Pikeville, Tennessee

Pikeville is a city in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,251 at the 2019 census. It is also the county seat of Bledsoe County.[6]

Pikeville, Tennessee
City
Water tower in Pikeville
Location of Pikeville in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 35°36′27″N 85°11′29″W
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyBledsoe
Founded1816
Incorporated1830[1]
Area
 • Total2.44 sq mi (6.33 km2)
 • Land2.44 sq mi (6.33 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
860 ft (262 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,251
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
2,250
 • Density712.65/sq mi (275.20/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
37367
Area code(s)423
FIPS code47-58120[4]
GNIS feature ID1297464[5]

History

The Sequatchie Valley was part of Cherokee lands until 1805, when the Cherokee ceded it to the U.S. as part of the Treaty of Tellico. The valley was probably named after a Cherokee chief, but the name has also been rumored to mean "beautiful valley" in the Cherokee language. By the late 18th century, the valley had been identified by long hunters, one of whom, Anthony Bledsoe (1739-1788), became the county's namesake. Bledsoe County was formed in 1807, with the town of Madison as its county seat.[1]

Carl Mydans photo showing local residents "spelling" themselves in front of a Pikeville store in 1936

Pikeville was established in 1816 on lands donated by Charles Love, an early Sequatchie settler. The origin of the town's name is unknown, although some have suggested that it was named for explorer General Zebulon Pike. By 1818, the Bledsoe County seat had been moved from Madison to Pikeville. The town was incorporated in 1830.[1]

J.V. Wigle (1890–1970), a combustion engineer from Michigan and laboratory assistant at Eastern Michigan State, met a local woman, Mattie Lawson, and settled down in Pikeville. He first brought electricity to town when he electrified the house where he lived near the corner of Poplar and Wiegle streets (Wiegle Street, named after J.V. Wigle, is misspelled). In addition to bringing electricity to Pikeville, Wigle bottled Coca-Cola and made wrought iron railings in the community. He was granted two U.S. patents in 1931 (1,798,289 & 1,814,535) for a coin selecting device and a braking mechanism. His two sons attended the engineering school at Vanderbilt University.[7] His son Tom (1933–2006) helped build U.S. Route 127 heading north out of town as it rises up the mountain near the county line, during a summer job between semesters at Vanderbilt. Wigle is buried with his wife in Pikeville City Cemetery in the family plot, along with Tom Wigle.[8]

Geography
Courthouse Square in Pikeville

Pikeville is located at 35°36′27″N 85°11′29″W (35.607470, -85.191340).[9] The city is situated in the northern half of the Sequatchie Valley, a deep, narrow, and fertile valley that presents as a large rupture in the southern Cumberland Plateau. The walls of the plateau, namely Walden Ridge and Little Mountain, rise prominently to the east and west, respectively. The Sequatchie River passes through the eastern section of Pikeville.

The primary highway running through Pikeville is U.S. Route 127, which connects the city to Crossville atop the plateau to the north and Dunlap to the south. In Pikeville, US-127 splits, with the main route running along Main Street through the city's business district and courthouse square, and a bypass running through a newer commercial area in the western part of the city. State Route 30, which connects Pikeville with Spencer and the Fall Creek Falls State Park area atop the plateau to the west and Dayton across the plateau to the east, runs congruent with US-127 through most of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all land.

Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2019, there were 2,251 people, 792 households, and 488 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.5 people per square mile (284.2/km2). There were 901 housing units at an average density of 354.3 per square mile (137.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.95% White, 3.09% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 792 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870188—
1880145−22.9%
1920488—
193055112.9%
194075937.7%
195088216.2%
19609517.8%
19701,45452.9%
19802,08543.4%
19901,771−15.1%
20001,7810.6%
20101,608−9.7%
2019 (est.)2,318[3]44.2%
Sources:[10][11]

The median income for a household in the city was $23,438, and the median income for a family was $30,365. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $19,097 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,754. About 19.5% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 22.3% of those age 65 or over.

Bridgman House, built in 1815

Tourism

Notable people

References
  1. "Bledsoe County, Tennessee Archived 2013-08-21 at the Wayback Machine." TNGenWeb. Retrieved: 7 January 2008.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. "Pikeville, TN." History of Zip Code 37367. Retrieved: 30 April 2010.
  8. "Obituaries: Wigle, Thomas A." Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2006. Retrieved: 30 April 2010.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  11. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
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