Somerville, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Somerville is a town in Fayette County, Tennessee
, United States
. It is part of the Memphis metropolitan area
. The population was 3,094 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Fayette County.
. Somerville was incorporated in 1836.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 11.2 square miles (29 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.58%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,519 people, 1,006 households, and 618 families residing in the town. The population density
was 225.4 people per square mile (87.1/km²). There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 95.8 per square mile (37.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.94% White, 39.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.04% from other races
, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 1,006 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples
living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,225, and the median income for a family was $29,750. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $22,768 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,636. About 18.3% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
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 part of the Memphis metropolitan area
Memphis Metropolitan Area
The Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, TN-MS-AR , more commonly known as The Mid-South, is the 41st largest among similarly designated areas in the United States. The metropolitan area covers eight counties in three states – Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas...
. The population was 3,094 at the 2010 census. 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 Fayette County.
History
Somerville was named to honor Lieutenant Robert Somerville, who was killed in 1814 during the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in central Alabama while serving under General Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. Somerville was incorporated in 1836.
Geography
Somerville is located at 35°14′15"N 89°21′30"W (35.237623, -89.358400).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 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 11.2 square miles (29 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.58%) is water.
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 2,519 people, 1,006 households, and 618 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 225.4 people per square mile (87.1/km²). There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 95.8 per square mile (37.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.94% White, 39.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.04% 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 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 1,006 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% 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, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,225, and the median income for a family was $29,750. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $22,768 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 $15,636. About 18.3% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Elizabeth BoldenElizabeth BoldenElizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden was an American supercentenarian woman who, at the time of her death at age 116 years and 118 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the then world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining documented person born in 1890. Bolden was the seventh...
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
, world's oldest living person in 2006, died in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. - Herb Parsons - 1908-1959 - Considered by many to be the greatest exhibition shooter in history.
- Ingram StainbackIngram StainbackIngram Macklin Stainback was the ninth Territorial Governor of Hawaii and served from 1942 to 1951.Born in 1883 in Somerville, Tennessee, he received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago.Stainback, a well-connected Democrat, came to...
- Territorial governor of Hawaii born in Somerville. - W. Herbert BrewsterW. Herbert BrewsterWilliam Herbert Brewster was an influential African American Baptist minister, composer, dramatist, singer, poet and community leader....
(1897–1987) was an influential African American Baptist minister, composer, dramatist, singer, poet and community leader. Brewster is considered to be one of the fathers of Gospel MusicGospel musicGospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
.