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Covington
History – City of Covington in Tennessee |
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Map:
Official Geographical Location:
35.56713 North, 89.64943 West
Geographical Description:
Zip codes: 38011, 38019
Covington is located at 35°33′54″N, 89°38′50″W
(35.564937, -89.647168).
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.
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. The climate in
this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool
winters.
History:
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 honour of General Leonard Wailes 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 colours. 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 valour and courage has continued
through the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and the
liberation of Iraq.
Main trades of the area are cotton yarn, cotton seed products and production of
beverages.
Covington was also the birthplace of legendary Soul singer Isaac Hayes on 20th
August 1942.
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.
Recent History:
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.
Links to other websites:
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the Covington TN Website
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