Coopertown, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Coopertown is a town in Robertson County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population of the self-described "bedroom community" was 3,027 at the 2000 census
.
In later years, the part of Middle Tennessee
that was to become the Coopertown community was claimed as territorial hunting grounds by both the Cherokee
and the Chickasaw
. That area was at the southern edge of what became known as the Transylvania Purchase, land purchased in 1775 from the Cherokee by Richard Henderson
, a North Carolina land speculator seeking to establish a 14th colony.
Although Transylvania
, the proposed 14th colony, was never recognized, the area was settled by immigrants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
David Naive settled there in 1825, and the area became known as Naive’s Crossroads. During subsequent years, the county's involvement in the production of barrels and whiskey led to the establishment of one or more cooper
shops in the community, making barrels for the nearby Red River
mills. The presence of coopers led to the community's present name.
Coopertown was officially incorporated in 1996, a decision taken by the citizens of the community in response to a proposal to local a landfill in the community.
s" in the country by a spokesperson for the National Motorists Association
(NMA). The town's mayor, Danny Crosby, defended the increased enforcement of lowered speed limits, citing the need to combat speeders using Highway 49 as a shortcut between I-24
and I-65
.
A complaint and writ of ouster filed by the State of Tennessee on June 27, 2006 noted that comment from the NMA. That complaint seeks to remove Crosby from office, due to acts of willful misconduct related to the speed traps, as well as other abuses of power.
The trial court dismissed the petition, reinstated Crosby as mayor of the City of Coopertown, and awarded Crosby his discretionary costs. An appeal was heard September 7, 2007.
In January 2008, the Tennessee Court of Appeals
ruled that even though "the trial court accurately characterized conduct attributable to Crosby as 'bigotry, sexism, or utter foolishness'", the plaintiff failed to prove by "clear and convincing evidence" that Crosby "knowingly or willfully" committed the type of misconduct essential to establish the requisite statutory grounds to remove a public official from office. Referenced IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE AT NASHVILLE September 7, 2007 Session No. M2006—2777-COA-R3-CV - Filed January 17, 2008.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 31.9 square miles (82.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,027 people, 1,078 households, and 914 families residing in the town. The population density
was 95.0 people per square mile (36.7/km²). There were 1,128 housing units at an average density of 35.4 per square mile (13.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 1.62% African American, 0.46% Asian, 0.40% Native American, 0.59% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 1,078 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 11.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,122, and the median income for a family was $58,947. Males had a median income of $37,059 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,818. About 4.1% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population of the self-described "bedroom community" was 3,027 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
History
The tribal identities of the 16th and 17th century Native American occupants of present-day Tennessee are disputed.In later years, the part of Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee....
that was to become the Coopertown community was claimed as territorial hunting grounds by both the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and the Chickasaw
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
. That area was at the southern edge of what became known as the Transylvania Purchase, land purchased in 1775 from the Cherokee by Richard Henderson
Richard Henderson (American pioneer)
Richard Henderson was an American pioneer and merchant who attempted to create a colony called Transylvania just as the American Revolutionary War was starting.-Early life:Henderson was born in Hanover County, Virginia...
, a North Carolina land speculator seeking to establish a 14th colony.
Although Transylvania
Transylvania (colony)
Transylvania, or the Transylvania Colony, was a short-lived, extra-legal colony founded in 1775 by Richard Henderson, who controlled the North Carolina based Transylvania Company, which had reached an agreement to purchase the land from the Cherokee in the "Treaty of Sycamore Shoals"...
, the proposed 14th colony, was never recognized, the area was settled by immigrants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
David Naive settled there in 1825, and the area became known as Naive’s Crossroads. During subsequent years, the county's involvement in the production of barrels and whiskey led to the establishment of one or more cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
shops in the community, making barrels for the nearby Red River
Red River (Tennessee-Kentucky)
The Red River, long, is a major stream of north-central Tennessee and south-central Kentucky and a major tributary of the Cumberland River....
mills. The presence of coopers led to the community's present name.
Coopertown was officially incorporated in 1996, a decision taken by the citizens of the community in response to a proposal to local a landfill in the community.
Reputation as a speed trap
In January 2006, Coopertown was called "one of the more blatant examples of speed trapSpeed Trap
Speed Trap is a live jazz album by Peter King, recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in September 1994, and released in 1996 under the Ronnie Scotts Jazz House label...
s" in the country by a spokesperson for the National Motorists Association
National Motorists Association
The National Motorists Association is a grassroots organization whose revenue is membership- and donation-driven. It was created in 1982 to "to represent and protect the interests of North American motorists", and advocates a "Motorist Bill of Rights".-History:The NMA, originally called the...
(NMA). The town's mayor, Danny Crosby, defended the increased enforcement of lowered speed limits, citing the need to combat speeders using Highway 49 as a shortcut between I-24
Interstate 24
Interstate 24 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It runs diagonally from Interstate 57 to Chattanooga, Tennessee, at Interstate 75....
and I-65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
.
A complaint and writ of ouster filed by the State of Tennessee on June 27, 2006 noted that comment from the NMA. That complaint seeks to remove Crosby from office, due to acts of willful misconduct related to the speed traps, as well as other abuses of power.
The trial court dismissed the petition, reinstated Crosby as mayor of the City of Coopertown, and awarded Crosby his discretionary costs. An appeal was heard September 7, 2007.
In January 2008, the Tennessee Court of Appeals
Tennessee Court of Appeals
The Tennessee Court of Appeals was created in 1925 by the Tennessee General Assembly as an intermediate appellate court to hear appeals in civil cases from the Tennessee state trial courts....
ruled that even though "the trial court accurately characterized conduct attributable to Crosby as 'bigotry, sexism, or utter foolishness'", the plaintiff failed to prove by "clear and convincing evidence" that Crosby "knowingly or willfully" committed the type of misconduct essential to establish the requisite statutory grounds to remove a public official from office. Referenced IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE AT NASHVILLE September 7, 2007 Session No. M2006—2777-COA-R3-CV - Filed January 17, 2008.
Geography
Coopertown is located at (36.400186, -86.956462).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 31.9 square miles (82.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,027 people, 1,078 households, and 914 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 95.0 people per square mile (36.7/km²). There were 1,128 housing units at an average density of 35.4 per square mile (13.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 1.62% African American, 0.46% Asian, 0.40% Native American, 0.59% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 1,078 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 11.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,122, and the median income for a family was $58,947. Males had a median income of $37,059 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $24,818. About 4.1% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Town of Coopertown official website, including a "City News" section