Lauderdale County, Tennessee

Battle of Fort Pillow

In 1861, the Confederate States Army built extensive defensive fortifications in Lauderdale County along the Mississippi River and named the site for General Gideon J. Pillow. Because of its strategic location, the fort was taken over by the Union Army in 1864, which had occupied the state since 1862.

In 1864, Confederates attacked and overran the fort's Union defenders, who were about evenly split between white and black soldiers. They were reported to have refused to surrender, but historians have disputed this account. The Confederates gave the soldiers no quarter, and killed black soldiers in twice the proportion of white ones. After the Union Army established the United States Colored Troops (USCT), made up of numerous recruits who were escaped slaves, Southern military officials vowed to kill them rather than take them prisoner.^[4] People in the North considered this event to be a massacre, and blacks in the Union Army used the cry, "Remember Fort Pillow!" to rally during the remainder of the war.

Fort Pillow State Park has a museum to interpret the battle and also has reconstructed fortifications on the original site of the fort.

Adjacent counties

• Dyer County (north)
• Crockett County (east)
• Haywood County (southeast)
• Tipton County (south)
• Mississippi County, Arkansas (west)

National protected areas

• Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge
• Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State protected areas

• Cold Creek Wildlife Management Area
• Fort Pillow State Park
• Alex Haley House and Museum (state historic site)
• Sunk Lake State Natural Area
• John Tully State Forest
• John Tully Wildlife Management Area

Major roads

• Future Interstate 69
• U.S. Highway 51
• Tennessee State Route 19 (Tina Turner Highway)
• Tennessee State Route 87
• Tennessee State Route 88
• Tennessee State Route 180
• Tennessee State Route 181
• Tennessee State Route 371

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 25,143 people, 9,583 households, and 6,753 families residing in the county. The median age was 40.0 years, with 21.9% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.9% 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.2 males.^[14]

Of the 9,583 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 38.5% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[14]

There were 10,653 housing units, of which 10.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.1% were owner-occupied and 38.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.^[14]

27.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 72.5% lived in rural areas.^[15]

2000 census

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 27,101 people, 9,567 households, and 6,811 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22 people/km²). There were 10,563 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.82% White, 34.08% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,567 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,751, and the median income for a family was $36,841. Males had a median income of $28,325 versus $21,238 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,682. About 16.20% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 26.50% of those age 65 or over.

Sleepy John Estes

Sleepy John Estes was a U.S. blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, born in Ripley, Tennessee.^[17] He died on June 5, 1977, in his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee.^[18][19][20] Sleepy John is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County.^[20]

Veterans' Museum in Halls

The Veterans' Museum on the grounds of the former Dyersburg Army Air Base in Halls is dedicated to the preservation and documentation of materials related to military activities from World War I to the present day wars and conflicts, as well as documenting the history of the air base itself.

City

• Ripley (county seat)

Town

• Gates
• Halls
• Henning

Unincorporated communities