Morgan County, Tennessee

Morgan County
County
Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°08′N84°38′W / 36.13°N 84.64°W / 36.13; -84.64
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	1817
Named for	Daniel Morgan [1]
Seat	Wartburg
Largest community	Coalfield
Area
• Total	522 sq mi (1,350 km2)
• Land	522 sq mi (1,350 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.06%
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,035
• Density	42/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.morgancountytn.gov

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,035. ^[2] Its county seat is Wartburg. ^[3] Morgan County is part of the Knoxville, TN Combined Statistical Area. ^[4]

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. The county had been part of lands relinquished by the Cherokee with the signing of the Third Treaty of Tellico in 1805. ^[1] The original county seat was Montgomery until 1870, when it was moved to Wartburg. ^[5]

Tornado

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

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 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (0.06%) is water. ^[6] 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.

Emory River at Oakdale

The Emory River rises on the slopes of Bird Mountain near Wartburg. The Obed River, a designated national wild and scenic river, empties into the Emory southwest of Wartburg. The Clear Fork, which forms part of Morgan's boundary with Fentress County, joins the New River in Scott County to the north to form the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.

The Cumberland Trail passes through Morgan County.

Adjacent counties

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

National protected areas

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

State protected areas

• Catoosa Wildlife Management Area (part)
• Frozen Head State Natural Area
• Frozen Head State Park
• Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park
• Lone Mountain State Forest
• North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (part)
• Rugby State Natural Area

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	1,676		—
1830	2,582		54.1%
1840	2,660		3.0%
1850	3,430		28.9%
1860	3,353		−2.2%
1870	2,969		−11.5%
1880	5,156		73.7%
1890	7,639		48.2%
1900	9,587		25.5%
1910	11,458		19.5%
1920	13,285		15.9%
1930	13,603		2.4%
1940	15,242		12.0%
1950	15,727		3.2%
1960	14,304		−9.0%
1970	13,619		−4.8%
1980	16,604		21.9%
1990	17,300		4.2%
2000	19,757		14.2%
2010	21,987		11.3%
2020	21,035		−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2014 [11]

Age pyramid Morgan County, based on 2000 census data

2020 census

Morgan County racial composition ^[12]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	19,029	90.46%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	971	4.62%
Native American	54	0.26%
Asian	41	0.19%
Pacific Islander	8	0.04%
Other/Mixed	633	3.01%
Hispanic or Latino	299	1.42%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,035 people, 7,625 households, and 5,659 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] 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 people/km²). There were 7,714 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/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.

Communities

Cities

Wartburg

• Harriman (mostly in Roane County)
• Sunbright
• Wartburg (seat)

Towns

• Oakdale
• Oliver Springs (part)

Census-designated places

• Coalfield
• Petros

Unincorporated communities

• Annadel
• Deer Lodge
• Joyner
• Lancing
• Midway
• Rugby (partial)
• Shady Grove

Politics

United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Tennessee ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,427	86.76%	1,054	12.31%	79	0.92%
2020	6,930	84.22%	1,167	14.18%	131	1.59%
2016	5,441	81.15%	1,054	15.72%	210	3.13%
2012	4,669	71.79%	1,725	26.52%	110	1.69%
2008	4,717	69.14%	1,969	28.86%	136	1.99%
2004	4,401	59.80%	2,924	39.73%	35	0.48%
2000	3,144	51.02%	2,921	47.40%	97	1.57%
1996	2,070	38.88%	2,767	51.97%	487	9.15%
1992	2,306	37.29%	3,190	51.58%	688	11.13%
1988	2,576	56.67%	1,941	42.70%	29	0.64%
1984	2,903	57.19%	2,121	41.78%	52	1.02%
1980	2,823	56.29%	2,094	41.75%	98	1.95%
1976	1,949	39.46%	2,953	59.79%	37	0.75%
1972	2,531	68.35%	1,084	29.27%	88	2.38%
1968	1,803	47.46%	968	25.48%	1,028	27.06%
1964	1,842	48.49%	1,957	51.51%	0	0.00%
1960	2,241	58.13%	1,576	40.88%	38	0.99%
1956	2,402	62.83%	1,379	36.07%	42	1.10%
1952	2,565	63.22%	1,492	36.78%	0	0.00%
1948	1,570	50.89%	1,500	48.62%	15	0.49%
1944	1,399	53.81%	1,201	46.19%	0	0.00%
1940	1,448	44.82%	1,783	55.18%	0	0.00%
1936	1,225	48.51%	1,291	51.13%	9	0.36%
1932	1,184	54.19%	983	44.99%	18	0.82%
1928	1,481	76.86%	446	23.14%	0	0.00%
1924	1,103	62.78%	411	23.39%	243	13.83%
1920	2,248	73.18%	816	26.56%	8	0.26%
1916	1,265	67.72%	563	30.14%	40	2.14%
1912	312	18.86%	466	28.17%	876	52.96%

See also

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

References

1. Donald Todd, "Morgan County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 11, 2013.
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Morgan County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 7, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Heidi Wigdahl, "Knoxville Metropolitan Area Expands Archived 2013-04-12 at archive.today ," WBIR.com, March 28, 2013. Retrieved: January 8, 2014.
5. "Goodspeed's History of Morgan County (1887)". tngenweb.org. October 31, 2013.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
10. "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 9, 2015.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
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. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

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.

External links

• Official site
• Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
• Morgan County, TNGenWeb - free genealogy resources for the county
• Morgan county landforms

36°08′N84°38′W / 36.13°N 84.64°W / 36.13; -84.64