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Robertson County, Tennessee

Coordinates: 36°32′N 86°52′W / 36.53°N 86.87°W / 36.53; -86.87
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Robertson County
County
Robertson County courthouse in Springfield
Robertson County courthouse in Springfield
Official seal of Robertson County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Robertson 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°32′N 86°52′W / 36.53°N 86.87°W / 36.53; -86.87
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedApril 9, 1796; 228 years ago (1796-04-09)
Named forJames Robertson[1]
SeatSpringfield
Largest citySpringfield
Government
 • MayorBilly Vogle
Area
 • Total476 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Land476 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.04%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total72,803
 • Estimate 
(2023)
76,776 Increase
 • Density150/sq mi (59/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websiterobertsoncountytn.gov

Robertson County is a county located on the central northern border of Tennessee in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 72,803 people. Its county seat is Springfield.[2] The county was named for James Robertson, an explorer, founder of Nashville, and a state senator, who was often called the "Father of Middle Tennessee." Robertson County is a component of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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This was part of the Miro District (also spelled Mero), named after the Spanish Governor Esteban Rodríguez Miró of what was then Louisiana on the west side of the Mississippi River. Miró had served with Spanish troops that assisted the Americans during their war for independence. James Robertson, the explorer for whom this county was named, was trying to create an alliance with Miró that would allow free movement on the Mississippi River (which Spain controlled) to settlers on the Cumberland frontier. Before statehood, this territory was known as Tennessee County.

It was organized as Robertson County in 1796, at the same time as Montgomery County, which had also been part of the Miro district. The county seat, Springfield, Tennessee, was laid out in 1798. Although initially, most settlers did not hold slaves, by the 1820s planters began to cultivate tobacco, a commodity crop that was labor-intensive and depended on enslaved African Americans. The planters bought slaves to work their plantations, as well as to care for the livestock they bred - thoroughbred horses and cattle.

By the time of the Civil War, African Americans comprised about one-quarter of the area's population, typical for Middle Tennessee, where tobacco and hemp were commodity crops. During the Civil War, Tennessee was occupied by the Union from 1862, which led to a breakdown in social organization in Middle Tennessee.[3]

By 1910 the county's population was 25,466, including 6,492 black citizens, who continued to make up one-quarter of the total. Most of the residents were still involved in farm work, and tobacco was the primary commodity crop, but agricultural mechanization was reducing the need for laborers. White conservative Democrats had tried to restrict black voting; other southern states had excluded blacks from the political process. Many African Americans left rural Robertson County and other parts of Tennessee in the Great Migration to northern and midwestern cities for employment and social freedom. Combined with the later in-migration of whites to the county, by the early 21st century, African Americans comprised less than 10 percent of the county population. They live chiefly in its larger towns.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 476 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 476 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.04%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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State protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18004,280—
18107,27069.9%
18209,93836.7%
183013,37234.6%
184013,8013.2%
185016,14517.0%
186015,265−5.5%
187016,1665.9%
188018,86116.7%
189020,0786.5%
190025,02924.7%
191025,4661.7%
192025,6210.6%
193028,19110.0%
194029,0463.0%
195027,024−7.0%
196027,3351.2%
197029,1026.5%
198037,02127.2%
199041,49412.1%
200054,43331.2%
201066,23821.7%
202072,8039.9%
2023 (est.)76,776[5]5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[10]
Age pyramid Robertson County[11]

2020 census

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Robertson County racial composition[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 57,049 78.36%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 5,091 6.99%
Native American 139 0.19%
Asian 447 0.61%
Pacific Islander 21 0.03%
Other/Mixed 3,178 4.37%
Hispanic or Latino 6,878 9.45%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 72,803 people, 26,577 households, and 20,378 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 54,433 people, 19,906 households, and 15,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 114 people per square mile (44 people/km2). There were 20,995 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.13% White, 8.62% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2005 the racial makeup of the county was 85.4% non-Hispanic whites, 8.3% African Americans, and 5.3% Latinos.

There were 19,906 households, out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 18.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.06. ⁹ In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,174, and the median income for a family was $49,412. Males had a median income of $34,895 versus $24,086 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,054. About 6.40% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those aged 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Hamlets

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Unincorporated communities

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Transportation

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Highways

Interstate Highways

United States Numbered Highways

Tennessee State Routes

Interstate 65 runs along the eastern border of the county for about 20 miles (32 km), and Interstate 24 runs along the southwestern border of the county for about 10 miles (16 km). U.S. Routes 41 and 431 run through the county, intersecting and briefly forming a concurrency in Springfield. US 31W forms the eastern border with Sumner County and runs through White House and Cross Plains. Major state routes include 25, 49, 52, 76, and 109. Secondary state routes in Robertson County include 161, 256, and 257.[14]

Politics

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Like many other rural southern counties, Robertson County has been historically a Democratic stronghold. Since the 2004 presidential election, however, the county (and the state as a whole) has sped rapidly toward the Republican Party. The last time Robertson County voted for a Democratic candidate in a statewide race was for Phil Bredesen in 2006, and the last time it voted for a Democratic candidate on a presidential level, was in 2000 when it voted for Democrat Al Gore.

United States presidential election results for Robertson County, Tennessee[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 26,260 74.96% 8,428 24.06% 345 0.98%
2020 24,536 72.77% 8,692 25.78% 489 1.45%
2016 19,410 71.59% 6,637 24.48% 1,066 3.93%
2012 17,643 67.11% 8,290 31.53% 356 1.35%
2008 17,903 64.83% 9,318 33.74% 393 1.42%
2004 15,331 60.54% 9,865 38.96% 127 0.50%
2000 9,675 47.98% 10,249 50.83% 240 1.19%
1996 6,685 41.19% 8,465 52.16% 1,079 6.65%
1992 5,271 33.41% 8,498 53.86% 2,010 12.74%
1988 5,714 48.95% 5,884 50.41% 74 0.63%
1984 5,445 48.34% 5,756 51.11% 62 0.55%
1980 3,560 32.00% 7,381 66.34% 185 1.66%
1976 2,505 24.77% 7,547 74.62% 62 0.61%
1972 4,175 56.43% 2,985 40.34% 239 3.23%
1968 1,802 22.47% 2,315 28.86% 3,904 48.67%
1964 1,797 23.70% 5,784 76.30% 0 0.00%
1960 1,776 30.15% 4,053 68.80% 62 1.05%
1956 1,517 23.25% 4,961 76.02% 48 0.74%
1952 1,834 26.59% 5,063 73.41% 0 0.00%
1948 376 9.53% 3,044 77.14% 526 13.33%
1944 622 16.77% 3,074 82.90% 12 0.32%
1940 490 13.01% 3,258 86.49% 19 0.50%
1936 388 12.70% 2,629 86.03% 39 1.28%
1932 252 8.31% 2,752 90.71% 30 0.99%
1928 848 35.30% 1,543 64.24% 11 0.46%
1924 229 11.94% 1,645 85.77% 44 2.29%
1920 1,191 28.04% 3,046 71.70% 11 0.26%
1916 733 25.08% 2,106 72.05% 84 2.87%
1912 513 16.73% 2,287 74.57% 267 8.71%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Yolanda Reid, "Robertson County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 21, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Durham, Walter T. Rebellion Revisited: A History of Sumner County, Tennessee from 1861 to 1870(Franklin, Tennessee: Hillsboro Press, 1999, 2nd ed.)
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  9. ^ "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 14, 2015.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ Tennessee Department of Transportation Long Range Planning Division Office of Data Visualization (2018). Robertson County (PDF) (Map). Tennessee Department of Transportation.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  1. ^ Unsigned companion route of US 41
  2. ^ Unsigned companion route of US 31W
  3. ^ Unsigned companion route of US 431
  4. ^ From Springfield to Adams, SR 76 runs concurrently with US 41 as an unsigned route
  5. ^ Unsigned companion route of US 41A
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36°32′N 86°52′W / 36.53°N 86.87°W / 36.53; -86.87

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