Wilson County, Tennessee

Last updated

Wilson County
Wilson county tennessee courthouse.jpg
Wilson County Courthouse in Lebanon
Wilson County tn seal.jpg
Map of Tennessee highlighting Wilson County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee in United States.svg
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°10′N86°18′W / 36.16°N 86.3°W / 36.16; -86.3
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee
FoundedOctober 26, 1799
Named after David Wilson, early statesman [1]
Seat Lebanon
Largest city Mt. Juliet
Government
  Mayor Randall Hutto (R) [2]
Area
  Total
583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
  Land571 sq mi (1,480 km2)
  Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
147,737
  Estimate 
(2024)
169,948 Increase2.svg
  Density250/sq mi (98/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 5th, 6th
Website www.wilsoncountytn.gov

Wilson County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is in Middle Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 147,737. [3] Its county seat is Lebanon. [4] The largest city is Mt. Juliet. [5] Wilson County is part of the Nashville metropolitan area.

Contents

History

Wilson County was created in 1799 from a portion of Sumner County, and named for Major David Wilson, a Revolutionary War veteran and statesman. [1] The county remained predominantly agrarian throughout the 19th century. The arrival of the railroad after the Civil War boosted the county's timber sector, and several large factories were constructed in the county during the early 20th century. [1]

Wilson County was the site of an important saltpeter mine. Saltpeter, the main ingredient of gunpowder, was obtained by leaching the earth from Valley Cave. Valley Cave is near Statesville. The many saltpeter hoppers still inside the cave indicate that this was a large mining operation. These saltpeter vats may date from the War of 1812 mining era or the Civil War mining era, or perhaps both. Further research is needed to determine when this mine was active. [6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.1%) is water. [7] The Cumberland River flows along the county's northern border with Trousdale and Sumner counties. This section of the river is part of Old Hickory Lake. Several streams in the western part of the county are part of the Stones River basin.

Wilson County is home to a large concentration of cedar glades, a unique ecosystem where the soil is too rocky or shallow for trees to grow. Many of these glades are found in Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

Adjacent counties

Cedar glade in Wilson County Cedar-glade-col-tn4.jpg
Cedar glade in Wilson County

State protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1800 3,261
1820 18,730
1830 25,47236.0%
1840 24,460−4.0%
1850 27,44312.2%
1860 26,072−5.0%
1870 25,881−0.7%
1880 28,74711.1%
1890 27,148−5.6%
1900 27,078−0.3%
1910 25,394−6.2%
1920 26,2413.3%
1930 23,929−8.8%
1940 25,2675.6%
1950 26,3184.2%
1960 27,6685.1%
1970 36,99933.7%
1980 56,06451.5%
1990 67,67520.7%
2000 88,80931.2%
2010 113,99328.4%
2020 147,73729.6%
2024 (est.)169,948 [8] 15.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [3]
Age pyramid Wilson County USA Wilson County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid Wilson County

2020 census

Wilson County racial composition [14]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)118,88980.47%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)10,0996.84%
Native American 4050.27%
Asian 3,0862.09%
Pacific Islander 440.03%
Other/Mixed 6,8394.63%
Hispanic or Latino 8,3755.67%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 147,737 people, 51,618 households, and 40,874 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, [15] there were 113,993 people, 42,563 households, and 32,177 families living in the county. The population density was 199.64 persons per square mile (77.08 persons/km2). The housing unit density was 74.54 units per square mile (28.78 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.30% White, 6.40% African American, 1.12% Asian, 0.35% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 1.46% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origins constituted 3.24% of the population.

Of all of the households, 33.22% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 60.08% were married couples living together, 4.33% had a male householder with no wife present, 11.19% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 19.86% of households were one person and 7.29% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 25.06% under the age of 18, 62.78% ages 18 to 64, and 12.17% age 65 and older. The median age was 39.3 years. 51.02% of the population were females and 48.98% were males.

The median household income was $60,678, and the median family income was $70,092. Males had a median income of $49,293 versus $36,419 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,814. About 5.6% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 and older.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 88,809 people, 32,798 households, and 25,582 families living in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile (60 people/km2). [16] There were 34,921 housing units at an average density of 61 units per square mile (24/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.50% White, 6.26% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 32,798 households 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.00% were non-families. 18.10% of households were one person and 6.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median household income was $50,140 and the median family income was $56,650. Males had a median income of $39,848 versus $26,794 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,739. About 4.60% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.80% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Wilson County Schools oversees 22 public schools, including 2 adult education centers and a technical education center. The county has five high schools: Mount Juliet High School, Lebanon High School, Wilson Central High School, Green Hill High School, and Watertown High School.

Lebanon Special School District (LSSD) serves most of Lebanon and some unincorporated areas for K-8, though some parts of Lebanon are with Wilson County schools for all years K-12. Wilson County Schools operates the high schools that serve the LSSD territory. [17]

Cumberland University is located in Lebanon.

Communities

Cities

Statesville Statesville tennessee street.jpg
Statesville

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Former community

Education

It has two school districts, Lebanon Special School District and Wilson County School District. The latter has all high school zoning in the entire county, [18] while the former has grades K-8 and special education services. [19]

Notable people

Politics

Like the rest of Nashville's suburbs, Wilson County is a Republican stronghold. It has not been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992. After going to George W. Bush by six points in 2000, Wilson County dramatically shifted to the right. Since 2004, Republicans have won the county by at least a 30-point margin of victory each time. 2016 marked the worst performance ever by a Democratic presidential candidate in the county, with Donald Trump winning it by 44 points.

United States presidential election results for Wilson County, Tennessee [21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1880 1,22728.74%2,91868.34%1252.93%
1884 1,23435.20%2,19162.49%812.31%
1888 1,67638.31%2,51857.55%1814.14%
1892 1,14227.94%2,52361.72%42310.35%
1896 1,56831.11%3,43668.17%360.71%
1900 1,06127.86%2,67470.20%741.94%
1904 96628.52%2,38670.45%351.03%
1908 90228.95%2,21270.99%20.06%
1912 68220.64%2,32570.35%2989.02%
1916 84124.91%2,53575.09%00.00%
1920 1,53241.45%2,16058.44%40.11%
1924 58021.85%2,04376.95%321.21%
1928 1,04939.07%1,62960.67%70.26%
1932 56717.19%2,71382.26%180.55%
1936 53414.65%3,10885.27%30.08%
1940 65517.79%3,02082.04%60.16%
1944 94223.03%3,14876.97%00.00%
1948 85418.17%3,13366.67%71215.15%
1952 2,44932.57%5,07067.43%00.00%
1956 2,26630.04%5,22169.21%570.76%
1960 3,38340.77%4,85758.54%570.69%
1964 2,70730.16%6,26769.84%00.00%
1968 2,73624.21%2,91625.81%5,64849.98%
1972 6,48665.77%3,09631.40%2792.83%
1976 4,69630.57%10,53768.59%1290.84%
1980 7,53539.09%11,24858.36%4912.55%
1984 12,85859.95%8,43339.32%1580.74%
1988 13,31761.11%8,36038.36%1160.53%
1992 12,06140.33%13,86146.35%3,98113.31%
1996 13,81746.77%13,65546.22%2,0717.01%
2000 18,84452.47%16,56146.11%5111.42%
2004 28,92465.07%15,27734.37%2510.56%
2008 34,59567.62%15,88631.05%6781.33%
2012 36,10969.98%14,69528.48%7931.54%
2016 39,40669.46%14,38525.36%2,9435.19%
2020 50,29667.67%22,25429.94%1,7802.39%
2024 56,42569.44%23,85529.36%9741.20%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Frank Burns, "Wilson County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: April 24, 2013.
  2. Humbles, Andy (May 3, 2022). "Incumbent Randall Hutto to remain Wilson County mayor with primary win over Phillip Warren". The Tennessean.
  3. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. "Mt. Juliet Tennessee". Census.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  6. Thomas C. Barr, Jr., "Caves of Tennessee", Bulletin 64 of the Tennessee Division of Geology, 1961, 568 pages.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  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. Based on 2000 census data
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilson County, TN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilson County, TN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
  19. "History". Lebanon Special School District . Retrieved July 22, 2022. The district provides instruction for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade,[...]
  20. "Dixon Merritt, Editor, Dies". The Nashville Tennessean. January 10, 1972. p. 21. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.

36°10′N86°18′W / 36.16°N 86.30°W / 36.16; -86.30