Claiborne County | |
|---|---|
 Claiborne County Courthouse in Tazewell | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofTennessee | |
 Tennessee's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°29′N83°40′W / 36.48°N 83.66°W /36.48; -83.66 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | October 29, 1801 |
| Named after | William C. C. Claiborne[1] |
| Seat | Tazewell |
| Largest city | Harrogate |
| Area | |
• Total | 442 sq mi (1,140 km2) |
| • Land | 435,043 sq mi (1,126,760 km2) |
| • Water | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 1.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 32,043 |
| • Density | 74/sq mi (29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Claiborne County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofTennessee. As of the2020 census, the population was 32,043.[2] Itscounty seat isTazewell and its largest city isHarrogate.[3]
Claiborne County was established on October 29, 1801, created from Grainger and Hawkins counties and extended the southern boundary toAnderson County. It was named forVirginia tidewater aristocratWilliam C. C. Claiborne, one of the first judges of theTennessee Superior Court and one of the first representatives inU.S. Congress from Tennessee.[4]
Like a few other East Tennessee counties, Claiborne County was largely opposed to secession on the eve of theCivil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, the county's residents voted against secession by a margin of 1,243 to 250.[5]
The Four Seasons Hotel was built on the location of present-dayLincoln Memorial University in 1892 by an English land company, the American Association Limited, which was led locally by flamboyant businessmanAlexander Arthur. At the time, it was reported by its promoters to be the largest hotel in the United States. The main building was four stories high with a lobby 75 feet square and a dining room 50 feet by 160 feet. It was reported to contain 700 rooms. Also included in the complex were a hospital, an inn, a sanitarium, and other smaller buildings. The hotel was not a success and was demolished in 1895. During its operation, the Four Seasons Hotel offered buggy rides to nearby English Cave, which had been improved with wooden stairways, walkways, and bridges. The rotting remains of these wooden structures can still be seen in the cave.[6]
from Claiborne County include State RepresentativeBoyd C. Fugate (1884–1967) and Tennessee's first female sheriff Della Riley. Claiborne County's musical heritage includes musiciansRodney Atkins,Cindy Morgan andMichael McMeel as well as bluegrass musiciansSteve Gulley,Milton Estes, CF Bailey and Shadow Ridge, Vic Graves, Scott and Alan Powers, The Honeycutt Brothers, Buster Turner and the Turner Brothers, Bryan Turner, Patrick Beeler, Larry Carter, Randall Massengill, and Jerry Cole. Notable Old-Time musicians from Claiborne County include Fiddling Bob Rogers, as well as ballad singers Mae Ray, Alice Parsons, Chester Lewis, and Kinley Brooks, whose repertoires are included inCecil Sharp'sEnglish Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. Other ballad collectors in Claiborne County includeArtus Moser, C P Cambiaire, and Tillman Cadle. Local African American musicians include gospel singers Ralph Ford and Rick Gregory.
Lincoln Memorial University's literary heritage includes authorsSilas House, James Still, andJesse Stuart.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 442 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (1.6%) is water.[7] Major Waterways include the Powell River and Clinch River, which forms part of Norris Lake. Major high points are Bryson Mountain, Powell Mountain, Lone Mountain, Raven Hill, and Wallen Ridge.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 4,798 | — | |
| 1820 | 5,508 | 14.8% | |
| 1830 | 8,470 | 53.8% | |
| 1840 | 9,474 | 11.9% | |
| 1850 | 9,369 | −1.1% | |
| 1860 | 9,643 | 2.9% | |
| 1870 | 9,321 | −3.3% | |
| 1880 | 13,373 | 43.5% | |
| 1890 | 15,103 | 12.9% | |
| 1900 | 20,696 | 37.0% | |
| 1910 | 23,504 | 13.6% | |
| 1920 | 23,286 | −0.9% | |
| 1930 | 24,313 | 4.4% | |
| 1940 | 24,657 | 1.4% | |
| 1950 | 24,788 | 0.5% | |
| 1960 | 19,067 | −23.1% | |
| 1970 | 19,420 | 1.9% | |
| 1980 | 24,595 | 26.6% | |
| 1990 | 26,137 | 6.3% | |
| 2000 | 29,862 | 14.3% | |
| 2010 | 32,213 | 7.9% | |
| 2020 | 32,043 | −0.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2014[12] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 29,966 | 93.52% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 314 | 0.98% |
| Native American | 58 | 0.18% |
| Asian | 148 | 0.46% |
| Pacific Islander | 11 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,056 | 3.3% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 490 | 1.53% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 32,043 people, 13,281 households, and 8,683 families residing in the county.
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 29,862 people, 11,799 households, and 8,684 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 69 people per square mile (27 people/km2). There were 13,262 housing units at an average density of 30 units per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.79%White, 0.75%Black orAfrican American, 0.24%Native American, 0.28%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.19% fromother races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 11,799 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% weremarried couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,782, and the median income for a family was $31,234. Males had a median income of $26,280 versus $19,951 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $13,032. About 18.40% of families and 22.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 19.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Recent Awards and Recognition[16]
U.S. Routes25E, and State Route63 are the major arterial roadways in the county. US 25E, established as theEast Tennessee Crossing Byway andAppalachian Development Corridor S, provides four-laneexpressway north-south access to Grainger County and the Kentucky-Tennessee state-line. SR 63, provides two-lane access from the city of Harrogate to Campbell County.[17]
Claiborne County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1992.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 11,463 | 84.70% | 1,971 | 14.56% | 100 | 0.74% |
| 2020 | 10,604 | 81.92% | 2,202 | 17.01% | 139 | 1.07% |
| 2016 | 8,602 | 80.09% | 1,832 | 17.06% | 306 | 2.85% |
| 2012 | 7,617 | 74.84% | 2,433 | 23.90% | 128 | 1.26% |
| 2008 | 7,175 | 68.86% | 3,078 | 29.54% | 167 | 1.60% |
| 2004 | 6,448 | 61.18% | 4,034 | 38.27% | 58 | 0.55% |
| 2000 | 5,023 | 55.81% | 3,841 | 42.68% | 136 | 1.51% |
| 1996 | 4,023 | 46.35% | 3,861 | 44.49% | 795 | 9.16% |
| 1992 | 4,065 | 42.86% | 4,509 | 47.54% | 911 | 9.60% |
| 1988 | 4,071 | 57.48% | 2,977 | 42.04% | 34 | 0.48% |
| 1984 | 4,474 | 60.70% | 2,870 | 38.94% | 27 | 0.37% |
| 1980 | 4,289 | 59.05% | 2,844 | 39.16% | 130 | 1.79% |
| 1976 | 3,227 | 47.86% | 3,461 | 51.33% | 55 | 0.82% |
| 1972 | 3,632 | 73.94% | 1,230 | 25.04% | 50 | 1.02% |
| 1968 | 3,101 | 59.75% | 1,314 | 25.32% | 775 | 14.93% |
| 1964 | 2,852 | 52.49% | 2,581 | 47.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,888 | 64.20% | 2,142 | 35.37% | 26 | 0.43% |
| 1956 | 3,377 | 62.21% | 1,973 | 36.35% | 78 | 1.44% |
| 1952 | 3,221 | 59.62% | 2,182 | 40.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,507 | 53.50% | 2,068 | 44.13% | 111 | 2.37% |
| 1944 | 2,426 | 59.20% | 1,649 | 40.24% | 23 | 0.56% |
| 1940 | 2,879 | 49.95% | 2,792 | 48.44% | 93 | 1.61% |
| 1936 | 2,400 | 44.04% | 3,036 | 55.71% | 14 | 0.26% |
| 1932 | 1,725 | 32.76% | 3,518 | 66.82% | 22 | 0.42% |
| 1928 | 2,565 | 67.68% | 1,225 | 32.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,775 | 59.97% | 1,091 | 36.86% | 94 | 3.18% |
| 1920 | 2,612 | 67.88% | 1,236 | 32.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 1,398 | 56.60% | 1,053 | 42.63% | 19 | 0.77% |
| 1912 | 589 | 22.58% | 903 | 34.61% | 1,117 | 42.81% |
Places adjacent to Claiborne County, Tennessee | |
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Municipalities and communities ofClaiborne County, Tennessee,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
