Founded 1835 Congressional district 8th Area 1,316 km² County seat Ripley Largest city Ripley | Named for James Lauderdale Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5 Population 27,795 (2013) Unemployment rate 8.3% (Apr 2015) | |
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Cities Ripley, Henning, Halls, Gates Points of interest Alex Haley House and Museum, Chickasaw National Wildlife R, Fort Pillow State Park, Lower Hatchie National | ||
Lauderdale County is a county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Tennessee, with its border the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,815. Its county seat is Ripley.
Contents
- Map of Lauderdale County TN USA
- History
- Battle of Fort Pillow
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- National protected areas
- State protected areas
- Major roads
- Demographics
- Sleepy John Estes
- Veterans Museum in Halls
- Government and infrastructure
- City
- Town
- Notable natives
- References
Map of Lauderdale County, TN, USA
History
Lauderdale County was created in 1835 from parts of Tipton, Dyer and Haywood counties. It was named for Lieutenant Colonel James Lauderdale, who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.
Battle of Fort Pillow
In 1861, the Confederate States Army built extensive defensive fortifications in Lauderdale County along the Mississippi River and named the site for General Gideon J. Pillow. Because of its strategic location, the fort was taken over by the Union Army in 1864, which had occupied the state since 1862.
In 1864, Confederates attacked and overran the fort's defenders, who were about evenly split between white and black soldiers. As they were reported to have refused to surrender, the Confederates gave them no quarter, but killed black soldiers in twice the proportion of white ones. People in the North considered it a massacre, and blacks used the cry, "Remember Fort Pillow!" to rally during the remainder of the war.
Fort Pillow State Park is home to a museum and also has reconstructed fortifications on the original site of the fort.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 508 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 472 square miles (1,220 km2) is land and 36 square miles (93 km2) (7.0%) is water. The county's western boundary is formed by the Mississippi River, its northern boundary with Dyer County is formed by the Forked Deer River, and its southern boundary with Haywood County is formed by the Hatchie River.
Lauderdale County is situated on the southeastern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, an area with a high earthquake risk.
Adjacent counties
National protected areas
State protected areas
Major roads
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,101 people, 9,567 households, and 6,811 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 10,563 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.82% White, 34.08% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,567 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,751, and the median income for a family was $36,841. Males had a median income of $28,325 versus $21,238 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,682. About 16.20% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 26.50% of those age 65 or over.
Sleepy John Estes
Sleepy John Estes was a U.S. blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, born in Ripley, Tennessee. He died on June 5, 1977 in his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. Sleepy John is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County.
Veterans' Museum in Halls
The Veterans' Museum on the grounds of the former Dyersburg Army Air Base in Halls is dedicated to the preservation and documentation of materials related to military activities from World War I to the present day wars and conflicts, as well as documenting the history of the air base itself.
Government and infrastructure
The Tennessee Department of Corrections operates the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in unincorporated Lauderdale County, near Henning. Previously the Cold Creek Correctional Facility was located in the area.