Oakdale, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Oakdale is a town located along the Emory River
in Morgan County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 244 at the 2000 census
.
(later the Southern Railway) at nearby Emory Gap.
The stretch of the Cincinnati Southern from Oakdale to Somerset, Kentucky
, involves steep grades that were too difficult for normal late-19th and early-20th century steam-powered locomotives, so a railyard was set up at Oakdale where trains were modified to allow them to make the trek north. By the early 1900s, Oakdale had developed into an important railroad stop, with a large hotel (the Babahatchie Inn), depot, and a population of around 2,500. The advent of diesel locomotives, which could handle the steep grades without modifications, eliminated the need for the Oakdale railyard, and the town declined in the mid-20th century.
. State highways 299 and 328 intersect at the town's southern boundary, the latter connecting it with Harriman
to the south and U.S. Route 27
to the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it is water. The total area is 2.15% water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 244 people, 92 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density
was 268.2 people per square mile (103.5/km²). There were 103 housing units at an average density of 113.2 per square mile (43.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 92 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.3% 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 2.65 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $27,083. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,779. 11.6% of the population and 10.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Emory River
The Emory River is a stream draining a portion of Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau.-Hydrography:The Emory River rises on the slopes of Frozen Head and Bird Mountain, prominent peaks in that part of the Cumberland Plateau in Morgan County, Tennessee. Frozen Head is the focus of a Tennessee state park...
in Morgan 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 244 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
For much of the 19th century, Oakdale was known as "Honeycutt," after a pioneer family who settled in the area. In the 1880s, the Cincinnati Southern Railway, which connected Chattanooga and Cincinnati, was built through the area, and the town began to expand. This railroad intersected the vast system of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia RailroadEast Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad
The East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad was a rail transport system that operated in the southeastern United States during the late 19th century...
(later the Southern Railway) at nearby Emory Gap.
The stretch of the Cincinnati Southern from Oakdale to Somerset, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of...
, involves steep grades that were too difficult for normal late-19th and early-20th century steam-powered locomotives, so a railyard was set up at Oakdale where trains were modified to allow them to make the trek north. By the early 1900s, Oakdale had developed into an important railroad stop, with a large hotel (the Babahatchie Inn), depot, and a population of around 2,500. The advent of diesel locomotives, which could handle the steep grades without modifications, eliminated the need for the Oakdale railyard, and the town declined in the mid-20th century.
Geography
Oakdale is located at 35°59′6"N 84°33′25"W (35.984945, -84.557057). The town is situated along the Emory (between river miles 17 and 19) in a relatively hilly area atop the Cumberland PlateauCumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the...
. State highways 299 and 328 intersect at the town's southern boundary, the latter connecting it with Harriman
Harriman, Tennessee
Harriman is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, primarily in Roane County, with a small extension into Morgan County. It is the principal city of and is included in the Harriman Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Roane County and is a component of the Knoxville-Sevierville-La...
to the south and U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 27 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana...
to the north.
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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it is water. The total area is 2.15% water.
Demographics
Census
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 244 people, 92 households, and 64 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 268.2 people per square mile (103.5/km²). There were 103 housing units at an average density of 113.2 per square mile (43.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 92 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.3% 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 2.65 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $27,083. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $21,875 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 $16,779. 11.6% of the population and 10.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
External links
- Oakdale, Tennessee — site maintained by the Oakdale High School Alumni Association