Houston County, Tennessee

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 207 square miles (540 km²), of which 200 square miles (520 km²) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km²) (3.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,088 people, 3,216 households, and 2,299 families residing in the county. The population density was 40.4 people per square mile (15.6/km²). There were 3,901 housing units at an average density of 19.5 per square mile (7.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.58% White, 3.31% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,216 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,968, and the median income for a family was $35,395. Males had a median income of $29,528 versus $19,983 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,614. About 14.30% of families and 18.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Board of Commissioners meets at the Houston County Courthouse the third Monday of odd months (January, March, May, July, September, November).

Elected officials

Commissioners

Politics

Houston County had been one of the state's most Democratic counties. Although traditionally Democratic, the county is somewhat conservative on social issues and has been trending Republican. It was part of Tennessee's 8th congressional district, which had been represented by Blue Dog Democrat John S. Tanner. It is now part of Tennessee's 7th congressional district and is represented by Republican Marsha Blackburn.

The county had been among the most consistently Democratic in the state on presidential elections. Only twice have Democratic candidates failed to carry Houston County at the presidential level. In 1928, Herbert Hoover became the first Republican presidential candidate to ever carry Houston County. The second non-Democrat who carried Houston County was George Wallace of the American Independent Party during the 1968 presidential election.

In the 2008 presidential election, when most other traditionally Democratic counties in the state voted for John McCain, Houston County supported Barack Obama. That said, the county's vote has been shifting Republican as reflected by Barack Obama's win by barely more than 2%, the lowest margin among all Democratic presidential candidates who have carried Houston County since its inception. In the 2012 presidential election Mitt Romney became the first Republican in 80 years to win the county. Republican Senator Bob Corker and Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn also won the county. Although in all cases it was by a narrower margin than statewide or district wide.

Public high schools

Public primary/middle schools

Media

City

Town

Unincorporated communities