Pickett County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pickett County
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Pickett County Courthouse in Byrdstown
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Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
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 Tennessee's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Named for | Howard L. Pickett, state legislator |
| Seat | Byrdstown |
| Largest town | Byrdstown |
| Area | |
| • Total | 174 sq mi (450 km2) |
| • Land | 163 sq mi (420 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 6.6%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,001  |
| • Density | 31/sq mi (12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
Pickett County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,001, making it the least populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Byrdstown. The city of Byrdstown and the Kentucky town of Albany, 11 miles (18 km) to the northeast, are positioned between two Army Corps of Engineers lakes: Dale Hollow Lake, mainly in Tennessee, and Lake Cumberland, in Kentucky. The area is known as "Twin Lakes" and Byrdstown is noted as "The Gateway To Dale Hollow Lake". Every year thousands of people vacation at the many resorts situated along the lakes.
Contents
History
Pickett County was created in 1879 from sections of Overton and Fentress counties. It was named for Howard L. Pickett, a member of the state legislature who had been instrumental in the county's formation. Nobel Peace Prize winner Cordell Hull was born in the county. He won the prize for his role in establishing the United Nations.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 174 square miles (450 km2), of which 163 square miles (420 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (6.6%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Tennessee by land area and third-smallest by total area. The eastern part of the county, much of which is part of Pickett State Forest, lies atop the Cumberland Plateau, while the western, more populated half is located on the Highland Rim. The Wolf River and the Obey River, the lower parts of which are part of Dale Hollow Lake, pass through the county. The rivers converge just west of the county's border with Clay County.
Streams in the far eastern section of the county are part of the watershed of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.
Adjacent counties
- Wayne County, Kentucky (northeast)
- Scott County (east)
- Fentress County (southeast)
- Overton County (southwest)
- Clay County (west)
- Clinton County, Kentucky (north)
National protected area
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (very small part)
State protected areas
- Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park
- Honey Creek State Natural Area
- Pickett State Forest (part)
- Pickett CCC Memorial State Park
- Twin Arches State Natural Area (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 4,736 | — | |
| 1900 | 5,366 | 13.3% | |
| 1910 | 5,087 | −5.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,205 | 2.3% | |
| 1930 | 5,615 | 7.9% | |
| 1940 | 6,213 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,093 | −18.0% | |
| 1960 | 4,431 | −13.0% | |
| 1970 | 3,774 | −14.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,358 | 15.5% | |
| 1990 | 4,548 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,945 | 8.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,077 | 2.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,001 | −1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,811 | 96.2% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 8 | 0.16% |
| Native American | 8 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 15 | 0.3% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 75 | 1.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 83 | 1.66% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,001 people, 2,281 households, and 1,600 families residing in the county.
Communities
Town
- Byrdstown (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
Ghost town
Education
- Pickett County High School - High school
- Pickett County K-8 - Elementary school/Junior high school
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pickett para niños
