Giles County | |
|---|---|
 Giles County Courthouse in Pulaski | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofTennessee | |
 Tennessee's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:35°12′N87°02′W / 35.2°N 87.04°W /35.2; -87.04 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | November 14, 1809 |
| Named after | William B. Giles[1] |
| Seat | Pulaski |
| Largest city | Pulaski |
| Area | |
• Total | 611 sq mi (1,580 km2) |
| • Land | 611 sq mi (1,580 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.04% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,346 |
• Estimate (2023)[2] | 30,721 |
| • Density | 51/sq mi (20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | gilescountytn |
Giles County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofTennessee. As of the2020 census, its population was 30,346.[3] Itscounty seat isPulaski.[4]
Giles County is named afterWilliam Branch Giles, a senator from Virginia who sponsored the admission of Tennessee as the 16th state into the Union. He also sponsored the building of the city and courthouse, which has burned four times. The current courthouse was built in 1909.[5] One of Giles County's local heroes isJames McCallum, who served as grandmaster of the Tennessee Masons, a member of the Confederate Congress, and mayor. He lived in Giles County for 70 years.
Until Maury County was established in November 1807, the area of the future Giles County was part of Williamson County. Two years after the formation of Maury County, Giles County was created from southern Maury County on November 14, 1809, by an act of the state legislature. Nearly half of the new county lay in Chickasaw territory until September 1816.[6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 611 square miles (1,580 km2), of which 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.04%) is covered by water.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 4,546 | — | |
| 1820 | 12,558 | 176.2% | |
| 1830 | 18,703 | 48.9% | |
| 1840 | 21,494 | 14.9% | |
| 1850 | 25,949 | 20.7% | |
| 1860 | 26,166 | 0.8% | |
| 1870 | 32,413 | 23.9% | |
| 1880 | 36,014 | 11.1% | |
| 1890 | 34,957 | −2.9% | |
| 1900 | 33,035 | −5.5% | |
| 1910 | 32,629 | −1.2% | |
| 1920 | 30,948 | −5.2% | |
| 1930 | 28,016 | −9.5% | |
| 1940 | 29,240 | 4.4% | |
| 1950 | 26,961 | −7.8% | |
| 1960 | 22,410 | −16.9% | |
| 1970 | 22,138 | −1.2% | |
| 1980 | 24,265 | 9.6% | |
| 1990 | 25,741 | 6.1% | |
| 2000 | 29,447 | 14.4% | |
| 2010 | 29,485 | 0.1% | |
| 2020 | 30,346 | 2.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 30,721 | 1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2014[12] 2020[3] 2023[2] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 24,920 | 82.12% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,927 | 9.65% |
| Native American | 113 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 176 | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,473 | 4.85% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 728 | 2.4% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 30,346 people, 11,904 households, and 7,807 families residing in the county.
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 29,447 people, 11,713 households, and 8,363 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 13,113 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.44%White, 11.80%Black orAfrican American, 0.30%Native American, 0.35%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.21% fromother races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 11,713 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% weremarried couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,824, and the median income for a family was $41,714. Males had a median income of $31,221 versus $22,221 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,543. About 9.00% of families and 11.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.
On November 15, 1995, Giles County received minor notoriety after a shooting occurred atRichland High School in the community ofLynnville. A senior student named Jamie Rouse shot two teachers and a student in the north entrance of the school. One teacher (Carolyn Foster) and the student (Diane Collins) were killed, while teacher Carolyn Yancey was wounded in the crime. Rouse was convicted of the shooting and sentenced to life in prison without parole.[16][17]
In 2000, there were 1,268 arrests made in Giles County, with 781 arrests in the city ofPulaski. One homicide occurred in that year. Based on a 2003 recording conducted by the Uniform Crime Report, the delinquency rate dropped to 71 arrests being made, with 8.8 percent of the county population being arrested that year.[18] No homicides occurred in Giles County in 2003.
Abernathy Field is a public useairport owned by Giles County and theCity of Pulaski. It is located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of thecentral business district of Pulaski.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 10,394 | 77.07% | 2,974 | 22.05% | 119 | 0.88% |
| 2020 | 9,784 | 74.10% | 3,298 | 24.98% | 121 | 0.92% |
| 2016 | 7,970 | 71.56% | 2,917 | 26.19% | 250 | 2.24% |
| 2012 | 6,915 | 64.03% | 3,760 | 34.82% | 124 | 1.15% |
| 2008 | 6,902 | 59.05% | 4,614 | 39.47% | 173 | 1.48% |
| 2004 | 6,163 | 53.42% | 5,273 | 45.71% | 101 | 0.88% |
| 2000 | 4,377 | 43.48% | 5,527 | 54.91% | 162 | 1.61% |
| 1996 | 3,269 | 36.20% | 4,948 | 54.80% | 813 | 9.00% |
| 1992 | 2,827 | 28.90% | 5,601 | 57.26% | 1,353 | 13.83% |
| 1988 | 3,518 | 47.04% | 3,918 | 52.39% | 42 | 0.56% |
| 1984 | 3,875 | 50.07% | 3,812 | 49.26% | 52 | 0.67% |
| 1980 | 2,757 | 36.58% | 4,653 | 61.74% | 127 | 1.69% |
| 1976 | 1,952 | 26.93% | 5,225 | 72.09% | 71 | 0.98% |
| 1972 | 2,914 | 57.69% | 1,875 | 37.12% | 262 | 5.19% |
| 1968 | 1,264 | 17.01% | 2,203 | 29.64% | 3,966 | 53.36% |
| 1964 | 1,378 | 21.81% | 4,940 | 78.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,598 | 24.54% | 4,879 | 74.91% | 36 | 0.55% |
| 1956 | 1,401 | 22.65% | 4,750 | 76.79% | 35 | 0.57% |
| 1952 | 1,649 | 25.98% | 4,640 | 73.11% | 58 | 0.91% |
| 1948 | 717 | 14.72% | 3,676 | 75.45% | 479 | 9.83% |
| 1944 | 751 | 15.02% | 4,249 | 84.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 692 | 15.37% | 3,796 | 84.34% | 13 | 0.29% |
| 1936 | 600 | 13.70% | 3,760 | 85.88% | 18 | 0.41% |
| 1932 | 619 | 18.12% | 2,773 | 81.15% | 25 | 0.73% |
| 1928 | 1,032 | 27.94% | 2,661 | 72.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 677 | 20.76% | 2,509 | 76.94% | 75 | 2.30% |
| 1920 | 2,224 | 41.50% | 3,129 | 58.39% | 6 | 0.11% |
| 1916 | 1,488 | 31.65% | 3,207 | 68.22% | 6 | 0.13% |
| 1912 | 1,596 | 31.31% | 3,081 | 60.44% | 421 | 8.26% |
Although historically part of overwhelmingly Democratic and secessionistMiddle Tennessee, Giles County has, like much of the rural white South, become overwhelmingly Republican since 2000 due to opposition to the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues.[21]
Places adjacent to Giles County, Tennessee | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofGiles County, Tennessee,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
35°12′N87°02′W / 35.20°N 87.04°W /35.20; -87.04
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