical focuses its energy on highlighting events, sports and people in Dunlap, TN and Sequatchie County.

Radio

Sequatchie County is part of the Chattanooga Arbitron radio market. The following radio stations are licensed to cities within Sequatchie County:

AM
  • WSDQ 1190 AM – Country (Licensed to Dunlap)
FM
  • W227DM 93.3 - Country Roads 93.3 WSDQ (FM translator for WSDQ-AM Licensed to Dunlap)

Notable people

Politics

United States presidential election results for Sequatchie County, Tennessee[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,855 80.74% 1,298 17.90% 99 1.37%
2016 4,441 77.99% 1,053 18.49% 200 3.51%
2012 3,541 68.72% 1,489 28.90% 123 2.39%
2008 3,610 66.40% 1,717 31.58% 110 2.02%
2004 2,951 59.22% 1,986 39.86% 46 0.92%
2000 2,169 55.80% 1,648 42.40% 70 1.80%
1996 1,391 42.18% 1,598 48.45% 309 9.37%
1992 1,381 38.80% 1,754 49.28% 424 11.91%
1988 1,659 57.83% 1,196 41.69% 14 0.49%
1984 1,785 58.68% 1,238 40.70% 19 0.62%
1980 1,512 49.54% 1,509 49.44% 31 1.02%
1976 1,065 37.47% 1,733 60.98% 44 1.55%
1972 1,298 64.58% 629 31.29% 83 4.13%
1968 663 29.82% 549 24.70% 1,011 45.48%
1964 804 40.90% 1,162 59.10% 0 0.00%
1960 703 42.48% 930 56.19% 22 1.33%
1956 683 43.89% 859 55.21% 14 0.90%
1952 535 37.57% 882 61.94% 7 0.49%
1948 420 30.59% 907 66.06% 46 3.35%
1944 417 32.89% 851 67.11% 0 0.00%
1940 401 28.48% 1,003 71.24% 4 0.28%
1936 353 29.47% 840 70.12% 5 0.42%
1932 289 26.86% 777 72.21% 10 0.93%
1928 298 43.76% 383 56.24% 0 0.00%
1924 247 39.46% 374 59.74% 5 0.80%
1920 509 48.16% 545 51.56% 3 0.28%
1916 238 41.11% 335 57.86% 6 1.04%
1912 139 22.60% 354 57.56% 122 19.84%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Holly Anne Rine, "Sequatchie County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 23 March 2013.
  2. ^ Larry Miller, Tennessee Place Names (Indiana University Press, 2001), p. 239.
  3. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Sequatchie County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "Sequatchie Valley Called a 'Magnet' for Visitors," Chattanooga Times Free Press, 18 September 2011. Retrieved: 5 November 2013.
  6. ^ Oliver Perry Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. ^ TNGenWeb Project, Three Grand Divisions of Tennessee. 1999. Retrieved: 5 November 2013.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  14. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ "Searching for Whitopia". Richbenjamin.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
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35°22′N 85°25′W / 35.37°N 85.41°W / 35.37; -85.41

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