Grand Junction, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Grand Junction is a city in Fayette and Hardeman counties in the U.S. state
of Tennessee
. The population was 301 at the 2000 census, and is currently 321. Grand Junction runs along Tennessee State Route 57
, and is bordered to the west by Tennessee State Route 18
(Mississippi Highway 7). Approximately ten miles to the south is the major thoroughfare
U. S. Route 72. Tennessee State Route 368
also runs through downtown Grand Junction. Grand Junction has been called the "Bird Dog Capital of the World" and serves as the location of the National Bird Dog Museum.
, which ran through the area. The town was a railroad town, with its own newspaper, two saloons
, three hotels, a livery stable and other businesses. During the American Civil War
, the Union Army
held the city from the Confederate States Army
for approximately 3 years. In 1878 a yellow fever
epidemic struck the town and killed more than half of the 150 residents. The town was incorporated in 1901.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 301 people, 125 households, and 86 families residing in the city. The population density
was 255.4 people per square mile (98.5/km²). There were 142 housing units at an average density of 120.5 per square mile (46.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.47% White, 40.53% African American, 0.33% Native American, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 125 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples
living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% 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 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,306, and the median income for a family was $36,375. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,469 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,304. About 8.4% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 7.4% of those sixty five or over. Most of those below the poverty line receive federal aid.
, with four distinct seasons. The summer months (late May to late September) are persistently hot and humid due to moisture encroaching from the Gulf of Mexico
, with afternoon temperatures frequently above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent during some summers, but usually brief, lasting no longer than an hour. Early Autumn is pleasantly drier and mild, but can remain hot until late October. Abrupt but short-lived cold snaps are common. Late Autumn is rainy and colder, December being the third rainiest month of the year. Fall foliage becomes especially vibrant after the first frost, typically early November, and lasts until early December. Winters are mild, but cold snaps can occur. Mild spells sometimes occur January and February. Snowfall is not abundant but does occur during most winters, with usually one or two major winter weather events occurring by the end of March. Spring often begins in late February or early March, following the onset of a sharp warmup. This season is also known as "severe weather season" due to the higher frequency of tornadoes, hail, and thunderstorms producing winds greater than 58 mph (93 km/h). Average rainfall is slightly higher during the spring months (except November) than the rest of the year, but not to any noticeable extent. Historically, April is the month with the highest frequency of tornadoes, though tornadoes have occurred every month of the year. Grand Junction-area historical tornado activity is above Tennessee state average. It is 155% greater than the overall U.S. average. Grand Junction is sunny about 62.5% of the time.
clubs in Tennessee.
located on Highway 57 now serves as the site of the annual community fish fry
.
and radio
stations able to be received by residents with basic outdoor antennas. Eleven television stations are available over the air in Grand Junction, and over sixteen radio stations are also able to be received.
provides cable services and Bellsouth
, landline phone service.
is believed to have served as the towns first telegraph operator. William Faulkner
frequented the area for quail
hunting. Other notable visitors to the area include Ty Cobb
and George Washington Carver
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 301 at the 2000 census, and is currently 321. Grand Junction runs along 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...
, and is bordered to the west by Tennessee State Route 18
Tennessee State Route 18
State Route 18 is a primary state highway in south-central West Tennessee. SR 18 is a two-lane facility throughout the majority of its length through the state with the exception being in Bolivar, Tennessee...
(Mississippi Highway 7). Approximately ten miles to the south is the major thoroughfare
Thoroughfare
A thoroughfare is a place of transportation intended to connect one location to another. Highways, roads, and trails are examples of thoroughfares used by a variety of general traffic. On land a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a rough trail to multi-lane highway with grade separated...
U. S. Route 72. Tennessee State Route 368
Tennessee State Route 368
Tennessee State Route 368 is a Tennessee designated state route in Grand Junction, Tennessee. It is approximately 1.7 miles long. It begins as a fork in the road from Tennessee State Route 18 and travels nearly due south, intercepting Old Grand Junction Road and Summit Street. From this point it...
also runs through downtown Grand Junction. Grand Junction has been called the "Bird Dog Capital of the World" and serves as the location of the National Bird Dog Museum.
History
Grand Junction was founded in 1858. It was named after the "Grand Junction" of the Memphis and Charleston RailroadMemphis 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,...
, which ran through the area. The town was a railroad town, with its own newspaper, two saloons
Saloon
Saloon may refer to:* Saloon , a style of car body.* Saloon , a musical group.* Western saloon, a historical style of American bar.* Bar , a venue for alcoholic beverage consumption....
, three hotels, a livery stable and other businesses. 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...
, the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
held the city from the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
for approximately 3 years. In 1878 a yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
epidemic struck the town and killed more than half of the 150 residents. The town was incorporated in 1901.
Geography
Grand Junction is located at 35°2′53"N 89°11′25"W (35.048023, -89.190177).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all 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 301 people, 125 households, and 86 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 255.4 people per square mile (98.5/km²). There were 142 housing units at an average density of 120.5 per square mile (46.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.47% White, 40.53% African American, 0.33% Native American, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 125 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% 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, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% 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 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,306, and the median income for a family was $36,375. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,469 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 $13,304. About 8.4% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 7.4% of those sixty five or over. Most of those below the poverty line receive federal aid.
Climate
Grand Junction has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, with four distinct seasons. The summer months (late May to late September) are persistently hot and humid due to moisture encroaching from the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, with afternoon temperatures frequently above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent during some summers, but usually brief, lasting no longer than an hour. Early Autumn is pleasantly drier and mild, but can remain hot until late October. Abrupt but short-lived cold snaps are common. Late Autumn is rainy and colder, December being the third rainiest month of the year. Fall foliage becomes especially vibrant after the first frost, typically early November, and lasts until early December. Winters are mild, but cold snaps can occur. Mild spells sometimes occur January and February. Snowfall is not abundant but does occur during most winters, with usually one or two major winter weather events occurring by the end of March. Spring often begins in late February or early March, following the onset of a sharp warmup. This season is also known as "severe weather season" due to the higher frequency of tornadoes, hail, and thunderstorms producing winds greater than 58 mph (93 km/h). Average rainfall is slightly higher during the spring months (except November) than the rest of the year, but not to any noticeable extent. Historically, April is the month with the highest frequency of tornadoes, though tornadoes have occurred every month of the year. Grand Junction-area historical tornado activity is above Tennessee state average. It is 155% greater than the overall U.S. average. Grand Junction is sunny about 62.5% of the time.
Economy
Tennessee Pewter has a manufacturing space in Grand Junction. The town also has many small local businesses including a clothing boutique, antique shops, and a local bank.Arts and culture
The National Bird Dog Museum (NBDM) is located in Grand Junction, as is the Field Trial Hall of Fame and Wildlife Heritage Center, which shares space with the NBDM. The location of the NBDM and the history of the area in regards to hunting has earned the town the title of the "Bird Dog Capital of the World". Ames Plantation, the former home of Hobart Ames, is also located in the area. The town is also home to the National Field Trial Championships, which are held at Ames Plantation. Grand Junction's library, the Bobby Martindale Memorial Library, serves area residents and consists of 1 staff member and volunteers. As of 2011, over 1,380 patrons visited the library, checking out items over 3,300 times. The Wilder Community Center serves as a community hall and senior center. Grand Junction also has one of the oldest and most active RuritanRuritan
Ruritan National is a service club located in small towns and rural areas in the United States. It aims to achieve "Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service". The local clubs are autonomous from the national organization...
clubs in Tennessee.
Annual events
A Christmas parade is held each year with a tree-lighting ceremony and an annual community fish fry is held very year as well.Other notable landmarks
Many of the original buildings are still maintained within Grand Junction. Rogers and Sons Marble Works, established in 1879, is still in operation and the old railroad depot is maintained. N.T. Richardson's General Merchandise Store is still operating as well, which was ran by N.T. Richardson until his death at 104 years old. A cotton ginCotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
located on Highway 57 now serves as the site of the annual community fish fry
Fish fry
A fish fry is a meal containing battered or breaded fried fish. It typically also includes french fries, coleslaw, hushpuppies, lemon slices, tartar sauce, malt vinegar and dessert. Some Indian versions are cooked by coating fish with semolina and egg yolk...
.
Education
Grand Junction has one elementary school: Grand Junction Elementary School, and also a Head Start Program.Media
Although in a rural area, Grand Junction has many local televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
stations able to be received by residents with basic outdoor antennas. Eleven television stations are available over the air in Grand Junction, and over sixteen radio stations are also able to be received.
Major Thoroughfares
- 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...
- State Route 18Tennessee State Route 18State Route 18 is a primary state highway in south-central West Tennessee. SR 18 is a two-lane facility throughout the majority of its length through the state with the exception being in Bolivar, Tennessee...
- State Route 368Tennessee State Route 368Tennessee State Route 368 is a Tennessee designated state route in Grand Junction, Tennessee. It is approximately 1.7 miles long. It begins as a fork in the road from Tennessee State Route 18 and travels nearly due south, intercepting Old Grand Junction Road and Summit Street. From this point it...
Utilities
Grand Junction provides a number of services to their population. The Grand Junction Post Office provides mail services and the Bolivar Electric Company and Hardeman/Fayette Utility Disc. provides electricity and gas, respectfully. The city handles waste disposal, sewage and water needs. ComcastComcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
provides cable services and Bellsouth
BellSouth
BellSouth Corporation is an American telecommunications holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth was one of the seven original Regional Bell Operating Companies after the U.S...
, landline phone service.
Notable residents
Thomas EdisonThomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
is believed to have served as the towns first telegraph operator. William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
frequented the area for quail
Quail
Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...
hunting. Other notable visitors to the area include Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver , was an American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. The exact day and year of his birth are unknown; he is believed to have been born into slavery in Missouri in January 1864....
.
External links
- Official website
- Ames Plantation official website