Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,435. Its county seat is Decaturville.
History
This county is named after naval hero Stephen Decatur Jr., who gained national recognition in the First Barbary War, the Second Barbary War, and the War of 1812 by his leadership and achievements at sea. The county was created in November 1845 from the part of Perry County west of the Tennessee River in response to a petition by citizens on the west side of the river. being one of only eight counties in West or Middle Tennessee to support the Union. Earlier on February 9, 1861, Decatur County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 514 to 251.
In 2015, the Decatur County clerk of court and the entire staff of that office resigned, to express conscientious objection to the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which would oblige the office to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.2%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Benton County (north)
- Perry County (east)
- Wayne County (southeast)
- Hardin County (south)
- Henderson County (west)
- Carroll County (northwest)
National protected area
- Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (part)
State protected area
- Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area
- Cypress Pond Refuge