Helenwood, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Helenwood is an unincorporated community
in Scott County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 846 at the 2000 census, when Helenwood was treated as an incorporated municipality. For the 2010 census, it was a census designated place (CDP) with a population of 865.
On April 5, 1935 a dynamite
explosion caused extensive damage in Helenwood, destroying fifteen homes and damaging many other homes and businesses. One news account said that Helenwood was "literally wiped off the map." There were no fatalities.
Helenwood was incorporated
as a town by referendum
in 1997, after the state statute that set minimum criteria for municipal incorporation was amended by the Tennessee General Assembly
to remove the requirement that a newly incorporating area must not be within three miles of an existing city and to reduce the minimum population for incorporation from 1,500 residents to 225. The legislation that changed the statute had been introduced by Lieutenant Governor
John S. Wilder
in order to allow Hickory Withe
to become a municipality. Helenwood's incorporation was rescinded by state courts after the amendments were declared unconstitutional.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 865 people in the Helenwood CDP.
As of the census of 2000, there were 846 people, 341 households, and 247 families residing in the town. The population density
was 307.0 people per square mile (118.3/km²). There were 364 housing units at an average density of 132.1 per square mile (50.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.87% White, 0.59% Native American, and 1.54% from two or more races.
There were 341 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,148, and the median income for a family was $21,094. Males had a median income of $26,023 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $9,217. About 28.1% of families and 33.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Scott County, 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 846 at the 2000 census, when Helenwood was treated as an incorporated municipality. For the 2010 census, it was a census designated place (CDP) with a population of 865.
History
Helenwood was platted in 1859 under the name "Homestead." It was settled as a coal-mining community. The origin of its current name is not known.On April 5, 1935 a dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
explosion caused extensive damage in Helenwood, destroying fifteen homes and damaging many other homes and businesses. One news account said that Helenwood was "literally wiped off the map." There were no fatalities.
Helenwood was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a town by referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in 1997, after the state statute that set minimum criteria for municipal incorporation was amended by the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
to remove the requirement that a newly incorporating area must not be within three miles of an existing city and to reduce the minimum population for incorporation from 1,500 residents to 225. The legislation that changed the statute had been introduced by Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee
The Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee is the Speaker of the Tennessee Senate and first in line in the succession to the office of Governor of Tennessee in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office through impeachment and conviction of the Governor of the U.S...
John S. Wilder
John S. Wilder
John Shelton Wilder was an American politician who was a Tennessee state senator from 1959 to 1961 and again from 1967 to 2009 and the 48th lieutenant governor of Tennessee from 1971 to 2007, possibly the longest time anyone has served as Lieutenant Governor or a similar position in the history of...
in order to allow Hickory Withe
Hickory Withe, Tennessee
Hickory Withe is an unincorporated community in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States. For several years it functioned as an incorporated town, and was so treated at the 2000 census...
to become a municipality. Helenwood's incorporation was rescinded by state courts after the amendments were declared unconstitutional.
Geography
Helenwood is located at 36°25′24"N 84°32′29"W (36.423357, -84.541511).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 town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As 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 2010, there were 865 people in the Helenwood CDP.
As of the census of 2000, there were 846 people, 341 households, and 247 families residing in the town. 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 307.0 people per square mile (118.3/km²). There were 364 housing units at an average density of 132.1 per square mile (50.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.87% White, 0.59% Native American, and 1.54% from two or more races.
There were 341 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% 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, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,148, and the median income for a family was $21,094. Males had a median income of $26,023 versus $20,833 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 town was $9,217. About 28.1% of families and 33.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Harry StonecipherHarry StonecipherHarry C. Stonecipher is a former President and Chief Executive of American aerospace companies McDonnell Douglas and, later, Boeing. Stonecipher orchestrated the merger between McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, and was widely credited with the resurgence of Boeing...
, president and chief operating officer of BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
from 1997 to 2002, was a native of Helenwood and grew up in the community.