Rhea County is a county located in the state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population is 28,400. Its county seat is Dayton⁶.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 871 km² (336 mi²). 818 km² (316 mi²) of it is land and 53 km² (20 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.08% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 28,400 people, 11,184 households, and 8,108 families residing in the county. The population density is 35/km² (90/mi²). There are 12,565 housing units at an average density of 15/km² (40/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 95.41% White, 2.04% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.67% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 11,184 households out of which 31.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% are married couples living together, 11.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% are non-families. 23.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the county, the population is spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $30,418, and the median income for a family is $35,580. Males have a median income of $30,066 versus $21,063 for females. The per capita income for the county is $15,672. 14.70% of the population and 11.40% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.00% of those under the age of 18 and 15.20% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns

• Dayton
• Graysville
• Spring City

History

The Scopes Monkey Trial, which resulted in the teaching of evolution being banned in Tennessee public schools, took place in Rhea County in 1925. Since 1954 the laws were changed to allow teaching of evolution alongside bible studies in school, on June 8, 2004, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling preventing further bible lessons.

On March 16, 2004, Rhea County commissioners voted 8-0 to ask that state law allow a ban on homosexuals, and allow the county to charge them with "crimes against nature". The resolution was withdrawn on March 18.

External Links

• The Herald-News (http://www.rhea.xtn.net/)