Marion County, Tennessee
County in Tennessee, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,837.[2] Its county seat is Jasper.[3] Marion County is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area. Marion County is in the Central time zone, while Chattanooga proper is in the Eastern time zone.
Marion County, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
Marion County Courthouse in Jasper | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee | |
| Coordinates: 35°08′N 85°37′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1817 |
| Named after | Francis Marion[1] |
| Seat | Jasper |
| Largest town | Jasper |
| Area | |
• Total | 512 sq mi (1,330 km2) |
| • Land | 498 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 2.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,837 |
• Estimate (2025) | 29,804  |
| • Density | 57/sq mi (22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
History
Marion County was established in 1817. In 1779 Cherokee chief Dragging Canoe moved down the Tennessee River from Chickamauga Creek to Running Water creek, and he helped establish the town of Nickajack at the entrance of Nickajack Cave. In 1794, the town was attacked and burned by militiamen commanded by Colonel James Orr of Nashville, Tennessee. The town was rebuilt and the Chickamauga Indians continued to live here until 1838, when all of the remaining Indians were removed from Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia by the Trail of Tears.[4]
During the spring of 1861, early in the American Civil War, Robert Cravens of Chattanooga began mining saltpeter, the main ingredient of gunpowder, at Nickajack Cave. The operation was soon taken over by the Confederate Niter Bureau. At one point, Nickajack Cave was one of the main sources of saltpeter for the Confederate States of America. However, its operation was halted in late 1862. Nickajack Cave was visited by thousands of soldiers of both side troops, who travelled up and down the Tennessee River on steamboats.[4]
Another important mine during the Civil War was Monteagle Saltpeter Cave, located in Cave Cove, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Monteagle. During the war, it was officially referred to as Battle Creek Cave. A 1917 visitor reported that about 25 or 30 old hoppers still remained in the cave.[5]
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coal and iron mining industries had come to dominate Marion County's economy. Mines operated in Whitwell and Inman, while iron smelters were at South Pittsburg.[6]
Hales Bar Dam, built on the Tennessee River in Marion County between 1905 and 1913, was one of the first major dams constructed in the United States across a navigable stream. in the 1960s, the Tennessee Valley Authority replaced Hales Bar with Nickajack Dam, further downstream in the 1960s, though the Hales Bar powerhouse still stands as a boathouse.[6]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 512 square miles (1,330 km2), of which 498 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.8%) is water.[7] Marion is one of three Tennessee counties, along with Bledsoe and Sequatchie, located in the Sequatchie Valley, a long, narrow valley slicing through the southeastern Cumberland Plateau. The Sequatchie River, which drains the valley, empties into the Tennessee River just south of Jasper.
Nickajack Dam is located along the Tennessee River near Jasper, creating Nickajack Lake. The section of the river immediately downstream from the dam is part of Guntersville Lake. The Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant is located in the extreme southeastern part of the county.
Adjacent counties
- Grundy County (north)
- Sequatchie County (northeast)
- Hamilton County (east/EST Border)
- Dade County, Georgia (southeast/EST Border)
- Jackson County, Alabama (southwest)
- Franklin County (west)
State protected areas
- Chimneys State Natural Area
- Franklin State Forest (part)
- Hicks Gap State Natural Area
- Prentice Cooper State Forest
- Sequatchie Cave State Natural Area
- South Cumberland State Park (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3,888 | — | |
| 1830 | 5,508 | 41.7% | |
| 1840 | 6,070 | 10.2% | |
| 1850 | 6,314 | 4.0% | |
| 1860 | 6,190 | −2.0% | |
| 1870 | 6,841 | 10.5% | |
| 1880 | 10,910 | 59.5% | |
| 1890 | 15,411 | 41.3% | |
| 1900 | 17,281 | 12.1% | |
| 1910 | 18,820 | 8.9% | |
| 1920 | 17,402 | −7.5% | |
| 1930 | 17,549 | 0.8% | |
| 1940 | 19,140 | 9.1% | |
| 1950 | 20,520 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 21,036 | 2.5% | |
| 1970 | 20,577 | −2.2% | |
| 1980 | 24,416 | 18.7% | |
| 1990 | 24,860 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 27,776 | 11.7% | |
| 2010 | 28,237 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 28,837 | 2.1% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 29,804 | [8] | 3.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2014[2] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[13] | Pop 1990[14] | Pop 2000[15] | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 23,131 | 23,678 | 26,089 | 26,328 | 25,689 | 94.74% | 95.25% | 93.93% | 93.24% | 89.08% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,101 | 1,029 | 1,144 | 1,007 | 1,033 | 4.51% | 4.14% | 4.12% | 3.57% | 3.58% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 27 | 36 | 72 | 111 | 93 | 0.11% | 0.14% | 0.26% | 0.39% | 0.32% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 19 | 31 | 57 | 111 | 148 | 0.08% | 0.12% | 0.21% | 0.39% | 0.51% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [18] | x [19] | 3 | 1 | 2 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 53 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.18% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [20] | x [21] | 202 | 312 | 1,218 | x | x | 0.73% | 1.10% | 4.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 135 | 85 | 202 | 361 | 601 | 0.55% | 0.34% | 0.73% | 1.28% | 2.08% |
| Total | 24,416 | 24,860 | 27,776 | 28,237 | 28,837 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 28,837 people, 11,786 households, and 8,114 families residing in the county.[22]
The median age was 45.2 years, 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males age 18 and over.[22]
The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% White, 3.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.[23]
8.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 91.3% lived in rural areas.[24]
Of the 11,786 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 49.0% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]
There were 13,578 housing units, of which 13.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.5% were owner-occupied and 23.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.[22]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census[25], there were 28,237 people, 11,403 households, and 8,030 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 inhabitants per square mile (22/km2). There were 12,954 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10/km2).
The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White (non-Hispanic), 3.6% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.80% under the age of 18 and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. The female population was 50.9%.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,419, and the median income for a family was $36,351. Males had a median income of $30,236 versus $21,778 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,419. About 10.80% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The schools in Marion County are:
- Jasper Elementary School
- Jasper Middle School
- Marion County High School
- Monteagle Elementary School
- South Pittsburg Elementary
- South Pittsburg High School
- Whitwell Elementary School
- Whitwell Middle School
- Whitwell High School
- Richard Hardy Memorial School
Media
Marion County is served by numerous local, regional and national media outlets which reach approximately one million people in four states including: Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina.
Newspapers
- The Marion Tribune launched in August 2023 and is the only legal newspaper in Marion County. The website is mariontribune.com. The Marion Tribune is owned by parent company Lakeway Publishers, Inc. headquartered in Morristown TN.[26]
Radio
Marion County is part of the Chattanooga Arbitron radio market. The following radio stations are licensed to cities within Marion County:
- AM
- FM
Television
Marion County is part of the Chattanooga DMA. Cable TV companies in Marion County include Charter Communications and Trinity Cable
Transportation
Airport
Marion County Airport, also known as Brown Field, is a county-owned, public-use airport located four nautical miles (7 km) southeast of the central business district of Jasper.[27]
Roads
Parks and natural features
Nickajack Cave in Marion County, located 0.6 miles south of Shellmound Station on the west side of the Tennessee River, is one of the most historical caves in Tennessee.[28] It is currently part of a park run by the city of New Hope. A paved hiking trail leads to an observation deck at the entrance to the cave where visitors can watch the bats leave the cave at dusk.[29] The cave was used by tourists and as a show cave, but in 1968 the cave was flooded when Tennessee Valley Authority constructed Nickajack Dam 6 miles (9.7 km) downstream to replace the aging Hales Bar Dam.
Communities
Cities
Towns
Census-designated places
- Griffith Creek
- Sequatchie
- Whiteside (formerly Running Water)
Unincorporated communities
- Aetna
- Haletown
- Jasper Highlands
- Mineral Springs
- Suck Creek
Politics
Prior to 2004, Marion County was a Democratic-leaning swing county in presidential elections, backing the national winner in all but five elections from 1912 to 2004. Since then, it has become increasingly Republican similar to the rest of rural Tennessee, with Republican presidential candidates winning by increasing margins in each election from 2004 on. Donald Trump won the county in 2020 by a margin of nearly 51 points, the widest in the county's electoral history from 1912 on for a candidate of any party. However, Democrats remain active in local politics in Marion County. In the August 2026 county general election, Democrats won the offices of County Mayor, County Trustee, and County Clerk. [30]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 463 | 25.88% | 810 | 45.28% | 516 | 28.84% |
| 1916 | 1,432 | 54.22% | 1,155 | 43.73% | 54 | 2.04% |
| 1920 | 2,662 | 58.12% | 1,874 | 40.92% | 44 | 0.96% |
| 1924 | 1,074 | 48.55% | 1,036 | 46.84% | 102 | 4.61% |
| 1928 | 1,659 | 58.83% | 1,161 | 41.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,406 | 38.86% | 2,212 | 61.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,770 | 39.92% | 2,664 | 60.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 2,158 | 39.71% | 3,242 | 59.65% | 35 | 0.64% |
| 1944 | 1,761 | 38.85% | 2,666 | 58.81% | 106 | 2.34% |
| 1948 | 1,738 | 38.91% | 2,554 | 57.17% | 175 | 3.92% |
| 1952 | 2,227 | 42.91% | 2,938 | 56.61% | 25 | 0.48% |
| 1956 | 2,925 | 50.45% | 2,781 | 47.96% | 92 | 1.59% |
| 1960 | 2,657 | 45.30% | 3,124 | 53.27% | 84 | 1.43% |
| 1964 | 2,728 | 41.95% | 3,775 | 58.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,959 | 30.59% | 1,661 | 25.94% | 2,784 | 43.47% |
| 1972 | 3,711 | 63.56% | 1,929 | 33.04% | 199 | 3.41% |
| 1976 | 2,965 | 38.80% | 4,615 | 60.39% | 62 | 0.81% |
| 1980 | 3,902 | 45.10% | 4,623 | 53.44% | 126 | 1.46% |
| 1984 | 4,337 | 52.06% | 3,942 | 47.32% | 52 | 0.62% |
| 1988 | 4,407 | 51.14% | 4,175 | 48.45% | 36 | 0.42% |
| 1992 | 3,262 | 32.40% | 5,589 | 55.51% | 1,217 | 12.09% |
| 1996 | 3,166 | 34.45% | 5,194 | 56.51% | 831 | 9.04% |
| 2000 | 4,651 | 45.38% | 5,441 | 53.08% | 158 | 1.54% |
| 2004 | 5,862 | 51.01% | 5,548 | 48.28% | 82 | 0.71% |
| 2008 | 6,746 | 58.98% | 4,506 | 39.40% | 185 | 1.62% |
| 2012 | 6,272 | 60.26% | 3,953 | 37.98% | 184 | 1.77% |
| 2016 | 7,696 | 70.85% | 2,832 | 26.07% | 334 | 3.07% |
| 2020 | 9,911 | 74.77% | 3,177 | 23.97% | 168 | 1.27% |
| 2024 | 10,788 | 77.43% | 3,026 | 21.72% | 119 | 0.85% |
Notable people
- Eddie Brown, NFL player
- Jon Coffelt (b. May 16, 1963) Artist who was born in Dunlap, Tennessee, raised in Griffith Creek.
- Leslie Rogers Darr, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Tennessee
- Dragging Canoe, Cherokee leader, lived in the town of Running Water at the mouth of Running Water creek on the Tennessee River.
- Travis Randall McDonough, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Tennessee
- John T. Raulston, Judge who presided over the Scopes Trial in 1925.
- Sequoyah, Cherokee scholar, lived in the Marion County area.
- Peter Turney, Governor of Tennessee and Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, was born in Jasper.
- Eric Westmoreland, NFL player
- Jacob Saylors, Professional running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League and former member of the St. Louis Battlehawks and East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team
