Carter County
County
Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton
Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton
Official seal of Carter County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Carter County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°18′N 82°07′W / 36.3°N 82.12°W / 36.3; -82.12
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1796
Named forLandon Carter[1]
SeatElizabethton
Largest cityElizabethton
Area
 • Total348 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Land341 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Water6.4 sq mi (17 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total56,356 Decrease
 • Density168/sq mi (65/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.cartercountytn.gov

Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 56,356.[2] Its county seat is Elizabethton.[3] The county is named in honor of Landon Carter (1760-1800), an early settler active in the "Lost State of Franklin" 1784-1788 secession from the State of North Carolina. Carter County is part of the Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area, located in northeastern Tennessee.

History

A map of the Province of Carolina

The area was originally claimed by Britain as part of the Clarendon settlements of the Province of Carolina, although actually populated at the time by the Cherokee.

The area was part of (though seldom actually administered by) the following jurisdictions in its early history:

Watauga Association

The county is named for General Landon Carter,[4] the son of John Carter of Virginia, who was "chairman of the court" of the first majority-rule system of American democracy, known as the Watauga Association of 1772. The association was the first permanent settlement established outside the original thirteen American colonies and included the area that is today's Carter County. In 1775, the Association was absorbed into North Carolina by petition, becoming known thereafter as the Washington District.

As Wayne County in the State of Franklin

J. G. M. Ramsey records within his 1853 Annals of Tennessee that the State of Franklin established Wayne County from sections of both Washington County and a part of Wilkes County "lying west of the extreme heights of the Apalachian or Alleghany Mountains, into a separate and distinct county by the name of Wayne... This new county covered the same territory now embraced in the limits of Carter and Johnson counties."[5]

The county seat, Elizabethton, is named for Carter's wife, Elizabeth MacLin Carter.[6]

Civil War

Like most East Tennessee counties, Carter Countians opposed secession on the eve of the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Carter Countians rejected secession by a vote of 1,343 to 86.[7] A railroad bridge at Carter's Depot (modern Watauga) was among those targeted by the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy in November 1861.[8]

Early railroad

Carter County was served by the narrow gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (The ET&WNC, nicknamed "Tweetsie") until the line ceased operations in 1950.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 348 square miles (900 km2), of which 341 square miles (880 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km2) (1.8%) is water.[9]

Carter County is situated entirely within the Blue Ridge Mountains, specifically the Unaka Range and the Iron Mountains.[10] Roan Mountain, which at 6,285 feet (1,916 m) is the highest point in Tennessee outside the Great Smoky Mountains, straddles the county's eastern border with North Carolina. The county's boundary with Sullivan County is defined as the ridgeline of Holston Mountain.

Lakes

Rivers

Waterfalls

The main waterfall at Blue Hole Falls, located northeast of Elizabethton on Holston Mountain.
  • CTF015 Big Laurel Br. Falls 50'
    lake
  • CTF001 Blue Hole Falls (4) 45'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF018 Hardcore Cascades 12'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF002 Coon Den Falls 50'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF003 Dennis Cove Falls 25'
    wilderness
  • CTF005 Firescald Branch Falls
    wilderness
  • CTF016 Five Eights
    lake
  • CTF006 Jones Falls 100'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF007 Laurel Falls 55'
    wilderness
  • CTF010 Laurel Falls (m) 25'
    wilderness
  • CTF011 Laurel Falls (u) 25'
    wilderness
  • CTF014 Mountaineer Falls 20'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF012 North Fork Stony Creek Falls 30'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF008 Sally Cove Creek Falls 25'
  • CTF009 Twisting Falls 30'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF013 Splash Dam Falls 25'
    Cherokee National Forest
  • CTF017 Hays Branch Falls 18'
    Cherokee National Forest

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

State protected areas

Major highways

Law enforcement

Carter County is served by the Carter County Sheriff's Office, located in Elizabethton. During the Local General Election on August 4, 2022, Mike Fraley overcame the Independent candidate to become Sheriff of Carter County. Sheriff Fraley took over Official Duties as Sheriff on September 1.[12] Sheriff Fraley's term will run September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2026. Its duties include patrol of the county and all jail and prisoner matters.[13]

The Elizabethton Police Department services the City of Elizabethton inside Carter County. As of 2018, the Chief of Police is Jason Shaw.[14]

Climate

Climate data for Carter County, Tennessee (Bristol-Johnson City)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 43.7
(6.5)		 48.0
(8.9)		 58.9
(14.9)		 67.4
(19.7)		 75.2
(24.0)		 82.2
(27.9)		 84.6
(29.2)		 84.1
(28.9)		 79.1
(26.2)		 69.1
(20.6)		 58.2
(14.6)		 48.1
(8.9)		 66.6
(19.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 34.0
(1.1)		 37.4
(3.0)		 47.2
(8.4)		 55.2
(12.9)		 63.4
(17.4)		 71.1
(21.7)		 74.4
(23.6)		 73.6
(23.1)		 67.9
(19.9)		 56.7
(13.7)		 47.0
(8.3)		 38.2
(3.4)		 55.5
(13.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24.3
(−4.3)		 26.8
(−2.9)		 35.4
(1.9)		 43.0
(6.1)		 51.6
(10.9)		 59.9
(15.5)		 64.1
(17.8)		 63.1
(17.3)		 56.6
(13.7)		 44.2
(6.8)		 35.9
(2.2)		 28.2
(−2.1)		 44.4
(6.9)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 3.2
(81)		 3.4
(86)		 3.7
(94)		 3.3
(84)		 3.8
(97)		 3.5
(89)		 4.3
(110)		 3.2
(81)		 3.3
(84)		 2.6
(66)		 2.9
(74)		 3.4
(86)		 40.7
(1,030)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.2
(13)		 4.2
(11)		 2.3
(5.8)		 0.4
(1.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.9
(2.3)		 2.6
(6.6)		 15.6
(40)
Average relative humidity (%) 59.0 71.5 69.0 67.0 69.5 73.0 75.0 76.5 76.5 74.0 68.5 69.5 74.0
Source: Climate-zone.com[15]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18004,813—
18104,190−12.9%
18204,83515.4%
18306,41432.7%
18405,372−16.2%
18506,29617.2%
18607,12413.2%
18707,90911.0%
188010,01926.7%
189013,38933.6%
190016,68824.6%
191019,83818.9%
192021,4888.3%
193029,22336.0%
194035,12720.2%
195042,43220.8%
196041,578−2.0%
197042,5752.4%
198050,20517.9%
199051,5052.6%
200056,74210.2%
201057,4241.2%
202056,356−1.9%
2022 (est.)56,4100.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2014[20]
Age pyramid Carter County[21]

2020 census

Carter County racial composition[22]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 51,790 91.9%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 702 1.25%
Native American 153 0.27%
Asian 231 0.41%
Pacific Islander 7 0.01%
Other/Mixed 2,292 4.07%
Hispanic or Latino 1,181 2.1%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 56,356 people, 23,784 households, and 15,256 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[23] of 2000, there were 56,742 people, 23,486 households, and 16,346 families residing in the county.[24] The population density was 166 people per square mile (64 people/km2). There were 25,920 housing units at an average density of 76 units per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.49% White, 1.00% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,486 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,371, and the median income for a family was $33,825. Males had a median income of $26,394 versus $19,687 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,678. About 12.80% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.00% of those under age 18 and 16.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

  • Central Elementary School
  • Cloudland Elementary School
  • Cloudland High School
  • East Side Elementary School (city)
  • Elizabethton High School (city)
  • Hampton Elementary School
  • Hampton High School
  • Happy Valley Elementary School
  • Happy Valley Middle School
  • Happy Valley High School
  • Harold McCormick Elementary School (city)
  • Hunter Elementary School
  • Keenburg Elementary School
  • Little Milligan Elementary School
  • T.A. Dugger Junior High School (city)
  • Unaka Elementary School
  • Unaka High School
  • Valley Forge Elementary
  • West Side Elementary School (city)

Colleges

Communities

Elk Avenue in Elizabethton
U.S. 19E in Roan Mountain

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

Carter County is a Republican stronghold, and, like most of East Tennessee, has voted consistently Republican since the Civil War. Carter County is even more heavily Republican than many other counties in East Tennessee and has not been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since before the Civil War. Since then, only one Democrat, southerner Jimmy Carter in 1976 (who also won several traditionally Republican counties in East Tennessee), has received over 40% of the popular vote.

Most recent Carter County Mayor Rusty Barnett died on September 21, 2020.[25]

United States presidential election results for Carter County, Tennessee[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 19,584 79.96% 4,529 18.49% 379 1.55%
2016 16,898 80.15% 3,453 16.38% 733 3.48%
2012 15,503 75.20% 4,789 23.23% 325 1.58%
2008 15,852 72.82% 5,587 25.66% 330 1.52%
2004 15,768 70.67% 6,395 28.66% 150 0.67%
2000 12,111 63.40% 6,724 35.20% 267 1.40%
1996 10,540 57.65% 6,218 34.01% 1,524 8.34%
1992 10,712 55.82% 6,502 33.88% 1,976 10.30%
1988 12,036 71.74% 4,634 27.62% 108 0.64%
1984 13,153 73.35% 4,642 25.89% 138 0.77%
1980 11,648 64.44% 6,006 33.22% 423 2.34%
1976 8,934 54.11% 7,443 45.08% 133 0.81%
1972 11,102 82.15% 2,191 16.21% 221 1.64%
1968 9,467 64.68% 2,160 14.76% 3,009 20.56%
1964 8,472 61.40% 5,326 38.60% 0 0.00%
1960 12,214 77.31% 3,412 21.60% 172 1.09%
1956 11,218 78.80% 2,933 20.60% 85 0.60%
1952 9,019 76.15% 2,707 22.86% 118 1.00%
1948 4,943 70.94% 1,809 25.96% 216 3.10%
1944 4,873 74.33% 1,662 25.35% 21 0.32%
1940 4,238 65.40% 2,171 33.50% 71 1.10%
1936 4,858 72.27% 1,837 27.33% 27 0.40%
1932 5,055 76.26% 1,574 23.74% 0 0.00%
1928 4,934 90.40% 512 9.38% 12 0.22%
1924 3,657 86.33% 551 13.01% 28 0.66%
1920 6,059 89.99% 674 10.01% 0 0.00%
1916 2,961 85.60% 498 14.40% 0 0.00%
1912 1,243 34.08% 478 13.11% 1,926 52.81%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Van West, Carroll. "Carter County". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Carter County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Geological Survey Bulletin, no. 258 (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 70. OCLC 1156805.
  5. ↑ Ramsey, J. G. M. (1853). The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century. Charleston: John Russell. p. 295. OCLC 11827530.
  6. ↑ "History of Elizabethton". Elizabethton.org. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ Oliver Perry Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.
  8. ↑ David Madden, "Unionist Resistance to Confederate Occupation: The Bridge Burners of East Tennessee," East Tennessee Historical Society Publications, Vols. 52-53 (1980-1981), pp. 22-40.
  9. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, et al., "Ambient Air Monitoring Plan," Environmental Protection Agency website, July 1, 2010. Accessed: March 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ Aerial image from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps
  12. ↑ "Carter County's next sheriff will be Mike Fraley". WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. August 5, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Carter County TN Sheriff's Office – Service Before Self * Integrity * Courage * Leadership". Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  14. ↑ "A Message from the Chief of Police". Elizabethton.org. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Bristol - Johnson City". Climate-zone.com. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  20. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  21. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  22. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. ↑ Brown, Emily; DeBarros, Anthony; DeRamus, Kristin; et al. (2011). "Census 2010: Tennessee". USA Today. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  25. ↑ Lee, Murray (September 21, 2020). "Carter County Mayor Rusty Barnett passes away Monday". WJHL. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  26. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
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