Mascot, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Mascot is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Knox County
, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census.
Mascot is the site of an underground zinc
mine
.
that was known as Saylor's Ford. In 1884 a railroad line was constructed through the area and a post office was established under the name "Meek," apparently the surname of a local family.
The Mascot community was formed in the early 20th century as a company town centered on the mine. The Holston Zinc Company established a mine locally in 1906, but some mining may have occurred earlier. The "Mascot" name is recorded from as early as 1904. Some suggest the community's name comes from an acronym for "Mining and Smelting Company of Tennessee," while others suggest it was the name of woman's lost cat.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.39%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,119 people, 877 households, and 612 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 304.7 people per square mile (117.7/km²). There were 934 housing units at an average density of 134.3/sq mi (51.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.89% White, 2.41% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.47% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 877 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% 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 2.90.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,717, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $25,888 versus $21,032 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $14,717. About 2.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Knox County
Knox County, Tennessee
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its 2007 population was estimated at 423,874 by the United States Census Bureau. Its county seat is Knoxville, as it has been since the creation of the county. The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee...
, Tennessee
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 2,119 at the 2000 census.
Mascot is the site of an underground zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
.
History
Early 19th-century settlement in the Mascot area may have centered around a ford across the Holston RiverHolston River
The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and east Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston rise in southwestern Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. The North Fork flows southwest from Sharon Springs in Bland County, Virginia...
that was known as Saylor's Ford. In 1884 a railroad line was constructed through the area and a post office was established under the name "Meek," apparently the surname of a local family.
The Mascot community was formed in the early 20th century as a company town centered on the mine. The Holston Zinc Company established a mine locally in 1906, but some mining may have occurred earlier. The "Mascot" name is recorded from as early as 1904. Some suggest the community's name comes from an acronym for "Mining and Smelting Company of Tennessee," while others suggest it was the name of woman's lost cat.
Geography
Mascot is located at 36°4′2"N 83°45′17"W (36.067257, -83.754678).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 CDP has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.39%) is water.
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 2,119 people, 877 households, and 612 families residing in the CDP. 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 304.7 people per square mile (117.7/km²). There were 934 housing units at an average density of 134.3/sq mi (51.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.89% White, 2.41% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.47% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 877 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% 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 2.90.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,717, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $25,888 versus $21,032 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 CDP was $14,717. About 2.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.