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Giles County, Tennessee

Coordinates: 35°12′N 87°02′W / 35.20°N 87.04°W / 35.20; -87.04
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Giles County
County
Giles County Courthouse in Pulaski
Giles County Courthouse in Pulaski
Flag of Giles County
Flag
Official seal of Giles County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Giles County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°12′N 87°02′W / 35.2°N 87.04°W / 35.2; -87.04
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedNovember 14, 1809
Named forWilliam B. Giles[1]
SeatPulaski
Largest cityPulaski
Area
 • Total
611 sq mi (1,580 km2)
 • Land611 sq mi (1,580 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.04%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
30,346 Increase
 • Density50/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitegilescountytn.gov

Giles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, its population was 30,346.[2] Its county seat is Pulaski.[3]

History

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Giles County is named after William 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.[4] One of Giles County's local heroes is James 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.[5]

Geography

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According to the U.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.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18104,546—
182012,558176.2%
183018,70348.9%
184021,49414.9%
185025,94920.7%
186026,1660.8%
187032,41323.9%
188036,01411.1%
189034,957−2.9%
190033,035−5.5%
191032,629−1.2%
192030,948−5.2%
193028,016−9.5%
194029,2404.4%
195026,961−7.8%
196022,410−16.9%
197022,138−1.2%
198024,2659.6%
199025,7416.1%
200029,44714.4%
201029,4850.1%
202030,3462.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[11] 2020[2]
Age pyramid Giles County[12]

2020 census

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Giles County racial composition[13]
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 or Latino 728 2.4%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,346 people, 11,904 households, and 7,807 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 29,447 people, 11,713 households, and 8,363 families residing in the county. The population 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 or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $17,543. About 9.00% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Crime

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On November 15, 1995, Giles County received minor notoriety after a shooting occurred at Richland High School in the community of Lynnville. 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.[15][16]

In 2000, there were 1,268 arrests made in Giles County, with 781 arrests in the city of Pulaski. 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.[17] No homicides occurred in Giles County in 2003.

Transportation

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Airport

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Abernathy Field, May 2014. ICAO Code: KGZS.

Abernathy Field is a public use airport owned by Giles County and the City of Pulaski. It is located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Pulaski.[18]

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Giles County, Tennessee[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 secessionist Middle 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.[20]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Margaret Butler, "Giles County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: June 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Tennessee
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Welcome to Giles County Tennessee". Gilescounty-tn.us. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  5. ^ McCallum, James (1876). A Brief Sketch of the Settlement and Early History of Giles County Tennessee.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  12. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ Leung, Rebecca (April 12, 2004). "The Mind Of A School Shooter". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  16. ^ https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1084754/state-v-stephen-abbott/ [bare URL]
  17. ^ Pulaski City Information Archived June 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at epodunk.com
  18. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for GZS PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective June 3, 2010.
  19. ^ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  20. ^ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  21. ^ "BROWN, Aaron Venable, (1795 - 1859)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  22. ^ "Tennessee Governor Neill Smith Brown". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  23. ^ "Tennessee Governor John Calvin Brown". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  24. ^ "The Founders of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology". msstate.edu. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  25. ^ Albert D. Marks, "The Supreme Court of Tennessee", Part II, The Green Bag, Volume 5 (1893), p. 180-82.
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