Hamilton County, Tennessee

Hamilton County, Tennessee

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Hamilton County, Tennessee

Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-47.xls. Its county seat is Chattanooga.

Hamilton County is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Adjacent counties
National protected area

Major Roads
Demographics
Politics, government, and law
Colleges and Universities
Cities and towns in Hamilton County
References
External links

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,491 km²), of which, 542 square miles (1,405 km²) of it is land and 33 square miles (86 km²) of it (5.78%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Bledsoe County, Tennessee - north
Rhea County, Tennessee - northeast
Meigs County, Tennessee - northeast
Bradley County, Tennessee - east
Whitfield County, Georgia - southeast
Catoosa County, Georgia - south
Walker County, Georgia - south
Dade County, Georgia - southwest
Marion County, Tennessee - west
Sequatchie County, Tennessee - northwest

Hamilton County is one of the few counties in the United States to border 10 other counties.

http://www.hamiltontn.gov/

National protected area

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part)

Major Roads

Interstate 24, Interstate 75, Highway 11(Lee Highway, Highway 27, Highway 41, Highway 64, Highway 72, Highway 74, Highway 76, Highway 127

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 307,896 people, 124,444 households, and 83,750 families residing in the county. The population density was 568 people per square mile (219/km²). There were 134,692 housing units at an average density of 248 per square mile (96/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.32% White, 20.14% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age pyramid Hamilton County^[1]

There were 124,444 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,930, and the median income for a family was $48,037. Males had a median income of $35,413 versus $24,505 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,593. About 9.20% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics, government, and law

Hamilton County, while experiencing problems managing their rising jail cost and population, sought help from the state. Former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander referred the county to a new concept of private prisons. In 1985 the County Commissioner voted to accept Corrections Corporation of America's bid to operate and manage the Silverdale Detention Center. In 2005, after several years of problems the county voted to extend the contract.