Montgomery County | |
|---|---|
 Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville | |
 Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofTennessee | |
 Tennessee's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°30′N87°23′W / 36.5°N 87.38°W /36.5; -87.38 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | April 9, 1796 |
| Named after | John Montgomery[1] |
| Seat | Clarksville |
| Largest city | Clarksville |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Wes Golden (R)[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 544 sq mi (1,410 km2) |
| • Land | 539 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Water | 4.7 sq mi (12 km2) 0.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 220,069 |
• Estimate (2023) | 239,872 |
| • Density | 408/sq mi (158/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | mcgtn |
Montgomery County is acounty in theU.S. state ofTennessee. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 220,069.[3] Thecounty seat (and only incorporated municipality) isClarksville.[4] The county was created in 1796.[5][6] Montgomery County is included in the Clarksville, TN–KYMetropolitan Statistical Area.
The county was named forJohn Montgomery, a soldier in theAmerican Revolutionary War and an early settler who founded the city of Clarksville. It was authorized on April 9, 1796, when the western portion of Tennessee County, which since 1790 had been part of theTerritory South of the River Ohio, became part of the new state of Tennessee. (In 1790, North Carolina had ceded its western lands to the Federal government to create what was also known as the Southwest Territory.) The eastern portion of old Tennessee County was, at the same time Montgomery County was formed, combined with land taken fromSumner County to formRobertson County, Tennessee. Later acts of theTennessee General Assembly had further reduced Montgomery County by 1871 to its current size and boundaries.[6]
Montgomery County was the site of several earlysaltpeter mines. Saltpeter is the main ingredient of gunpowder and was obtained by leaching the earth from local caves. Bellamy Cave near Stringtown still contains the remains of two dozen saltpeter leaching vats. It appears to have been a large operation. Cooper Creek Cave shows evidence of extensive mining and contains the remains of "many saltpeter hoppers." Both were probably mined during theWar of 1812. Dunbar Cave is reported to have been mined for saltpeter during theMexican War of 1848, but commercial development has destroyed any evidence of this. Little mining is likely to have happened here during theCivil War, since theUnion Army captured and occupied this part of Tennessee in early 1862.[7]
Montgomery County lies on the northern line of Tennessee; its northern border abuts the state of Kentucky. The hilly terrain is marked by drainages and largely covered with trees. TheCumberland River meanders westward through the lower central part of the county.[8] The highest point on the county terrain (806 feet/246 meters ASL) is a small hill 3.7 miles (6.0 km) ENE fromSlayden in Dickson County.[9]
According to theUS Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 544 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 539 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.9%) is water.[10]
Unlike most of Tennessee, a sizable part of northern Montgomery County is outside of theSun Belt due to a past error surveying the northern border ofMiddle andEast Tennessee. Most of Clarksville in particular is north of the Sun Belt.[11] 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.[12]
Montgomery County lies in a region of well-developedkarst topography. A large cave system under the county is named Dunbar Cave; it is the centerpiece ofDunbar Cave State Park, which encompasses approximately 110 acres and is one of the most visited units in the Tennessee State Park System.
Dunbar Cave was extensively used byprehistoric Indians, who inhabited this area for thousands of years before European encounters. Remains of their cane torches have been found in the cave, andarchaeologists have excavated numerous artifacts inside the entrance.[13][14] During a research trip into the cave on January 15, 2005, Park Ranger Amy Wallace, History professor Joe Douglas, local historian Billyfrank Morrison, and Geologist Larry E. Matthews discovered Indianglyphs on the walls of the cave. Subsequent investigations by archaeologists from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville confirmed the drawings were from people of theMississippian culture, which was active about 1000-1300 CE.[15][16] These glyphs were featured for a few years on the tour of the cave.
In 2010, the State of Tennessee closed Dunbar Cave to the public becauseWhite Nose Syndrome was diagnosed in a bat, and they did not want the disease to spread. The cave has since reopened, and tours are conducted seasonally, from May to August (with special hygiene procedures in place).[17]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 2,899 | — | |
| 1810 | 8,021 | 176.7% | |
| 1820 | 12,219 | 52.3% | |
| 1830 | 14,349 | 17.4% | |
| 1840 | 16,927 | 18.0% | |
| 1850 | 21,045 | 24.3% | |
| 1860 | 20,895 | −0.7% | |
| 1870 | 24,747 | 18.4% | |
| 1880 | 28,481 | 15.1% | |
| 1890 | 29,697 | 4.3% | |
| 1900 | 36,017 | 21.3% | |
| 1910 | 33,672 | −6.5% | |
| 1920 | 32,265 | −4.2% | |
| 1930 | 30,882 | −4.3% | |
| 1940 | 33,346 | 8.0% | |
| 1950 | 44,186 | 32.5% | |
| 1960 | 55,645 | 25.9% | |
| 1970 | 62,721 | 12.7% | |
| 1980 | 83,342 | 32.9% | |
| 1990 | 100,498 | 20.6% | |
| 2000 | 134,768 | 34.1% | |
| 2010 | 172,331 | 27.9% | |
| 2020 | 220,069 | 27.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 239,872 | [18] | 9.0% |
| US Decennial Census[19] 1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21] 1990-2000[22] 2010-2014[3] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 131,294 | 59.66% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 43,349 | 19.7% |
| Native American | 757 | 0.34% |
| Asian | 5,039 | 2.29% |
| Pacific Islander | 936 | 0.43% |
| Other/Mixed | 15,760 | 7.16% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 22,934 | 10.42% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 220,069 people, 76,974 households, and 53,563 families residing in the county.
As of the2000 United States census,[25] there were 134,768 people, 48,330 households, and 35,957 families in the county. The population density was 250 inhabitants per square mile (97/km2). There were 52,167 housing units at an average density of 97 per square mile (37/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.17%White, 19.18%Black orAfrican American, 0.53%Native American, 1.82%Asian, 0.21%Pacific Islander, 2.18% fromother races, and 2.91% from two or more races. 5.16% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 48,330 households, out of which 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% weremarried couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70, and the average family size was 3.11.
The county population contained 28.40% under the age of 18, 12.30% from 18 to 24, 34.30% from 25 to 44, 17.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,981, and the median income for a family was $43,023. Males had a median income of $30,696 versus $22,581 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,265. About 7.90% of families and 10.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.
The county mayor is the chief executive officer. Voters elect the county mayorat-large and certain other county-level positions, including the sheriff. The current mayor isRepublican Wes Golden.[26]
The Board of County Commissioners, which is the county legislative body, consists of 21 members elected for four-year terms fromSingle-member districts based on roughly equal populations.[27]
Montgomery County has historically been aDemocratic stronghold. Since the2000 presidential election, however, the county started voting for theRepublican Party, and is now a Republican stronghold.
The last time Montgomery County voted for a Democratic candidate in a statewide race was forPhil Bredesen in2006, and the last time it voted for a Democratic candidate on a presidential level, was in1996 when it voted for DemocratBill Clinton.
Although Montgomery County is a Republican stronghold, the city of Clarksville has been competitive for both major political parties. In the 2024 presidential election, Clarksville voted forDonald Trump by a margin of 6.2%.[28]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 2,039 | 41.74% | 2,846 | 58.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 1,922 | 43.07% | 2,516 | 56.37% | 25 | 0.56% |
| 1888 | 2,164 | 44.08% | 2,628 | 53.53% | 117 | 2.38% |
| 1892 | 1,927 | 35.46% | 2,405 | 44.25% | 1,103 | 20.29% |
| 1896 | 2,934 | 48.17% | 2,804 | 46.04% | 353 | 5.80% |
| 1900 | 1,815 | 41.42% | 2,248 | 51.30% | 319 | 7.28% |
| 1904 | 843 | 31.41% | 1,697 | 63.23% | 144 | 5.37% |
| 1908 | 1,903 | 38.67% | 2,961 | 60.17% | 57 | 1.16% |
| 1912 | 514 | 21.13% | 1,638 | 67.32% | 281 | 11.55% |
| 1916 | 991 | 32.83% | 1,976 | 65.45% | 52 | 1.72% |
| 1920 | 1,780 | 40.60% | 2,564 | 58.49% | 40 | 0.91% |
| 1924 | 941 | 32.00% | 1,946 | 66.17% | 54 | 1.84% |
| 1928 | 1,743 | 48.30% | 1,866 | 51.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 799 | 22.53% | 2,747 | 77.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 838 | 20.05% | 3,314 | 79.28% | 28 | 0.67% |
| 1940 | 819 | 20.53% | 3,158 | 79.15% | 13 | 0.33% |
| 1944 | 702 | 19.05% | 2,971 | 80.60% | 13 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 646 | 14.34% | 3,310 | 73.47% | 549 | 12.19% |
| 1952 | 2,573 | 30.78% | 5,759 | 68.90% | 27 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | 2,778 | 25.41% | 8,034 | 73.48% | 122 | 1.12% |
| 1960 | 2,550 | 24.83% | 7,635 | 74.34% | 85 | 0.83% |
| 1964 | 2,814 | 21.66% | 10,178 | 78.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,248 | 22.52% | 5,538 | 38.39% | 5,638 | 39.09% |
| 1972 | 7,839 | 56.40% | 5,691 | 40.95% | 369 | 2.65% |
| 1976 | 5,923 | 32.11% | 12,310 | 66.73% | 215 | 1.17% |
| 1980 | 8,503 | 41.08% | 11,573 | 55.91% | 622 | 3.01% |
| 1984 | 13,228 | 56.61% | 9,939 | 42.54% | 198 | 0.85% |
| 1988 | 12,599 | 57.65% | 9,145 | 41.84% | 112 | 0.51% |
| 1992 | 13,011 | 41.51% | 14,507 | 46.29% | 3,823 | 12.20% |
| 1996 | 15,133 | 45.01% | 16,498 | 49.06% | 1,994 | 5.93% |
| 2000 | 19,644 | 50.31% | 18,818 | 48.20% | 582 | 1.49% |
| 2004 | 28,627 | 58.42% | 20,070 | 40.96% | 301 | 0.61% |
| 2008 | 30,175 | 53.28% | 25,716 | 45.40% | 748 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | 30,245 | 54.28% | 24,499 | 43.97% | 976 | 1.75% |
| 2016 | 32,341 | 56.13% | 21,699 | 37.66% | 3,580 | 6.21% |
| 2020 | 42,187 | 54.96% | 32,472 | 42.30% | 2,099 | 2.73% |
| 2024 | 47,795 | 58.46% | 32,736 | 40.04% | 1,224 | 1.50% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Durrett (Incumbent) | 13,155 | 67.56% | |
| Independent | Donnie Trice | 6,264 | 32.17% | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 54 | 0.28% | |
| Total votes | 19,473 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Wes Golden | 10,500 | 66.69% | |
| Independent | Jodi O'Connor | 5,180 | 32.91% | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 65 | 0.41% | |
| Total votes | 15,745 | 100.00% | ||
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System serves most of the county. Portions inFort Campbell however are zoned toDepartment of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.[33]Fort Campbell High School is the zoned high school for Fort Campbell.
Places adjacent to Montgomery County, Tennessee | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMontgomery County, Tennessee,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Military base | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
