Trousdale County, Tennessee

Trousdale County
County
Hartsville-Trousdale County
Trousdale County Courthouse in Hartsville
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°23′N86°10′W / 36.39°N 86.16°W / 36.39; -86.16
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	September 5, 1870 [1]
Named for	William Trousdale [2]
Seat	Hartsville
Largest town	Hartsville
Area
• Total	117 sq mi (300 km2)
• Land	114 sq mi (300 km2)
• Water	2.5 sq mi (6 km2)  2.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,615
• Density	69/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.trousdalecountytn.gov

Trousdale County, also known as Hartsville/Trousdale County, ^[3] is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,615. ^[4] Its county seat is Hartsville, ^[5] with which it shares a uniquely formed consolidated city-county government. With an area of just 117 square miles (300 km²), it is Tennessee's smallest county.

Trousdale County is part of the Nashville-Davidson – Murfreesboro – Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area, although it is located just beyond the ring of "bedroom communities" in the Nashville metropolitan area. Farming and livestock-raising characterize this largely rural area.

Hartsville is the county seat of Trousdale County and now coextensive with it as a metropolitan government by virtue of a referendum which passed in Trousdale County by a single vote. Trousdale County High School is located here, as well as a technical school operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Trousdale County is one of two counties in Tennessee to have legalized parimutuel betting on horse racing, but no group has ever stepped forward to build a racetrack. ^[6]

In 2016, Corrections Corporation of America (since renamed CoreCivic) opened the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville. Its approximately 2,500 prisoners comprise over a fifth of the county's residents and nearly 12% of Tennessee state prisoners. ^[7] The prison became a hot spot for COVID-19 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the county the highest incidence rate in the U.S. in May 2020, with 1 in 7 residents known to be infected with coronavirus. ^[8]

History

Trousdale County was formed in 1870 from parts of Macon, Smith, Sumner and Wilson counties. It was named for William Trousdale (1790–1872), Brigadier General in the Mexican War, Governor of Tennessee, 1849–1851, and U.S. Minister to Brazil, 1853–1857. Hartsvillians had initially sought the creation of their own, separate county in 1849, but the effort failed.

On December 7, 1862, The Battle of Hartsville occurred within the boundaries of the county (although Trousdale County was not officially a county until 1870), with the Confederate forces under John Hunt Morgan defeating the Union forces of Absalom B. Moore in a surprise attack on their campsite. Morgan captured most of the Union forces and marched them South to Lebanon, Tennessee.

In the early part of the 20th century, a series of floods left the county seat devastated, with some floodwaters reaching flood stage of nine to twelve feet. There are photographs showing residents of the county canoeing in front of the flooded courthouse. ^[9] During the Second World War, American infantry often trained in Trousdale County, simulating battles and participating in minor war games on the countryside owned by local farmers. After the war, the county flourished with the railroad running through the county. However, after the trains stopped running through the county, business slowed and suffered economically.

In 2020, an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, a privately operated prison, made Trousdale County the county with the highest per capita infection rate in the United States as of May 5, 2020. As of May 8, 1,284 prisoners at Trousdale had tested positive for the coronavirus, as had 50 employees and contractors at the facility. ^[10]

Geography

Hartsville area

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 117 square miles (300 km²), of which 114 square miles (300 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) (2.1%) is water. ^[11] It is the smallest county by area in Tennessee.

Adjacent counties

• Macon County (north)
• Smith County (east)
• Wilson County (south)
• Sumner County (west)

State protected areas

• Old Hickory Wildlife Management Area (part)

Highways

• US 231
• SR 10
• SR 25
• SR 141
• SR 260

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	6,646		—
1890	5,850		−12.0%
1900	6,004		2.6%
1910	5,874		−2.2%
1920	5,996		2.1%
1930	5,629		−6.1%
1940	6,113		8.6%
1950	5,520		−9.7%
1960	4,914		−11.0%
1970	5,155		4.9%
1980	6,137		19.0%
1990	5,920		−3.5%
2000	7,259		22.6%
2010	7,870		8.4%
2020	11,615		47.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 1790-1960 [13] 1900-1990 [14] 1990-2000 [15] 2010-2014 [4]

Age pyramid Trousdale County

2020 census

Trousdale County racial composition ^[17]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	8,786	75.64%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,917	16.5%
Native American	26	0.22%
Asian	27	0.23%
Other/Mixed	484	4.17%
Hispanic or Latino	375	3.23%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,615 people, 3,189 households, and 2,083 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census ^[18] of 2000, there were 7,259 people, 2,780 households, and 2,034 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25 people/km²). There were 3,095 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.57% White, 11.35% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,780 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,212, and the median income for a family was $37,401. Males had a median income of $27,466 versus $21,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,838. About 9.70% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like most other Middle Tennessee counties, Trousdale was formerly a Democratic stronghold that in the 21st century has transformed along with other rural counties in this region into becoming safely Republican. The only Republican presidential candidate to win the county before John McCain in 2008 was Richard Nixon in his 1972 landslide re-election. Since McCain's victory, the Republican margin of victory has dramatically increased with each presidential election.

United States presidential election results for Trousdale County, Tennessee ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,359	79.02%	856	20.14%	36	0.85%
2020	2,936	73.44%	1,012	25.31%	50	1.25%
2016	2,103	66.55%	946	29.94%	111	3.51%
2012	1,612	55.49%	1,240	42.69%	53	1.82%
2008	1,688	52.11%	1,475	45.54%	76	2.35%
2004	1,314	41.18%	1,851	58.01%	26	0.81%
2000	950	32.26%	1,966	66.76%	29	0.98%
1996	683	27.33%	1,615	64.63%	201	8.04%
1992	565	21.21%	1,846	69.29%	253	9.50%
1988	969	44.59%	1,193	54.90%	11	0.51%
1984	781	40.36%	1,142	59.02%	12	0.62%
1980	629	26.72%	1,674	71.11%	51	2.17%
1976	332	19.24%	1,385	80.24%	9	0.52%
1972	663	53.90%	539	43.82%	28	2.28%
1968	252	15.80%	694	43.51%	649	40.69%
1964	205	13.90%	1,270	86.10%	0	0.00%
1960	308	22.71%	1,036	76.40%	12	0.88%
1956	209	16.76%	1,032	82.76%	6	0.48%
1952	261	17.43%	1,236	82.57%	0	0.00%
1948	104	8.46%	1,014	82.51%	111	9.03%
1944	131	10.05%	1,170	89.72%	3	0.23%
1940	94	9.17%	929	90.63%	2	0.20%
1936	72	8.58%	765	91.18%	2	0.24%
1932	64	7.11%	835	92.78%	1	0.11%
1928	179	22.74%	607	77.13%	1	0.13%
1924	143	17.21%	684	82.31%	4	0.48%
1920	574	37.52%	955	62.42%	1	0.07%
1916	217	23.98%	688	76.02%	0	0.00%
1912	211	26.71%	544	68.86%	35	4.43%

Communities

The old Methodist Church building in Hartsville

Hartsville, the county seat, is the only officially constituted municipality in Trousdale County. Former Unincorporated communities include:

• Beech Grove
• Shady Grove

See also

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

References

1. "Genealogy Inc. Trousdale County, Tennessee Facts. Retrieved: June 12, 2016.
2. Jeffrey Durbin, "Trousdale County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: April 19, 2013.
3. Hartsville/Trousdale County, USA.com. Retrieved: November 6, 2013.
4. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. Ridley Wills II, "Thoroughbred Horse Breeding and Racing." The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: February 11, 2013.
7. Tennessee Department of Correction (April 30, 2020), Tennessee Bed Space and Operating Capacities Report (PDF), archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022
8. See "Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count" The New York Times May 15, 2020.
9. "History | Trousdale County". Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
10. Finley, Jeremy (May 8, 2020). "Recorded conversations reveal life inside prison ravaged by COVID-19". WSMV Nashville. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
11. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
15. "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.
16. Based on 2000 census data
17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 12, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• TNGenWeb
• Tennessee Central Economic Alliance for Trousdale County

36°23′N86°10′W / 36.39°N 86.16°W / 36.39; -86.16