Lewis County, Tennessee
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,582. Its county seat is Hohenwald. The county is named for explorer Meriwether Lewis, who died and was buried at Grinder's Stand near Hohenwald in 1809.
History
Lewis County was formed in 1843 from parts of Perry, Hickman, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties. It was named for explorer Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Lewis's grave is located at the geographic center of the county. The bill for its creation was proposed by Powhatan Gordon in the Tennessee State Senate.On August 10, 1884, a mob attacked a worship service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in what is known as the Cane Creek Massacre. Four Latter-day Saints and one member of the mob were killed.
On October 7, 2009, a ceremony was held at the cemetery to commemorate the bicentennial of Meriwether Lewis's death. A bust of Lewis was presented to the National Park Service, which manages the site.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.Adjacent counties
National protected area
State protected areas
- Auntney Hollow State Natural Area
- Devil's Backbone State Natural Area
- Dry Branch State Natural Area
- Hick Hill Wildlife Management Area
- Langford Branch State Natural Area
- Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area
- Lewis State Forest
Major highways
*Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 12,582 people, 5,073 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. The median age was 43.5 years, with 22.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.1% aged 65 or older; for every 100 females there were 95.7 males and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males.The racial makeup of the county was 92.6% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,073 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.4% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 5,690 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.9% were owner-occupied and 24.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,367 people, 4,381 households, and 3,215 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 4,821 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.07% White, 1.45% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 4,381 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,444, and the median income for a family was $35,972. Males had a median income of $27,060 versus $19,847 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,664. About 10.30% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
City
Unincorporated communities
- Buffalo Valley
- Gordonsburg
- Kimmins