Hardeman County, Tennessee

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Hardeman County, Tennessee
Hardeman County Courthouse in Bolivar
Location in the state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location in the U.S.
Founded	1823
Named for	Thomas J. Hardeman
Seat	Bolivar
Largest city	Bolivar
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	670 sq mi (1,735 km²) 668 sq mi (1,730 km²) 2.6 sq mi (7 km²), 0.4%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	25,462 41/sq mi (16/km²)
Congressional district	7th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Hardeman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,462. Its county seat is Bolivar.

History

Hardeman County was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1823 from parts of Hardin County and "Indian lands." It is named for Thomas J. Hardeman (1788-1854), a veteran of the Creek War and War of 1812 and a prominent figure in the fight for Texas independence. He served as a congressman in the Republic of Texas.

The county is the location of two of Tennessee's four private prisons, the Whiteville Correctional Facility and the Hardeman County Correctional Center. Both are medium-security facilities for men, operated by the Corrections Corporation of America.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 670 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 668 square miles (1,730 km²) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) (0.4%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in Tennessee by area.

Adjacent counties

• Madison County (north)
• Chester County (northeast)
• McNairy County (east)
• Alcorn County, Mississippi (southeast)
• Tippah County, Mississippi (south)
• Benton County, Mississippi (southwest)
• Fayette County (west)
• Haywood County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge

State protected areas

• Chickasaw State Park (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	11,655		—
1840	14,563		25.0%
1850	17,456		19.9%
1860	17,769		1.8%
1870	18,074		1.7%
1880	22,921		26.8%
1890	21,029		−8.3%
1900	22,976		9.3%
1910	23,011		0.2%
1920	22,278		−3.2%
1930	22,193		−0.4%
1940	23,590		6.3%
1950	23,311		−1.2%
1960	21,517		−7.7%
1970	22,435		4.3%
1980	23,873		6.4%
1990	23,377		−2.1%
2000	28,105		20.2%
2010	27,253		−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Age pyramid Hardeman County

2020 census

Hardeman County racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	13,970	54.87%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	10,150	39.86%
Native American	46	0.18%
Asian	162	0.64%
Pacific Islander	6	0.02%
Other/Mixed	634	2.49%
Hispanic or Latino	494	1.94%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,462 people, 8,891 households, and 5,816 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010 the racial makeup of the county was 56.1% White (non-Hispanic) or European American, 41.01% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,105 people, 9,412 households, and 6,767 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 10,694 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 57.34% White (non-Hispanic) or European American, 40.97% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,412 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 116.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,111, and the median income for a family was $34,746. Males had a median income of $27,828 versus $20,759 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,349. About 16.90% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.40% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

• Hardeman County Central High School
• Bolivar Middle School
• Bolivar Elementary School
• Whiteville Elementary School
• Middleton High School
• Middleton Elementary School
• Toone Elementary School
• Grand Junction Elementary School
• Hornsby Elementary School

Communities

Cities

• Bolivar (county seat)

Towns

• Grand Junction (partial)
• Hickory Valley
• Hornsby
• Middleton
• Saulsbury
• Silerton (partial)
• Toone
• Whiteville

Unincorporated communities

• Forty Five
• Pocahontas
• Van Buren
• Cloverport

Politics

Apart from its powerful vote against Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and George McGovern in 1972 as well as George H. W. Bush's 21-vote plurality in 1988, Hardeman County was a solidly Democratic county up until it flipped to Donald Trump in 2016.

United States presidential election results for Hardeman County, Tennessee

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,760	57.24%	4,180	41.54%	123	1.22%
2016	4,919	53.05%	4,185	45.13%	169	1.82%
2012	4,865	46.60%	5,482	52.51%	92	0.88%
2008	5,225	46.50%	5,919	52.67%	93	0.83%
2004	4,704	44.95%	5,685	54.32%	77	0.74%
2000	3,729	42.36%	4,953	56.26%	121	1.37%
1996	2,961	35.97%	4,859	59.03%	411	4.99%
1992	3,122	36.19%	4,832	56.01%	673	7.80%
1988	3,547	49.69%	3,526	49.40%	65	0.91%
1984	3,712	48.68%	3,797	49.79%	117	1.53%
1980	2,931	40.68%	4,153	57.64%	121	1.68%
1976	2,254	35.95%	3,934	62.74%	82	1.31%
1972	3,494	66.00%	1,550	29.28%	250	4.72%
1968	1,171	20.18%	1,709	29.45%	2,924	50.38%
1964	2,450	47.80%	2,675	52.20%	0	0.00%
1960	1,601	44.42%	1,711	47.48%	292	8.10%
1956	818	24.40%	1,754	52.31%	781	23.29%
1952	1,256	31.17%	2,747	68.18%	26	0.65%
1948	317	9.61%	1,609	48.76%	1,374	41.64%
1944	444	18.50%	1,949	81.21%	7	0.29%
1940	319	11.10%	2,549	88.66%	7	0.24%
1936	157	7.74%	1,869	92.11%	3	0.15%
1932	281	10.49%	2,377	88.69%	22	0.82%
1928	491	25.04%	1,453	74.09%	17	0.87%
1924	254	13.39%	1,586	83.61%	57	3.00%
1920	895	28.59%	2,212	70.67%	23	0.73%
1916	485	21.89%	1,724	77.80%	7	0.32%
1912	320	16.71%	1,323	69.09%	272	14.20%
1908	553	25.51%	1,568	72.32%	47	2.17%
1904	986	33.12%	1,903	63.92%	88	2.96%
1900	1,336	40.22%	1,974	59.42%	12	0.36%
1896	1,427	38.48%	2,234	60.25%	47	1.27%
1892	789	24.37%	1,940	59.93%	508	15.69%
1888	1,099	36.21%	1,913	63.03%	23	0.76%
1884	1,226	38.24%	1,940	60.51%	40	1.25%
1880	1,409	44.59%	1,566	49.56%	185	5.85%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardeman County, Tennessee
• John Chisum
• Bailey Hardeman, brother of Thomas J. Hardeman
• Hardeman County, Texas

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Hardeman County, Tennessee

• Chamber of Commerce site Archived 2019-05-01 at the Wayback Machine
• Hardeman County at Curlie
• Hardeman County at Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture

Template:Hardeman County, Tennessee