Hancock County, Tennessee

Hancock County
County
Hancock County Courthouse in Sneedville
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°32′N83°13′W / 36.53°N 83.22°W / 36.53; -83.22
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	1844
Named for	John Hancock [1]
Seat	Sneedville
Largest town	Sneedville
Area
• Total	223 sq mi (580 km2)
• Land	222 sq mi (570 km2)
• Water	1.2 sq mi (3 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,662
• Density	31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.hancockcountytn.com

Hancock County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,662, making it the fourth-least populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Sneedville. ^[2]

History

Hancock County was created from parts of Hawkins and Claiborne counties. The act establishing the county was passed by the state legislature in 1844, but several Hawkins residents sued to block its creation. In 1848, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in favor of the new county. The county seat, Sneedville, was named in honor of the attorney William H. Sneed, who represented the county in the court case. The county was named after the Revolutionary War patriot John Hancock. ^{[1] [3]}

Geography

Elrod Falls in Hancock County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 223 square miles (580 km²), of which 222 square miles (570 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) (0.5%) is water. ^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Lee County, Virginia (north)
• Scott County, Virginia (northeast)
• Hawkins County (east)
• Grainger County (southwest)
• Claiborne County (west)

State protected areas

• Kyles Ford Wildlife Management Area (part)

Major highways

There are 3 primary state highways and 4 secondary state highways that run through Hancock County.

• SR 31 (to US 11W/ SR 1 and Hawkins County)
• SR 33 (Turns to SR 33 after the fork in Kyles Ford) then becomes SR 600 in VA. Southbound to Tazewell and Central Claiborne County)
• SR 63 (To Harrogate and Northern Claiborne County)
• SR 70 (Turns to SR 70 after the fork from SR 33 to the Virginia border. Then it becomes SR 70 in VA. Southbound goes to Rogersville)
• SR 131 (to US 25E/ SR 32 and NE Grainger County)
• Back Valley Rd (Connects downtown Sneedville with other communities with a terminus at SR 33 going towards Tazewell)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	5,660		—
1860	7,020		24.0%
1870	7,148		1.8%
1880	9,098		27.3%
1890	10,342		13.7%
1900	11,147		7.8%
1910	10,778		−3.3%
1920	10,454		−3.0%
1930	9,673		−7.5%
1940	11,231		16.1%
1950	9,116		−18.8%
1960	7,757		−14.9%
1970	6,719		−13.4%
1980	6,887		2.5%
1990	6,739		−2.1%
2000	6,786		0.7%
2010	6,819		0.5%
2020	6,662		−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7] 1990-2000 [8] 2010-2020 [9] 2020 [10]

Age pyramid Hancock County

2020 census

Hancock County racial composition ^[12]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	6,391	95.93%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	33	0.5%
Native American	25	0.38%
Asian	1	0.02%
Other/Mixed	172	2.58%
Hispanic or Latino	40	0.6%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,662 people, 2,742 households, and 1,729 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 6,819 people living in the county. 98.0% were White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 0.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[13] there were 6,786 people, 2,769 households and 1,938 families living in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.91% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,769 households, of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

23.10% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median household income was $19,760, which was the lowest median household income of any county in Tennessee, ^[14] and the 27th lowest in the United States. The median family income was $25,372. Males had a median income of $23,150 and females $18,199. The per capita income was $11,986. About 25.30% of families and 29.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.50% of those under age 18 and 30.70% of those age 65 or over.

The county as of the fiscal year 2020, was designated as an "economically distressed" area by the state government, ^[15] and is one of the poorest in the state. Hancock County is estimated to experience a massive population decline. ^[16]

Culture

Hancock County is known particularly for its population of people of Melungeon ancestry, who are believed to be of mixed European, African, and Native American heritage. The Vardy Community School, which provided state-mandated education for Melungeon children in the early 20th century, is now a historic site located in the Newman's Ridge area.

Communities

City

• Sneedville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Alanthus Hill
• Kyles Ford
• Mulberry Gap
• Treadway
• Xenophon

Politics

United States presidential election results for Hancock County, Tennessee ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,558	87.96%	334	11.49%	16	0.55%
2020	2,372	86.44%	362	13.19%	10	0.36%
2016	1,843	82.61%	322	14.43%	66	2.96%
2012	1,527	74.63%	475	23.22%	44	2.15%
2008	1,588	70.86%	604	26.95%	49	2.19%
2004	1,756	68.84%	777	30.46%	18	0.71%
2000	1,343	64.72%	690	33.25%	42	2.02%
1996	1,259	58.45%	760	35.28%	135	6.27%
1992	1,274	52.02%	1,000	40.83%	175	7.15%
1988	1,303	62.58%	737	35.40%	42	2.02%
1984	1,491	69.87%	619	29.01%	24	1.12%
1980	1,734	69.72%	704	28.31%	49	1.97%
1976	1,309	62.63%	764	36.56%	17	0.81%
1972	1,813	81.59%	393	17.69%	16	0.72%
1968	1,489	72.88%	318	15.57%	236	11.55%
1964	1,517	68.83%	687	31.17%	0	0.00%
1960	2,107	82.56%	438	17.16%	7	0.27%
1956	1,939	83.29%	350	15.03%	39	1.68%
1952	1,830	79.50%	458	19.90%	14	0.61%
1948	1,598	77.38%	416	20.15%	51	2.47%
1944	1,929	81.60%	431	18.23%	4	0.17%
1940	1,673	61.94%	1,014	37.54%	14	0.52%
1936	1,673	63.54%	960	36.46%	0	0.00%
1932	1,089	66.40%	551	33.60%	0	0.00%
1928	1,039	82.79%	216	17.21%	0	0.00%
1924	1,028	76.72%	305	22.76%	7	0.52%
1920	1,740	81.92%	384	18.08%	0	0.00%
1916	1,229	76.10%	386	23.90%	0	0.00%
1912	659	56.32%	427	36.50%	84	7.18%

Like all of Unionist East Tennessee, Hancock County has been overwhelmingly Republican since the Civil War. Since the Republican Party first contested the state in 1868, every official Republican nominee has gained an absolute majority of Hancock County's vote, even William Howard Taft during 1912 when the GOP was bitterly divided. The only post-Civil War Democratic presidential nominee to even reach forty percent of Hancock County's vote has been Bill Clinton in 1992, when he was aided by the local popularity of Senator Al Gore, a Smith County native.

Education

There is one school district in the county, Hancock County School District. ^[18]

See also

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

References

1. William G. Cook, "Hancock County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: October 16, 2013.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  148.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
8. "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 5, 2015.
9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
10. "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
11. Based on 2000 census data
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. Hancock County, Tennessee, Selected Statistical Information, Tennessee Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, accessed April 26, 2008
15. State of Tennessee. "Distressed Counties". www.tn.gov. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
16. "Hancock County, TN". datausa.io. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hancock County, TN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved June 25, 2024. - Text list

Further reading

• Johnson, Mattie Ruth (1997). My Melungeon Heritage: A Story of Life on Newman's Ridge. Johnson City, Tennessee: Overmountain Press.
• Price, Henry R. (1966). "Melungeons: The Vanishing Colony of Newman's Ridge." Conference paper. American Studies Association of Kentucky and Tennessee. March 25–26, 1967.
• Winkler, Wayne (2004) "Walking Toward the Sunset: The Melungeons of Appalachia," Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press

External links

• Official website
• The Hancock County Public Library website
• Hancock County, TNGenWeb - free genealogy resources for the county
• Sneedville/Hancock Chamber & Community Partners, Inc. website

36°32′N83°13′W / 36.53°N 83.22°W / 36.53; -83.22