Dyer, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Dyer is a city in Gibson County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 2,406 at the 2000 census. Dyer was originally known as Peck's Switch, a name given by railroad workers in the early days of rail.
on April 2, 2006; which devastated the town and left 15 people dead. Early estimates were that over 1,500 homes were destroyed in Dyer and other areas of Gibson County. Of the 15 people that died that evening, 5 were in the nearby town of Bradford, including a family of four. Two died just east of Rutherford. The remaining deaths were in Dyer County about 15 miles west of Dyer.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,406 people, 979 households, and 673 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,064.3 people per square mile (411.0/km²). There were 1,053 housing units at an average density of 465.8 per square mile (179.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.34% White, 18.54% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 979 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 76.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,250, and the median income for a family was $35,667. Males had a median income of $27,539 versus $19,306 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,587. About 11.0% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Newspaper
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,406 at the 2000 census. Dyer was originally known as Peck's Switch, a name given by railroad workers in the early days of rail.
Tornado outbreak of April 2, 2006
Dyer was hit directly by an F3 tornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
on April 2, 2006; which devastated the town and left 15 people dead. Early estimates were that over 1,500 homes were destroyed in Dyer and other areas of Gibson County. Of the 15 people that died that evening, 5 were in the nearby town of Bradford, including a family of four. Two died just east of Rutherford. The remaining deaths were in Dyer County about 15 miles west of Dyer.
Geography
Dyer is located at 36°4′9"N 88°59′30"W (36.069267, -88.991620).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,406 people, 979 households, and 673 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,064.3 people per square mile (411.0/km²). There were 1,053 housing units at an average density of 465.8 per square mile (179.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.34% White, 18.54% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 979 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 76.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,250, and the median income for a family was $35,667. Males had a median income of $27,539 versus $19,306 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,587. About 11.0% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Events
The annual Dyer Station Celebration is held during the week of the Fourth of July each year. The celebration was started with the hard work of Johnny McIlwain to honor the memory of his aunt, Mrs. Georgia Ellis, Dyer's first female alderman. Events include fireworks, singings, carnival, card tournaments, pet show, parade, street dance, talent show, etc. There is something to do each day and night during the week long celebration.Media
Radio Stations- WWKF-FM 99.3 "Today's Best Music with Ace & TJAce & TJ ShowThe Ace & TJ Show is a syndicated morning radio show, previously on KISS 95.1 out of Charlotte, NC. The Ace & TJ Show debuted on KISS 95.1 on April 6, 1998. Their last day on Kiss 95.1 was Friday, May 20, 2011. Contract discussions with CBS Radio were not successful...
in the Morning" - WENK-AM 1240 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
- WTPR-AM 710 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
Newspaper
- Tri-City Reporter A weekly publication covering the towns of Dyer, Rutherford and Yorkville. The offices of the Tri-City Reporter are on Main Street in Dyer, TN.
External links
- City of Dyer (Official Website)