Slayden, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Slayden is a town in Dickson County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there is 185 people, 79 households, and 54 families residing in the town. The population density
was 341.7 people per square mile (132.3/km²). There were 86 housing units at an average density of 158.9 per square mile (61.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.30% White, 0.54% African American, 1.62% Native American, and 0.54% from two or more races.
There were 79 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 110.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,071, and the median income for a family was $46,042. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,189. About 8.2% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 14.3% of those sixty five or over.
) which was built in the late 19th century largely to assist the movement of iron from the nearby works at Cumberland Furnace
to market. In the early 20th century Slayden was home to a department store
and was considered a major community of Dickson County. With the closure of the Mineral Branch and the Cumberland Furnace works, the area went into an economic decline. The local primary school was closed in 1960, merged with the larger one in nearby Vanleer
. At about this time mail ceased to be delivered from the post office. In the 1980 census, Slayden had only 69 inhabitants and was known for the next decade as Tennessee's smallest incorporated town. In the 1980s the former railroad depot was removed to Hickman County, Tennessee to become an attraction at a proposed amusement park
that never actually came into operation. The voting precinct in the area was abolished after the 2000 elections and split between those in Vanleer and Cumberland Furnace. In 2003 the town's future as an incorporated community seemed endangered when only six voters (out of 127 registered) participated in a municipal election and only two candidates qualified for the four unpaid positions on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. This was prevented when the vacancies were filled by persons who had received write-in votes; participation in the 2005 municipal elections was considerably higher.
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 178 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Slayden is located at 36°17′39"N 87°28′14"W (36.294208, -87.470514).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 0.5 square miles (1.3 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 is 185 people, 79 households, and 54 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 341.7 people per square mile (132.3/km²). There were 86 housing units at an average density of 158.9 per square mile (61.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.30% White, 0.54% African American, 1.62% Native American, and 0.54% from two or more races.
There were 79 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% 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, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 110.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,071, and the median income for a family was $46,042. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $23,125 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 $20,189. About 8.2% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 14.3% of those sixty five or over.
History
Slayden's growth was spurred by the existence of a railroad line (the "Mineral Branch" of the Louisville and Nashville RailroadLouisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
) which was built in the late 19th century largely to assist the movement of iron from the nearby works at Cumberland Furnace
Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee
Cumberland Furnace is an unincorporated community in northern Dickson County, Tennessee, United States, largely immediately west of State Route 48. It was the site of a large 19th century iron works, initiated by Nashville, Tennessee founder James Robertson and later operated by the "The Iron...
to market. In the early 20th century Slayden was home to a department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
and was considered a major community of Dickson County. With the closure of the Mineral Branch and the Cumberland Furnace works, the area went into an economic decline. The local primary school was closed in 1960, merged with the larger one in nearby Vanleer
Vanleer, Tennessee
Vanleer is a town in Dickson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 310 at the 2000 census. The town is named for Anthony Van Leer, onetime operator of the iron works in nearby Cumberland Furnace.-Geography:...
. At about this time mail ceased to be delivered from the post office. In the 1980 census, Slayden had only 69 inhabitants and was known for the next decade as Tennessee's smallest incorporated town. In the 1980s the former railroad depot was removed to Hickman County, Tennessee to become an attraction at a proposed amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
that never actually came into operation. The voting precinct in the area was abolished after the 2000 elections and split between those in Vanleer and Cumberland Furnace. In 2003 the town's future as an incorporated community seemed endangered when only six voters (out of 127 registered) participated in a municipal election and only two candidates qualified for the four unpaid positions on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. This was prevented when the vacancies were filled by persons who had received write-in votes; participation in the 2005 municipal elections was considerably higher.