Middleton, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Middleton is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 602 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of Tennessee State Route 125
and Tennessee State Route 57
. It's slogan is the "Crossroads of the South".
in 1849 and donated the majority of land where Middleton is today. Following the expansion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad
and the construction of a railroad depot, Middleton was chartered in 1850. It was named after an official at the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The town would suffer greatly during the American Civil War
. After the war, only one building, a small log structure that served as a store, was left standing.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.54% is water.
of 2000, there were 602 people, 259 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density
was 326.3 people per square mile (126.3/km²). There were 289 housing units at an average density of 156.7 per square mile (60.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.87% White, 11.30% African American, 0.66% Asian, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 259 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 77.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,385, and the median income for a family was $39,063. Males had a median income of $31,094 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,616. About 8.3% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.
distribution facility and other industrial manufacturers that employee over 1,000. ThyssenKrupp
has an elevator
manufacturing plant in Middleton. Other industries include Middleton Fiberglass
, F.L. Crane Inc. Spray Coating Division, a hardwood sales company, Moltan, makes of cat litter, and El Paso Tennessee Gas.
, the "M-Town Variety Show" in March, and an annual Christmas parade and related holiday events each December.
troop, which was founded in Middleton in 1938.
Railroad Systems
, NBA Hall of Fameer was born and raised in Middleton until attending Mississippi State University
for college. Howell was a Boston Celtics
player, along with Steve Hamer
, who was born in Memphis
went to high school in Middleton before he attended the University of Tennessee
. Another athlete, Wayne Haddix
, was born in nearby Bolivar but attended Middleton High School, he would go on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers.
Estelle Axton
, the co-founder of Stax Records
was born in Middleton, before moving to Memphis.
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 602 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of Tennessee State Route 125
Tennessee State Route 125
Tennessee State Route 125 is a State Route in southwestern Tennessee in Hardeman County. It begins in the center of Bolivar, Tennessee and travels southward for a total of approximately twenty miles to its end at the Tennessee/Mississippi state line, where it continues as Mississippi Highway...
and Tennessee State Route 57
Tennessee State Route 57
Tennessee State Route 57 is an east–west highway that runs from Memphis to the Mississippi state line near Pickwick Dam and Pickwick Landing State Park. Except for in Shelby County, SR 57 is a two lane road generally with a speed limit...
. It's slogan is the "Crossroads of the South".
History
It is believed that early settlers in Middleton came from Slab Town, a small settlement about 3 miles north. The town was originally called Jenkins-McCommons Crossing, after Jesse Jenksins and William Taylor McCommons. These two men came to the area from North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1849 and donated the majority of land where Middleton is today. Following the expansion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad
Memphis and Charleston Railroad
The Memphis and Charleston Railroad, completed in 1857, was the first railroad in the United States to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River. Chartered in 1846 the railroad ran from Memphis, Tennessee to Stevenson, Alabama through the towns of Corinth, Mississippi and Huntsville,...
and the construction of a railroad depot, Middleton was chartered in 1850. It was named after an official at the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The town would suffer greatly during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After the war, only one building, a small log structure that served as a store, was left standing.
Geography
Middleton is located at 35°3′32"N 88°53′30"W (35.058798, -88.891728).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.54% 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 602 people, 259 households, and 171 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 326.3 people per square mile (126.3/km²). There were 289 housing units at an average density of 156.7 per square mile (60.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.87% White, 11.30% African American, 0.66% Asian, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 259 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% 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, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 77.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,385, and the median income for a family was $39,063. Males had a median income of $31,094 versus $21,250 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 $15,616. About 8.3% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Middleton is home to a 40-acre rail-served commercial park. The town also has a major natural gasNatural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
distribution facility and other industrial manufacturers that employee over 1,000. ThyssenKrupp
ThyssenKrupp
ThyssenKrupp AG is a German multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Duisburg Essen, Germany. The corporation consists of 670 companies worldwide. While ThyssenKrupp is one of the world's largest steel producers, the company also provides components and systems for the automotive...
has an elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
manufacturing plant in Middleton. Other industries include Middleton Fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
, F.L. Crane Inc. Spray Coating Division, a hardwood sales company, Moltan, makes of cat litter, and El Paso Tennessee Gas.
Annual cultural events
Middleton hosts a series of annual events including the Fur, Fin and Feather Festival over Labor DayLabor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
, the "M-Town Variety Show" in March, and an annual Christmas parade and related holiday events each December.
Points of interest
The oldest structure in Middleton is the Rose House which was built by Benjamin Rose in 1833. The second oldest building is the Methodist Church and Adams Masonic Lodge #264 which was built in 1859. The City Hall is also the location of the local veterans memorial. The community has a library, a community center, two city parks and a "Boy Scout Hut" which serves as a meeting space for the local Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
troop, which was founded in Middleton in 1938.
Government
Middleton is governed by a mayor and five aldermen, one who serves as vice mayor. They are elected every four years. The towns property taxes are .99 cents per every $100 of assessed value.Transportation
Major Thoroughfares- Tennessee State Route 57Tennessee State Route 57Tennessee State Route 57 is an east–west highway that runs from Memphis to the Mississippi state line near Pickwick Dam and Pickwick Landing State Park. Except for in Shelby County, SR 57 is a two lane road generally with a speed limit...
(Tennessee Avenue) - Tennessee State Route 125Tennessee State Route 125Tennessee State Route 125 is a State Route in southwestern Tennessee in Hardeman County. It begins in the center of Bolivar, Tennessee and travels southward for a total of approximately twenty miles to its end at the Tennessee/Mississippi state line, where it continues as Mississippi Highway...
(Main Street)
Railroad Systems
- Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern RailwayThe Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
Utilities
Middleton provides residents water and sewer utilities. The community also has a recycling drop off.Safety
The town has a full-time police chef and department. The community is also served by the Middleton Volunteer Fire Department. The current firehouse was built at no charge by inmates from the Hardeman County Correctional Facility. The fire department has a Class 5 fire insurance rating.Notable natives
Middleton has been the birthplace, home, or vacation town for a number of notable people. Bailey HowellBailey Howell
Bailey E. Howell is a former professional basketball player now enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A 6'7" forward from Mississippi State University, he played 12 seasons in the NBA as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia...
, NBA Hall of Fameer was born and raised in Middleton until attending Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
for college. Howell was a Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
player, along with Steve Hamer
Steve Hamer
Steve Ray Hamer is a retired American professional basketball player. He had a brief National Basketball Association career.-Playing career:The 7-foot center played at the University of Tennessee...
, who was born in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
went to high school in Middleton before he attended the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. Another athlete, Wayne Haddix
Wayne Haddix
Samuel LaWayne Haddix is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants , Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and Cincinnati Bengals . Haddix was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1990 after intercepting his only seven interceptions of his career...
, was born in nearby Bolivar but attended Middleton High School, he would go on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers.
Estelle Axton
Estelle Axton
Estelle Axton was the co-founder, with her brother Jim Stewart, of Stax Records.Born in Middleton, Tennessee, Estelle Stewart grew up on a farm...
, the co-founder of Stax Records
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
was born in Middleton, before moving to Memphis.