Henning, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Henning is a town in Lauderdale County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 970 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
Henning is situated on the southeastern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone
, an area with a high earthquake
risk.
during the Civil War, a Confederate victory, took place near Henning. Here, nearly 200 black and white troops serving the Union Army were allegedly massacred by Confederates under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest
. However the union troops hauled down a white flag that they had raised, and union gunboats continued to fire into the Confederate ranks during the fightning, necessitating the continued killing.
of 2000, there were 970 people, 362 households, and 238 families residing in the town. The population density
was 752.3 people per square mile (290.3/km²). There were 406 housing units at an average density of 314.9 per square mile (121.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 22.37% European American, 74.85% African American, 1.34% Native American, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 362 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.4% were married couples
living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,438, and the median income for a family was $21,776. Males had a median income of $26,500 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $8,413, which is the lowest in the state. About 30.9% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 30.2% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Henning Post Office.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections operates the West Tennessee State Penitentiary
in unincorporated
Lauderdale County, near Henning. Previously the Cold Creek Correctional Facility
was located in the area.
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 was 970 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Henning is located at 35°40′25"N 89°34′39"W (35.673563, -89.577366).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 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
Henning is situated on the southeastern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone
New Madrid Seismic Zone
The New Madrid Seismic Zone , sometimes called the New Madrid Fault Line, is a major seismic zone and a prolific source of intraplate earthquakes in the southern and midwestern United States, stretching to the southwest from New Madrid, Missouri.The New Madrid fault system was responsible for the...
, an area with a high earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
risk.
History
The Battle of Fort PillowBattle of Fort Pillow
The Battle of Fort Pillow, also known as the Fort Pillow Massacre, was fought on April 12, 1864, at Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River in Henning, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. The battle ended with a massacre of surrendered Federal black troops by soldiers under the command of...
during the Civil War, a Confederate victory, took place near Henning. Here, nearly 200 black and white troops serving the Union Army were allegedly massacred by Confederates under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
. However the union troops hauled down a white flag that they had raised, and union gunboats continued to fire into the Confederate ranks during the fightning, necessitating the continued killing.
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 970 people, 362 households, and 238 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 752.3 people per square mile (290.3/km²). There were 406 housing units at an average density of 314.9 per square mile (121.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 22.37% European American, 74.85% African American, 1.34% Native American, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
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, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,438, and the median income for a family was $21,776. Males had a median income of $26,500 versus $19,583 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 $8,413, which is the lowest in the state. About 30.9% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 30.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Henning Post Office.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections operates the West Tennessee State Penitentiary
West Tennessee State Penitentiary
West Tennessee State Penitentiary is a Tennessee Department of Correction prison located in unincorporated Lauderdale County, Tennessee, near Henning. Site #1 of WTSP formerly housed the Cold Creek Correctional Facility....
in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Lauderdale County, near Henning. Previously the Cold Creek Correctional Facility
Cold Creek Correctional Facility
Cold Creek Correctional Facility was a Tennessee Department of Correction prison located in unincorporated Lauderdale County, Tennessee, near Henning. CCCC is now the West Tennessee State Penitentiary Site #1...
was located in the area.
Notable natives
- John Henry BarbeeJohn Henry BarbeeJohn Henry Barbee was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was born William George Tucker in Henning, Tennessee, United States, and changed his name with the commencement of his recording career to reflect his favorite folk song, "The Ballad of John Henry".-Biography:Barbee toured in the...
- Blues guitarist known for his connection to ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's blues scene. - Jim Hickman, baseball player
- Noah LewisNoah LewisNoah Lewis was an American jug band and country blues musician, generally known for playing the harmonica.-Life and career:...
- Jug bandJug bandA Jug band is a band employing a jug player and a mix of traditional and home-made instruments. These home-made instruments are ordinary objects adapted to or modified for making of sound, like the washtub bass, washboard, spoons, stovepipe and comb & tissue paper...
performer. - Alex HaleyAlex HaleyAlexander Murray Palmer Haley was an African-American writer. He is best known as the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family and the coauthor of The Autobiography of Malcolm X.-Early life:...
- Author, best known for Roots, Pulitzer Prize in 1976. Henning was his boyhood home. - Ramon FosterRamon FosterRamon Foster is an American football offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He is the brother of St. Louis Rams offensive lineman, Renardo Foster. He played college football at Tennessee where he played in a career total of 44 games and also earned All-SEC...
- Offensive Lineman for Pittsburgh Steelers.