Overton County, Tennessee

Overton County
County
Overton County Courthouse in Livingston
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°20′N85°17′W / 36.34°N 85.29°W / 36.34; -85.29
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	September 1806
Named for	John Overton [1]
Seat	Livingston
Largest town	Livingston
Area
• Total	435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Land	433 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Water	1.4 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	22,511
• Density	51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.overtoncountytn.com

Overton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,511. ^[2] Its county seat is Livingston. ^[3] Overton County is part of the Cookeville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

On May 10, 1933, a half-mile wide F4 tornado struck the small community of Beatty Swamps (also referred to as Bethsadia). The tornado destroyed every structure in the town and either killed or injured nearly every inhabitant, with 33 of the 35 deaths occurring in the area. Much of the area was swept clean of debris, a reaper-binder was thrown 500 yards (460 m), and cars were moved hundreds of feet. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,130 km²), of which 433 square miles (1,120 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[7]

Overton County straddles the Eastern Highland Rim, and generally consists of low, rolling hills divided by narrow creek valleys. The backwaters of Dale Hollow Lake, namely the Mitchell Creek and Big Eagle Creek sections, spill over into the northern part of the county. The county is located on the Cumberland Plateau.

Adjacent counties

• Pickett County (northeast)
• Fentress County (east)
• Putnam County (south)
• Jackson County (west)
• Clay County (northwest)

State protected areas

• Alpine Mountain Wildlife Management Area
• Jackson Swamp Wildlife Management Area
• Standing Stone State Forest (part)
• Standing Stone State Park

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	5,643		—
1820	7,128		26.3%
1830	8,242		15.6%
1840	9,279		12.6%
1850	11,211		20.8%
1860	12,637		12.7%
1870	11,297		−10.6%
1880	12,153		7.6%
1890	12,039		−0.9%
1900	13,353		10.9%
1910	15,854		18.7%
1920	17,617		11.1%
1930	18,079		2.6%
1940	18,883		4.4%
1950	17,566		−7.0%
1960	14,661		−16.5%
1970	14,866		1.4%
1980	17,575		18.2%
1990	17,636		0.3%
2000	20,118		14.1%
2010	22,083		9.8%
2020	22,511		1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2014 [2]

Age pyramid Overton County

2020 census

Overton County racial composition ^[13]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	21,223	94.28%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	86	0.38%
Native American	60	0.27%
Asian	61	0.27%
Other/Mixed	737	3.27%
Hispanic or Latino	344	1.53%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,511 people, 9,140 households, and 6,220 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2000, there were 20,118 people, 8,110 households, and 5,920 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18 people/km²). There were 9,168 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.59% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 2.28% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 2.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,110 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,915, and the median income for a family was $32,156. Males had a median income of $25,287 versus $19,674 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,910. About 12.30% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Town

• Livingston (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Allons
• Allred
• Alpine
• Crawford
• Hardy's Chapel
• Hilham
• Mineral Springs
• Monroe
• Rickman
• Timothy

Notable people

• Lester Flatt, Bluegrass musician
• Thomas D. Harp, California state senator born in Overton County
• Albert H. Roberts, Governor of Tennessee
• Roy Roberts, Blues singer
• Catherine "Bonny Kate" Sevier, widow of John Sevier first Governor of Tennessee
• Cordell Hull United States Secretary of State
• Josiah Gregg merchant, explorer, naturalist, and author of Commerce of the Prairies
• Benoni Strivson Medal of Honor Recipient Indian Wars

Politics

United States presidential election results for Overton County, Tennessee ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,042	81.69%	1,931	17.45%	96	0.87%
2020	7,918	78.89%	2,033	20.26%	86	0.86%
2016	6,059	73.63%	1,945	23.64%	225	2.73%
2012	4,775	62.30%	2,805	36.60%	84	1.10%
2008	4,497	55.57%	3,419	42.25%	176	2.17%
2004	3,941	46.31%	4,518	53.09%	51	0.60%
2000	2,875	38.35%	4,507	60.13%	114	1.52%
1996	1,756	29.11%	3,800	63.00%	476	7.89%
1992	1,657	24.91%	4,489	67.49%	505	7.59%
1988	1,873	42.60%	2,511	57.11%	13	0.30%
1984	2,054	42.53%	2,749	56.92%	27	0.56%
1980	1,869	35.49%	3,343	63.47%	55	1.04%
1976	1,115	22.09%	3,897	77.21%	35	0.69%
1972	1,947	54.17%	1,573	43.77%	74	2.06%
1968	1,258	31.25%	1,592	39.54%	1,176	29.21%
1964	1,155	26.17%	3,258	73.83%	0	0.00%
1960	1,831	43.06%	2,389	56.19%	32	0.75%
1956	1,508	38.44%	2,385	60.80%	30	0.76%
1952	1,453	39.47%	2,209	60.01%	19	0.52%
1948	917	31.57%	1,835	63.17%	153	5.27%
1944	935	39.14%	1,449	60.65%	5	0.21%
1940	988	36.15%	1,718	62.86%	27	0.99%
1936	942	36.85%	1,608	62.91%	6	0.23%
1932	661	22.75%	2,231	76.80%	13	0.45%
1928	1,195	51.80%	1,105	47.90%	7	0.30%
1924	900	36.33%	1,532	61.85%	45	1.82%
1920	1,939	51.91%	1,779	47.63%	17	0.46%
1916	1,030	39.78%	1,512	58.40%	47	1.82%
1912	743	29.47%	1,531	60.73%	247	9.80%

See also

• Alpine Institute
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Overton County, Tennessee
• Standing Stone State Park
• USS Overton County (LST-1074)

References

1. Michael Birdwell, "Overton County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 17, 2013.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Assorted Historical Events in Middle Tennessee. Archived June 6, 2011.
5. Neal, Samuel K. "20 Dead, Many Hurt in Overton Tornado". Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
6. Grazulis, Significant, pp. 850-851
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
11. "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.
12. Based on 2000 census data
13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 12, 2018.

External links

• Media related to Overton County, Tennessee at Wikimedia Commons
• Official site
• Overton County, TNGenWeb - free genealogy resources for the county

36°20′N85°17′W / 36.34°N 85.29°W / 36.34; -85.29