Jamestown, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Jamestown is a city in Fentress County, Tennessee
, United States
. It is the county seat
of Fentress County. The city population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is about 2,300.
village, which probably made use of the many natural rock shelters in the area. Before the founding of Jamestown, the area was known as "Sand Springs" for the many bubbling springs located within the city. The last remaining spring is located within the Mark Twain City Park just northeast of the county courthouse. This spring provided water to John M. Clemens, father of Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain), and his family before they moved to Missouri. Mr. Clemens served as the first circuit court clerk. He also drew plans for the first courthouse and jail.
World War I
hero Sgt. Alvin C. York
was born, raised and died in Fentress County. He built the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, a high school in Jamestown. It is one of four state-funded schools in Tennessee.
and Tennessee Highway 52, in central Fentress County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,839 people, 881 households, and 446 families residing in the city. The population density
was 634.4 people per square mile (244.8/km²). There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 347.4 per square mile (134.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.42% White, 0.71% African American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 881 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.3% were non-families. 47.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 77.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $12,136, and the median income for a family was $18,714. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $16,094 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,135. About 28.9% of families and 35.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.8% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.
at 92.5. It also has radio stations WDEB-FM
at 103.9 and WDEB-AM at 1500.
The local newspaper serving Jamestown is the Fentress Courier, published each Wednesday in print and on the internet.
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...
. It is the county seat
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 Fentress County. The city population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is about 2,300.
History
The City of Jamestown was established in 1828, five years after the County of Fentress was established in 1823. Jamestown was incorporated as a city in 1837. Both Fentress County and the City of Jamestown are named for prominent local politician James Fentress (1763–1843), who made the appeal for the new county to be carved out of Overton and Morgan Counties. Jamestown was built upon the site of a semi-permanent CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
village, which probably made use of the many natural rock shelters in the area. Before the founding of Jamestown, the area was known as "Sand Springs" for the many bubbling springs located within the city. The last remaining spring is located within the Mark Twain City Park just northeast of the county courthouse. This spring provided water to John M. Clemens, father of Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain), and his family before they moved to Missouri. Mr. Clemens served as the first circuit court clerk. He also drew plans for the first courthouse and jail.
World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
hero Sgt. Alvin C. York
Alvin York
Alvin Cullum York was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others...
was born, raised and died in Fentress County. He built the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, a high school in Jamestown. It is one of four state-funded schools in Tennessee.
Geography
Jamestown is located at 36°25′45"N 84°55′57"W (36.429082, -84.932414). Jamestown is situated at the intersection of U.S. 127U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
and Tennessee Highway 52, in central Fentress County.
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 2.9 square miles (7.5 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 1,839 people, 881 households, and 446 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 634.4 people per square mile (244.8/km²). There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 347.4 per square mile (134.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.42% White, 0.71% African American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 881 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% 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, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.3% were non-families. 47.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 77.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $12,136, and the median income for a family was $18,714. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $16,094 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 $11,135. About 28.9% of families and 35.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.8% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.
Media
Jamestown has a low power FM radio station WSAB-LPWSAB-LP
WSAB-LP is a radio station licensed to Jamestown, Tennessee, USA. The station is currently owned by Jamestown Inspirational Media, Inc.....
at 92.5. It also has radio stations WDEB-FM
WDEB-FM
WDEB-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Jamestown, Tennessee, USA, the station is currently owned by Baz Broadcasting, Inc. and features programing from Citadel Media...
at 103.9 and WDEB-AM at 1500.
The local newspaper serving Jamestown is the Fentress Courier, published each Wednesday in print and on the internet.