CITY
OF COVINGTON - TENNESSEE
Location: 35.56713 North,
89.64943 West
Zip codes: 38011, 38019
Geography
Covington is located at 35°33′54″N, 89°38′50″W (35.564937, -89.647168)[4].
Covington is located in the Greater Memphis, Tennessee, metropolitan area, and
it is located on U.S. Highway 51, a major north-south highway between Memphis
and Illinois.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
10.3 square miles (26.7 km²), of which, 10.3 square miles (26.7 km²) of it is
land and 0.10% is water.
Covington is situated on the southeastern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone,
an area with a high earthquake risk.
Covington location in
Tennessee
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,463 people, 3,199 households, and 2,136
families residing in the city. The population density was 822.1 people per
square mile (317.5/km²). There were 3,372 housing units at an average density
of 327.6/sq mi (126.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.59% White,
46.54% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific
Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
Cannon in front of the Nature Center & Veteran's Memorial in Covington. Marker
in the background shows Nathan Bedford Forrest's last speech. (2007)There were
3,199 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living
with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 25.4% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.9% of all
households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who
was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the
average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18,
10.3% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who
were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100
females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
were 70.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,684, and the median
income for a family was $32,213. Males had a median income of $28,964 versus
$20,938 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,293. About
25.2% of families and 27.9% of the population were below the poverty line,
including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 34.1% of those age 65 or over.
Also recorded as a county
sub-division located at 35.57305 North, 89.64571 West with a population of
11,485
A town and County seat of
Tipton County, West Central Tennessee, 39 miles North East of Memphis, South
West of Henning and Ripley, East of the Mississippi River and West of Jackson
and Brownsville on U.S. Route 51 in a cotton-growing, timber area.
The town had originally been
incorporated in 1826 with the main trades being cotton yarn, cotton seed
products and production of beverages.
Fort Pillow State is a
particular historic area, 35m N.W. via US 51N & TN 87W, near Fulton. It
consists of 1646 acres on the Chickasaw Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi
River. It is of historic & archaeological significance because of the
remains of earthworks of the extensive fortifications built in 1861 by the
Confederates and named for one of their Generals.
Businesses in Covington which
appear in Million Dollar Directory of the Top 50,000 U.S leading private &
public companies in 1988 are The First State Bank, Tipton County Bank and
Turners Dairies Inc.
Other large businesses are
Covington Auto Sales / Jessie McClerkin Used Cars, 1409 Hwy 51 S, and
Covington Wholesale Co. Inc., 250 Menefee,
Covington was established as Tipton’s seat of government on Dec. 11, 1824. On Dec. 9, 1826, the state legislature authorized the incorporation of Covington. The town was named in honor of General Leonard Wales Covington, a native of Maryland who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Chrystler’s Field on Nov. 11, 1813. Throughout the county’s history, Covington has been the leading city for commerce, higher education and training, manufacturing, jobs and professional services.
While in Covington drive down the Main and Maple Streets of the South Main
Historic District and view the old homes and brick walks. The tree-shaded
streets are especially delightful during autumn when the leaves show off their
brilliantly bright colors. Take in an afternoon at the library or take your
children to Cobb-Parr Park to enjoy the unique kids’ designed playground,
swimming pool, ball fields, tennis and other amenities.
As you travel our roads and highways you are retracing the trails and pathways
of the ancient hunting grounds of the Chickasaw Indians. Recapture echoes of
Randolph on the second Chickasaw Bluff, the first metropolis on the
Mississippi River in Western Tennessee. Founded in 1823, Randolph was the king
of steamboat river commerce and a cotton shipping point. The remains of Civil
War field fortifications and a gunpowder magazine at Fort Wright remind us
that several thousand Confederate volunteers from West Tennessee and Arkansas
were encamped and readied themselves for battle during 1861-62. Telegraphic
communication from Randolph to Memphis was established during the war and
Union General William T. Sherman had his soldiers to burn Randolph in 1862.
The Clopton Methodist Church campground provided an encampment for 500
Confederate volunteers. The Battle of Lemmon Woods took place near Covington,
between a few thousand Rebel and Yankee cavalrymen, on March 9, 1863.
Tipton County has a proud military tradition. Volunteers, militia, and
organized companies have served in most of our nation’s wars. The “Covington
Sentinels” was the county’s first militia company formed in 1830 with muskets,
powder, and ball furnished by the State. County volunteers served in the Texas
War of Independence, 1836, and the Mexican War, 1847-48. One thousand
Tiptonians served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Their legacy
of battlefield valor and courage has continued through the World Wars, Korea,
Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Iraq.
Cannon in front of the Nature Center & Veteran's Memorial in Covington. Marker in the background shows Nathan Bedford Forrest's last speech.
Covington was also the birthplace of legendary Soul singer Isaac Hayes on 20th August 1942.
Visit the Covington Town Website
