Macon County, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
 Macon County Courthouse in Lafayette | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofTennessee | |
| Coordinates:36°32′N86°01′W / 36.53°N 86.01°W /36.53; -86.01 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Named after | Nathaniel Macon[1] |
| Seat | Lafayette |
| Largest city | Lafayette |
| Area | |
• Total | 307 sq mi (800 km2) |
| • Land | 307 sq mi (800 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.26 km2) 0.03% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,216 |
| • Density | 72/sq mi (28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | maconcountytn |
Macon County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofTennessee As of the2020 census, the population was 25,216.[2] Itscounty seat isLafayette.[3] Macon County is part of theNashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TNMetropolitan Statistical Area.
Macon County was formed in 1842 from parts ofSmith andSumner counties. It was named in honor of the late Revolutionary War veteran and United States Senator,Nathaniel Macon.[4] The county seat was named in honor of theMarquis de Lafayette.[1]
Unlike adjacent counties ofMiddle Tennessee, which were generally pro-Confederate, but like neighbouringcounties in Kentucky,[5] Macon County was largely pro-Union duringthe Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Macon County voted to remain in the Union by a margin of 697 to 447.[6] Macon was one of only eight counties inWest or Middle Tennessee to support the Union. Earlier on February 9, 1861, Macon County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 960 to 73.[7] Many Macon Countians served inKentucky Union regiments, especiallythe Ninth Infantry Regiment, because secessionists in surrounding Tennessee counties drove them over the state line.[8]
The county's second-largest city,Red Boiling Springs, thrived as amineral springs resort in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Three hotels from this period — theDonoho Hotel, theThomas House Hotel (previously the Cloyd Hotel), and theArmour's Hotel (previously the Counts Hotel) — are still open, though only the Armour's still offers mineral water treatments.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 307 square miles (800 km2), of which 307 square miles (800 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.03%) is water.[9] Macon County is located amidst the northeasternHighland Rim, and is generally rugged and hilly.
Unlike most of Tennessee, a sizable part of northern Macon County is outside of theSun Belt due to a past error surveying the northern border ofMiddle andEast Tennessee. Most of Lafayette in particular is north of the Sun Belt.[10] The Sun Belt is defined by the Kinder Institute as being south of36°30'N latitude, which was intended to be the northern border of Tennessee and is the actual northern border ofWest Tennessee.[11]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 6,948 | — | |
| 1860 | 7,290 | 4.9% | |
| 1870 | 6,633 | −9.0% | |
| 1880 | 9,321 | 40.5% | |
| 1890 | 10,878 | 16.7% | |
| 1900 | 12,881 | 18.4% | |
| 1910 | 14,559 | 13.0% | |
| 1920 | 14,922 | 2.5% | |
| 1930 | 13,872 | −7.0% | |
| 1940 | 14,904 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 13,599 | −8.8% | |
| 1960 | 12,197 | −10.3% | |
| 1970 | 12,315 | 1.0% | |
| 1980 | 15,700 | 27.5% | |
| 1990 | 15,906 | 1.3% | |
| 2000 | 20,386 | 28.2% | |
| 2010 | 22,248 | 9.1% | |
| 2020 | 25,216 | 13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2014[2] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 22,439 | 88.99% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 120 | 0.48% |
| Native American | 60 | 0.24% |
| Asian | 44 | 0.17% |
| Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 861 | 3.41% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 1,684 | 6.68% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 25,216 and a median age of 38.8 years; 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.[18]
The racial makeup of the county was 90.4%White, 0.5%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 3.6% from some other race, and 4.9% fromtwo or more races, withHispanic or Latino residents of any race comprising 6.7% of the population.[19]
24.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.5% lived in rural areas.[20]
There were 9,679 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.5% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 10,649 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.2% were owner-occupied and 30.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.[18]
At the2010 census,[21] there were 22,248 people, 8,561 households, and 6,112 families living in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 9,861 housing units at an average density of 32 units per square mile (12/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 96.03% White, 0.42% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 4.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 8,561 households 30.16% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.55% were married couples living together, 5.58% had a male householder with no wife present, 11.26% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.61% were non-families. 24.27% of households were one person and 10.86% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.
The age distribution was 25.02% under the age of 18, 8.39% from 18 to 24, 31.59% from 25 to 44, 20.69% from 45 to 64, and 14.09% 65 or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.08 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.21 males.
At the2000 census there were 20,386 people, 7,916 households, and 5,802 families living in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile (25 people/km2). There were 8,894 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 97.86% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 1.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[22]Of the 7,916 households 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.80% of households were one person and 10.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
The age distribution was 26.10% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median household income was $29,867 and the median family income was $37,577. Males had a median income of $28,170 versus $20,087 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,286. About 11.30% of families and 15.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 25.40% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,251 | 56.05% | 787 | 35.26% | 194 | 8.69% |
| 1916 | 1,600 | 62.02% | 980 | 37.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 3,208 | 75.02% | 1,066 | 24.93% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1924 | 1,808 | 71.97% | 689 | 27.43% | 15 | 0.60% |
| 1928 | 1,937 | 82.22% | 419 | 17.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,123 | 55.65% | 885 | 43.86% | 10 | 0.50% |
| 1936 | 1,402 | 61.22% | 876 | 38.25% | 12 | 0.52% |
| 1940 | 1,730 | 70.76% | 711 | 29.08% | 4 | 0.16% |
| 1944 | 2,322 | 76.26% | 701 | 23.02% | 22 | 0.72% |
| 1948 | 1,708 | 68.05% | 738 | 29.40% | 64 | 2.55% |
| 1952 | 2,602 | 69.20% | 1,158 | 30.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,207 | 66.96% | 1,069 | 32.43% | 20 | 0.61% |
| 1960 | 2,829 | 74.80% | 915 | 24.19% | 38 | 1.00% |
| 1964 | 1,846 | 56.08% | 1,446 | 43.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,173 | 58.04% | 530 | 14.16% | 1,041 | 27.80% |
| 1972 | 2,295 | 75.67% | 653 | 21.53% | 85 | 2.80% |
| 1976 | 2,063 | 50.93% | 1,951 | 48.16% | 37 | 0.91% |
| 1980 | 2,925 | 58.96% | 1,947 | 39.25% | 89 | 1.79% |
| 1984 | 3,330 | 65.23% | 1,747 | 34.22% | 28 | 0.55% |
| 1988 | 2,962 | 65.37% | 1,538 | 33.94% | 31 | 0.68% |
| 1992 | 2,299 | 40.15% | 2,961 | 51.71% | 466 | 8.14% |
| 1996 | 2,481 | 48.03% | 2,240 | 43.36% | 445 | 8.61% |
| 2000 | 3,366 | 51.86% | 3,059 | 47.13% | 66 | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 4,670 | 62.83% | 2,738 | 36.84% | 25 | 0.34% |
| 2008 | 5,145 | 69.90% | 2,060 | 27.99% | 155 | 2.11% |
| 2012 | 5,260 | 76.18% | 1,552 | 22.48% | 93 | 1.35% |
| 2016 | 6,263 | 83.46% | 1,072 | 14.29% | 169 | 2.25% |
| 2020 | 8,096 | 85.34% | 1,307 | 13.78% | 84 | 0.89% |
| 2024 | 8,958 | 86.69% | 1,277 | 12.36% | 98 | 0.95% |
Although part of theMiddle Tennessee Grand Division, Macon County is geographically firmly a part of Kentucky'sPennyroyal Plateau and has much more historically in common with adjacent Bluegrass State counties likeMonroe,Clinton andCumberland, or with counties inEast Tennessee. Those Pennyroyal counties were overwhelmingly opposed to secession,[5] and a large majority of residents fought their Civil War inUnion blue rather thanConfederate gray. Consequently, after the Civil War, Macon County became an isolated powerfully Republican County in then-Democratic Middle Tennessee. Since 1884, the only Democratic presidential candidate to carry Macon County has beenBill Clinton in 1992, when he had Tennessee SenatorAl Gore – who lived in neighbouringSmith County as a child – as his running mate. In the 2000 election, Gore's local popularity was sufficient to give him the third-highest Democratic percentage of the past 132 years despite losing the state, but since then like all of Appalachia and surrounding regions the county has shown an extremely rapid trend to the Republican Party due to powerful opposition to the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues.[25]
In other statewide elections, Macon County has shown a similar rapid Republican trend. It voted for a Democratic Senator as recently as the 2002 election, whenBob Clement defeatedLamar Alexander by a mere nineteen votes,[26] but for the last three senatorial elections the Democratic candidate has not obtained more than 23.36 percent of the county's vote, with the top performerinthosethree being former GovernorPhil Bredesen in2018. Although Bredesen carried the county in both2002 and2006, he is the last Democratic gubernatorial candidate to top thirty percent.
Macon County is part of the Nashville media market. North Central Telephone Cooperative is the maincable television provider in the county.
Places adjacent to Macon County, Tennessee | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMacon County, Tennessee,United States | ||
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| Principal city |  | |
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36°32′N86°01′W / 36.53°N 86.01°W /36.53; -86.01
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