Sumner County, Tennessee

History

Sumner County was created in 1786, when Tennessee was still part of North Carolina. The county had been inhabited by Native Americans for centuries, as evidenced by Mississippian period mounds still visible at Castalian Springs. Longhunters traveled to the area as early as the 1760s, following Indian paths through the area. By the early 1780s, several outposts had been erected, most notably Mansker's Station, built by Kasper Mansker at modern Goodlettsville, and Bledsoe's Station, built by Isaac Bledsoe at Castalian Springs.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 543 square miles (1,410 km²), of which 529 square miles (1,370 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (2.5%) is water.

Sumner County is located in Middle Tennessee on the state's northern border with Kentucky. The Cumberland River was important in early trade and transportation, as it flows into the Ohio River to the west. Sumner County is in the Greater Nashville metropolitan area.

Adjacent counties

State protected areas

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 130,449 people, 48,941 households, and 37,048 families residing in the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile (95/km²). There were 51,657 housing units at an average density of 98 per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.49% White, 5.78% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000 there were 48,941 households out of which 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,030, and the median income for a family was $52,125. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $25,720 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,164. About 6.20% of families and 8.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

Board of Education

Schools in the county are governed by the Sumner County Board of Education. The twelve-member group consists of eleven elected representatives from each of the eleven educational districts in the county, as well as the Director of Schools. The members serve staggered four-year terms; the Director serves under contract with the Board of Education. The board conducts monthly meetings that are open to the public.

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Submarine innovator Horace Lawson Hunley was born in Sumner County on June 20, 1823. On October 15, 1863, Hunley, along with seven other crewmen, drowned while making a test dive in Charleston Harbor near Fort Pinckney. Following his death, the submarine, unofficially known as the "Fish Boat," was renamed the H.L. Hunley in his honor. On the night of February 17, 1864, the Hunley sank the USS Housatonic, making it the first submarine to sink an enemy vessel.

R&B National Recording Artist Nacole Rice was born in Sumner County.

Freak show performer "Camel Girl" Ella Harper was born in and later returned to Sumner County.