Hamilton County, Tennessee

Infobox U.S. County
county = Hamilton County
state = Tennessee


founded = 1819
seat = Chattanooga | area_total_sq_mi =576
area_land_sq_mi =542
area_water_sq_mi =33
area percentage = 5.78%
census yr = 2000
pop = 307896
density_km2 =219
web = www.hamiltontn.gov
time zone = Eastern
|

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 ChattanoogaGR|6.

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

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 censusGR|2 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.

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.

Colleges and Universities

*Chattanooga State Technical Community College - [http://www.chattanoogastate.edu website]
*Covenant College - [http://www.covenant.edu website]
*Southern Adventist University - [http://www.southern.edu website]
*Tennessee Temple University - [http://www.tntemple.edu website]
*University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - [http://www.utc.edu website]

Cities and towns in Hamilton County

*Apison
*Bakewell
*Birchwood
*Chattanooga
*Collegedale
*East Brainerd
*East Ridge
*Fairmount
*Falling Water
*Georgetown
*Harrison
*Hixson
*Lakesite
*Lookout Mountain
*Lupton City
*Middle Valley
*Ooltewah
*Red Bank
*Ridgeside
*Sale Creek
*Signal Mountain
*Soddy-Daisy
*Walden

References

External links

*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Tennessee/Counties/Hamilton/|Hamilton County