Hohenwald, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Hohenwald is a city in and the county seat
of Lewis County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 3,754 at the 2000 census
. The name "Hohenwald" is a German word that means "High Forest". The town was founded in 1878 and later merged with a town named "New Switzerland" to the south. New Switzerland was founded in 1894 by Swiss immigrants in conjunction with the N.C.&St.L. Railroad.
, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
, died and was buried seven miles east of the town at Grinder's Stand
in 1809. Rod Brasfield
, an old Grand Ole Opry
comedy star, made his home in Hohenwald and referred to it in his routines. Professional ballpayer Deason "Decon" Loveless came from Hohenwald. David Sisco, who in 1974 placed ninth in points in the Winston Cup Series, is a native of Hohenwald, as is celebrated author William Gay
, whose books include The Long Home, Provinces of Night, I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down, and Twilight.
The third largest animal trophy mount collection in North America is located at the Lewis County Museum of Local and Natural History in downtown Hohenwald. Hohenwald is also the home of the The Elephant Sanctuary
, the largest natural-habitat sanctuary
for elephant
s in the United States. Hohenwald is one of only a few Mid-American towns that have met the Transition Towns
criteria. The Buffalo Valley addiction extended care community is located there providing treatment and long-term housing for recovering persons.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.3 square kilometres (4.4 sq mi), of which all is dry land.
of 2000, there were 3,754 people, 1,534 households, and 989 families residing in the city. The population density
was 861.4 people per square mile (332.4/km²). There were 1,708 housing units at an average density of 391.9 per square mile (151.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.59% White, 2.08% Black, 0.11% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.32% from other races
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.
There were 1,534 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,676, and the median income for a family was $37,609. Males had a median income of $25,863 versus $23,056 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,665. About 11.1% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lewis County, Tennessee
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 3,754 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...
. The name "Hohenwald" is a German word that means "High Forest". The town was founded in 1878 and later merged with a town named "New Switzerland" to the south. New Switzerland was founded in 1894 by Swiss immigrants in conjunction with the N.C.&St.L. Railroad.
Notability
Hohenwald is notable for several things. Meriwether LewisMeriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
, died and was buried seven miles east of the town at Grinder's Stand
Grinder's Stand
Grinder's Stand was a stand, or inn, located on the historic Natchez Trace. A replica can be visited today at the Meriwether Lewis Park, located on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Lewis County, Tennessee, south of Nashville, southwest of Columbia, and east of Hohenwald, Tennessee.The inn is known as...
in 1809. Rod Brasfield
Rod Brasfield
Rodney Leon Brasfield was an American comedian who was prominently featured on the Grand Ole Opry from 1947 until his death in 1958. In 1987, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
, an old Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
comedy star, made his home in Hohenwald and referred to it in his routines. Professional ballpayer Deason "Decon" Loveless came from Hohenwald. David Sisco, who in 1974 placed ninth in points in the Winston Cup Series, is a native of Hohenwald, as is celebrated author William Gay
William Gay (author)
William Gay is an American writer of novels and short stories.-Life and career:Gay was born in Hohenwald, Tennessee, which he still calls home. After high school, Gay joined the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam War...
, whose books include The Long Home, Provinces of Night, I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down, and Twilight.
The third largest animal trophy mount collection in North America is located at the Lewis County Museum of Local and Natural History in downtown Hohenwald. Hohenwald is also the home of the The Elephant Sanctuary
Elephant Sanctuary, Hohenwald
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, founded in 1995, is a non-profit organization licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency . As a member accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries , the sanctuary follows guidelines stipulated by TAOS,...
, the largest natural-habitat sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
for elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s in the United States. Hohenwald is one of only a few Mid-American towns that have met the Transition Towns
Transition Towns
Transition Towns is a grassroots network of communities that are working to build resilience in response to peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability...
criteria. The Buffalo Valley addiction extended care community is located there providing treatment and long-term housing for recovering persons.
Geography
Hohenwald is located at 35°32′52"N 87°33′7"W (35.5479, -87.5520).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 city has a total area of 11.3 square kilometres (4.4 sq mi), of which all is dry 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 3,754 people, 1,534 households, and 989 families residing in the city. 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 861.4 people per square mile (332.4/km²). There were 1,708 housing units at an average density of 391.9 per square mile (151.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.59% White, 2.08% Black, 0.11% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.32% 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 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.
There were 1,534 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,676, and the median income for a family was $37,609. Males had a median income of $25,863 versus $23,056 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 city was $16,665. About 11.1% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Hohenwald, Tennessee is at coordinates 35°32′50"N 87°33′5"W.
- www.buffalovalley.org
- Meriwether Lewis Park