Celina is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,422 at the 2020 census. In 1878, African Americans were violently driven out of Celina and its neighboring town, Freehill.

Geography

Celina is located near the center of Clay County at (36.548379, -85.501980). The city is situated in a relatively broad valley surrounded by rugged hills characteristic of the eastern Highland Rim. This valley is created by the confluence of the Cumberland River, which approaches from the north, and the Obey River, which approaches from the east. This section of both rivers is part of Cordell Hull Lake, a reservoir created by Cordell Hull Dam near Carthage several miles to the southwest. Dale Hollow Dam, which creates the vast Dale Hollow Lake, lies along the Obey River just east of Celina.

Tennessee State Route 52 passes through the city, connecting it with Red Boiling Springs and Lafayette to the west and Livingston to the southeast. Tennessee State Route 53, which intersects SR 52 in the southern part of Celina, runs southwestward down the Cumberland River to Gainesboro, and northeastward to the Kentucky border, where it continues as Kentucky Route 61 in the direction of Burkesville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Celina has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Celina had a population of 1,422, 632 households, and 405 families residing in the city.

There were 632 households in Celina, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.2% were married-couple households, 23.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 1,352 || 95.1%

|-

| Black or African American || 25 || 1.8%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 8 || 0.6%

|-

| Asian || 3 || 0.2%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 7 || 0.5%

|-

| Two or more races || 26 || 1.8%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 25 || 1.8%

|}

2000 census

As of the census

References

  • Obey River, Tennessee tourism website
  • Municipal Technical Advisory Service entry for Celina — information on local government, elections, and link to charter