Moscow, Tennessee

Geography

Moscow is located in southern Fayette County at 35°3′40″N 89°23′59″W (35.060976, -89.399649), at the confluence of the Wolf River with its North Fork.

Tennessee State Route 57 passes through the city, leading east 13 miles (21 km) to Grand Junction and west 15 miles (24 km) to Collierville. Downtown Memphis is 38 miles (61 km) to the west. Tennessee State Route 76 leads north from Moscow 13 miles (21 km) to Somerville, the Fayette County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Moscow has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km²), or 0.73%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 422 people, 172 households, and 108 families residing in the city. The population density was 340.8 people per square mile (131.4/km²). There were 185 housing units at an average density of 149.4 per square mile (57.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.96% White, 29.15% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.47% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 172 households out of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city, the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 76.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,021, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $21,346 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,772. About 16.3% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 24.2% of those age 65 or over.

Battle of Moscow

Moscow was the site of a skirmish during the Civil War on December 4, 1863. Confederate cavalry under the command of Gen. Stephen D. Lee attempted to burn the railroad bridge over the Wolf River, in order to aid Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest in returning to Tennessee from Mississippi. They were thwarted by African-American Union troops who were stationed nearby. Union Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut wrote of these troops in a dispatch dated December 17, 1863: "The recent affair at Moscow, Tennessee, has demonstrated the fact that colored troops, properly trained and disciplined, can and will fight well."

Famous residents

Compton Newby Crook, who was born in Rossville, Tennessee, and who wrote science fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Tall, grew up in Moscow.