Moore County, Tennessee

Coordinates: 35°17′N 86°22′W / 35.28°N 86.36°W / 35.28; -86.36
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moore County
County
Moore County Courthouse in Lynchburg
Moore County Courthouse in Lynchburg
Map of Tennessee highlighting Moore County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°17′N 86°22′W / 35.28°N 86.36°W / 35.28; -86.36
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1871
Named forWilliam Moore, state legislator[1]
SeatLynchburg
Largest cityLynchburg
Area
 • Total130 sq mi (300 km2)
 • Land129 sq mi (330 km2)
 • Water1.2 sq mi (3 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,461 Increase
 • Density49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
WebsiteGovernment & Education Services

Moore County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,461, making it the third-least populous county in Tennessee.[2] It forms a consolidated city-county government with its county seat of Lynchburg.[3] At 130 square miles (340 km2), it is the second-smallest county in Tennessee, behind only Trousdale. The county was created in 1871, during the Reconstruction era.[1][4] Moore County is part of the Tullahoma-Manchester, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History[edit]

Moore County was established in 1871 from parts of Lincoln, Bedford and Franklin counties, and named in honor of General William Moore, an early settler and long-time member of the state legislature.[1] The new county originally contained about 300 square miles, but Lincoln County sued and successfully reclaimed a portion of its land, reducing the new county's size.[1]

Beginning in the 1820s, whiskey distilleries were developed in what is now Moore County. By 1875, fifteen distilleries were operating in the county. At the end of the 20th century, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg was a major employer and the county's primary source of revenue.[1]

Because of the small size of this county, in the late 20th century city and county officials began to discuss creating a consolidated government in order to lower costs and improve services. In 1988, the Metropolitan Government of Lynchburg, Moore County, Tennessee was voted into law as the governing body of Moore County, including Lynchburg.[5][6]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 130 square miles (340 km2), of which 129 square miles (330 km2) are land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.9%) are water.[7] It is the second-smallest county in Tennessee by area. The county is located partially on the rugged Highland Rim and partially in the flatter Nashville Basin.[1]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected area[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18806,233—
18905,975−4.1%
19005,706−4.5%
19104,800−15.9%
19204,491−6.4%
19304,037−10.1%
19404,0931.4%
19503,948−3.5%
19603,454−12.5%
19703,5683.3%
19804,51026.4%
19904,7214.7%
20005,74021.6%
20106,36210.8%
20206,4611.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[12] 2020[2]
Age pyramid Moore County[13]

2020 census[edit]

Moore County racial composition[14]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 5,999 92.85%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 103 1.59%
Native American 17 0.26%
Asian 29 0.45%
Pacific Islander 1 0.02%
Other/Mixed 211 3.27%
Hispanic or Latino 101 1.56%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,461 people, 2,592 households, and 1,862 families residing in the county.

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 6,362 people, 2,492 households, and 1,841 families residing in the county. There were 2,492 occupied housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,492 households, out of which 27% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, male or female. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 20, 14.8% from 20 to 34, 20.5% from 35 to 49, 22.1% from 50 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years.

Per 2000 Census data, the median income for a household in the county was $36,591, and the median income for a family was $41,484. Males had a median income of $31,559 versus $20,987 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,040. 9.6% of the population, and 7.8% of families were below the poverty line. 11.7% were under the age of 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older.

Economy[edit]

Moore County is the location of the Jack Daniel Distillery, whose famous brand of Tennessee whiskey is marketed worldwide. Despite the distillery, Moore is a dry county.[16] This status dates to the passage of state prohibition laws in the early 20th century.

While federal prohibition ended in 1933 with the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, state prohibition laws remain in effect. All Tennessee counties are dry by default, though any county can become "wet" by passing a county-wide "local option" referendum. Moore County has yet to pass such a referendum.[17]

Education[edit]

Schools in Moore County are a part of Moore County Schools, overseen by The Moore County Department of Education:[18]

Motlow State Community College is located in northern part of Moore County.

Politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Moore County, Tennessee[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,888 81.60% 573 16.19% 78 2.20%
2016 2,325 79.46% 496 16.95% 105 3.59%
2012 2,053 73.35% 705 25.19% 41 1.46%
2008 2,010 68.09% 881 29.84% 61 2.07%
2004 1,668 60.13% 1,084 39.08% 22 0.79%
2000 1,145 49.76% 1,107 48.11% 49 2.13%
1996 846 42.73% 935 47.22% 199 10.05%
1992 661 30.82% 1,151 53.66% 333 15.52%
1988 786 51.37% 731 47.78% 13 0.85%
1984 863 51.37% 808 48.10% 9 0.54%
1980 551 34.55% 993 62.26% 51 3.20%
1976 331 22.86% 1,101 76.04% 16 1.10%
1972 608 61.04% 356 35.74% 32 3.21%
1968 224 15.71% 346 24.26% 856 60.03%
1964 264 20.34% 1,034 79.66% 0 0.00%
1960 313 26.37% 863 72.70% 11 0.93%
1956 270 23.14% 893 76.52% 4 0.34%
1952 354 30.00% 826 70.00% 0 0.00%
1948 102 12.27% 523 62.94% 206 24.79%
1944 143 16.16% 742 83.84% 0 0.00%
1940 106 10.79% 869 88.49% 7 0.71%
1936 101 12.24% 719 87.15% 5 0.61%
1932 65 6.53% 923 92.67% 8 0.80%
1928 133 23.29% 431 75.48% 7 1.23%
1924 41 7.64% 492 91.62% 4 0.74%
1920 90 15.33% 497 84.67% 0 0.00%
1916 71 8.95% 722 91.05% 0 0.00%
1912 116 14.11% 694 84.43% 12 1.46%

Community[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Megan Dobbs Eades, "Moore County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Origins Of Tennessee County Names" (PDF). Tennessee Blue Book. 2005–2006. p. 512. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  5. ^ Leland, Suzanne M.; Thurmaier, Kurt (2010). City–County Consolidation: Promises Made, Promises Kept?. Georgetown University Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-1589016224. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  6. ^ "Charter of the Lynchburg, Moore County Metropolitan Government" (PDF). University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  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. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  13. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Locke, Michelle (January 9, 2013). "Some states unhappy about the idea of happy hours". Yahoo! News. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  17. ^ "Jack Daniel Distillery," Moore County News. Retrieved: October 28, 2013.
  18. ^ "Board of Education - Moore County Department of Education". www.moorecountyschools.net. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moore County, Tennessee.

35°17′N 86°22′W / 35.28°N 86.36°W / 35.28; -86.36

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