Tenaha is a town in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 989 at the 2020 census.

History

Tenaha was established on February 2, 1886. The community was named by members of the Hicks family (Cherokee) for Tenehaw Municipality, from the Spanish, the original name of Shelby County.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.0&nbsp; square miles (10.3&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 4.0&nbsp; square miles (10.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 0.04&nbsp; square miles (0.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) (0.50%) is water.

Demographics

{| class="wikitable"

|+Tenaha racial composition as of 2020<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Race

!Number

!Percentage

|-

|White (NH)

|271

|27.4%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|349

|35.29%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|1

|0.1%

|-

|Some Other Race (NH)

|1

|0.1%

|-

|Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)

|26

|2.63%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|341

|34.48%

|-

|Total

|989

|

|}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 989 people, 559 households, and 394 families residing in the town.

As of the census In addition to taking of valuables from motorists who were not criminally charged, Tenaha officials allegedly agreed to lenient sentences for known drug traffickers in exchange for cash forfeitures.

Between 2006 and 2008, Tenaha Marshal’s Office used state forfeiture regulations to seize property from nearly 200 motorists. In about 50 of the cases, suspects were charged with drug possession. But in 147 incidents, marshals seized cash, jewelry, cell phones and automobiles even though no contraband was found, and the motorist was not charged with any crime. Many of these were African-American or Latino drivers. At least 150 motorists had property seized by Tenaha marshal’s office, totaling more than US$3 million.

Transportation

Tenaha is located on a junction of <!--Interstates 69 and 369 as well as--> U.S. Routes 59, 84 and 96. In the future, Interstate 69 and Interstate 369 is planned to intersect at Tenaha.

Education

Public education in the town of Tenaha is provided by the Tenaha Independent School District. The best known alumnus of Tenaha High School is Jim Wilkinson (James R. Wilkinson), who gave up plans to become an undertaker to go to work for Republican Congressman Dick Armey in 1992. He served as General Tommy R. Franks' director of strategic communications, and is deputy national security advisor for communications as of December 2003.

Media

The Light and Champion, a news and information company, serves Shelby County, as well as Logansport, Louisiana.

Notable people

  • Bobo Barnett, a circus clown whose career lasted from the late 1920s to the early 1970s
  • Wayne Christian, Republican state representative for Shelby and neighboring counties
  • George Peddy, State representative for Shelby County

References