Adamsville is a city in Hardin and McNairy counties, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, Adamsville had a population of 2,265. Adamsville is named after George D. Adams, who operated an inn and stagecoach stop in the 1840s. Adamsville's nickname is the "Biggest Little Town in Tennessee" and was the home of Sheriff Buford Pusser.
History
The area in and around Adamsville was first surveyed by Davy Crockett. Just after 1818, George C. Adams and his family were the first settlers of European ancestry to locate to the area. A trading post would be opened, just north of where the Adamsville Cemetery is today. The trading post served the local Native communities and Anglo settlers. In 1838 the Bell's detachment of the Trail of Tears traveled through Adamsville. Settlers from North Carolina and Maury County, Tennessee migrated to the area and the settlement developed an agricultural economy. When the Battle of Shiloh was fought in 1862, Union Army soldiers were camped in Adamsville. Prior to that battle, the Skirmish at Adamsville resulted in a Confederate victory.
Adamsville was incorporated in 1870. The town struggled to grow until roads were improved in the early 20th century. Agriculture remained the main economic developer until the textile industry came into the area with Myrna Mills factory opening, and then other factories following.
Geography
Adamsville is located at (35.250124, -88.390311).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.9 square miles (18.0 km), of which 6.9 square miles (17.9 km) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km) (0.72%) is water.
Adamsville is located primarily in McNairy County; only a small part of the municipal area lies in Hardin County.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+Adamsville racial composition
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|White (non-Hispanic)
|2,066
|91.21%
|-
|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|59
|2.6%
|-
|Native American
|2
|0.09%
|-
|Asian
|10
|0.44%
|-
|Other/Mixed
|87
|3.84%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|41
|1.81%
|}
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,265 people, 836 households, and 519 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census The Adamsville Partnership organization was formed by local businesses, property owners, professionals and related parties to promote the community.
Arts and culture
thumb|right|A slugburger with [[onion rings.]]
An Adamsville restaurant serves "slugburgers", a delicacy found in west Tennessee, northeast Mississippi and northwest Alabama. The Fat Cat slugburger consists of a hamburger patty made of beef and soy grits which is then deep fried and served on a bun with condiments. Another local delicacy found in restaurants is the baked cabbage.
Annual events
Adamsville holds a large number of annual events. Every Memorial Day weekend the four-day Buford Pusser Festival is held at the Buford Pusser Memorial Park. The local preliminary for Miss Tennessee, the Miss Walking Tall Pageant is held at The Marty Community Center. A number of other cultural events such as the HeeHaw Show, Founders Day, and a 5K Run in the spring.
Points of interest
The Buford Pusser Home and Museum is located in Adamsville in the former home of the county sheriff. Adamsville's public library is the Irving Meek Jr. Memorial Library. The Old Home Motel was built in 1960 by Joe and Juanita Richardson. Buford Pusser lived at the hotel for a time, and Elvis Presley stayed the night there.
Government
Adamsville's government consists of the following: a City Commission, a mayor, and four commissioners. Every two years elections are held on the first Saturday of October, and the mayor and commissioners serve four year staggered terms. The city also has a city administrator, who serves in a full-time paid position overseeing general day-to-day needs of the city business.
Schools
The town is served by two public schools: Adamsville Elementary School and Adamsville High School. The elementary school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and serves Pre-Kindergarten 4 & 5 to 8th graders. The high school provides education to 9-12th graders in the county. The school has been listed as one of U.S. News & World Report's best high schools in America.
Adamsville High School's marching band has won 1st place at the TN Division 1 State Marching Band Championship nine times since 1999 and has not placed lower than 2nd since 2004. As the school's attendance grew in number, the band was eventually promoted to Division 2 status in 2016. The band won its first Division 2 championship in 2017 and repeated as champions in 2018 and 2019 making the band 12 time state champions. The school mascot is the cardinal.
Historic people
Buford Pusser, legendary McNairy County sheriff
Ray Blanton, The 44th Governor of Tennessee.
Ashley Durham Booth, Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2006, Miss Tennessee USA 2011, and runner-up Miss USA 2011.
Dewey Phillips, Rock n' roll disc jockey. Phillips was the first DJ to spin a record of Elvis Presley on the air waves.