Spencer, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Spencer is a town in Van Buren County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 1,713 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Van Buren County.
, just above the Caney Fork valley. The river forms Van Buren's boundary with White County
several miles north of Spencer.
Spencer is topographically isolated by the Cumberland Plateau's escarpment to the north and west and by the Cane Creek Gorge to the south and east. Cane Creek, along with its tributary, Dry Fork, slices a narrow valley as it spills down northward toward its confluence with the Caney Fork, effectively dividing the Spencer area from the rest of the plateau. Cane Creek's upper watershed, known for its scenic waterfalls and geological formations, comprises the bulk of Fall Creek Falls State Park
.
Spencer is centered just west of the junction of State Route 30, which connects Spencer with the Sequatchie Valley to the east and McMinnville
to the west, and State Route 111, which connects Spencer with the central Highland Rim
area to the north. Spencer is approximately 30 miles south of Cookeville
and 25 miles west of Pikeville
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,713 people, 670 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density
was 250.9 people per square mile (96.8/km²). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 106.2 per square mile (41.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.01% White, 0.23% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.
There were 670 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,583, and the median income for a family was $32,813. Males had a median income of $25,329 versus $20,735 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,529. About 19.5% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 27.5% of those age 65 or over.
who passed through the Van Buren County area in the mid-18th century. The town was established in 1850 and incorporated in 1909.
Burritt College was located in Spencer from 1848 until its closure in 1939. In July 1946, James Monroe Smith
, scandal-plagued former president of Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
, Louisiana
, accepted the position as head of academic studies at Burritt Preparatory School for Boys, a down-graded version of Burritt College.
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 1,713 at the 2000 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 Van Buren County.
Geography
Spencer is located at 35°44′37"N 85°27′30"W (35.743740, -85.458408). The town is situated at the western edge of 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...
, just above the Caney Fork valley. The river forms Van Buren's boundary with White County
White County, Tennessee
White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 23,102. Its county seat is Sparta.-History:...
several miles north of Spencer.
Spencer is topographically isolated by the Cumberland Plateau's escarpment to the north and west and by the Cane Creek Gorge to the south and east. Cane Creek, along with its tributary, Dry Fork, slices a narrow valley as it spills down northward toward its confluence with the Caney Fork, effectively dividing the Spencer area from the rest of the plateau. Cane Creek's upper watershed, known for its scenic waterfalls and geological formations, comprises the bulk of Fall Creek Falls State Park
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park is a state park in Middle Tennessee, located between Pikeville and Spencer. The park spans the boundary between Van Buren and Bledsoe counties....
.
Spencer is centered just west of the junction of State Route 30, which connects Spencer with the Sequatchie Valley to the east and McMinnville
McMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,605 at the 2010 census...
to the west, and State Route 111, which connects Spencer with the central Highland Rim
Highland Rim
The Highland Rim is a geographic term for the area in Tennessee surrounding the Central Basin. Nashville is largely surrounded by higher terrain in all directions....
area to the north. Spencer is approximately 30 miles south of Cookeville
Cookeville, Tennessee
Cookeville is a city in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 23,923 at the 2000 census. of Cookeville's population was 30,435, and the combined total of those living in Cookeville's in 2010 was 65,014. It is the county seat of Putnam County and home to Tennessee...
and 25 miles west of Pikeville
Pikeville, Tennessee
Pikeville is a city in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,781 at the 2000 census. It is also the county seat of Bledsoe County.-Geography:...
.
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 6.8 square miles (17.6 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 1,713 people, 670 households, and 471 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 250.9 people per square mile (96.8/km²). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 106.2 per square mile (41.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.01% White, 0.23% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.
There were 670 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,583, and the median income for a family was $32,813. Males had a median income of $25,329 versus $20,735 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 $13,529. About 19.5% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 27.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
Spencer is named after Thomas Sharp Spencer (d. 1794), a long hunterLonghunter
A Longhunter was an 18th-century explorer and hunter who made expeditions into the American frontier wilderness for as much as six months at a time...
who passed through the Van Buren County area in the mid-18th century. The town was established in 1850 and incorporated in 1909.
Burritt College was located in Spencer from 1848 until its closure in 1939. In July 1946, James Monroe Smith
James Monroe Smith
James Monroe Smith, Sr. , was the president of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the 1930s...
, scandal-plagued former president of Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, accepted the position as head of academic studies at Burritt Preparatory School for Boys, a down-graded version of Burritt College.