According to liuxers.com, Carroll County, Tennessee is located in the western part of the state and is bordered by Benton, Henry, Weakley, and Gibson counties. The county seat is Huntingdon and the largest city is McKenzie. It covers an area of 545 square miles and has a population of 28,522 people (2020).
Carroll County was formed in 1821 from parts of Henry, Henderson, Decatur, and Madison counties. It was named after Charles Carroll of Maryland who was the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Carroll County is known for its large agricultural production which includes cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco and livestock. It also has a vibrant timber industry with many sawmills located throughout the county.
The county’s two main rivers are the Forked Deer River and the Obion River which both flow through it on their way to join the Mississippi River near Reelfoot Lake in neighboring Obion County.
The county also boasts several natural attractions such as Natchez Trace State Park which offers camping facilities; Cedar Hill State Park which features a beautiful lake; Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park; Beech Creek Wildlife Management Area; Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park; and several other smaller parks scattered throughout Carroll County.
The county also hosts many festivals throughout the year including the McKenzie’s Strawberry Festival in May; Huntingdon’s Fly-In Festival in June; Hollow Rock’s Tomato Festival in August; Clarksburg’s Catfish Festival in October; and several others throughout the year that draw visitors from near and far.
Carroll County also has a number of historic sites including Ephraim McDowell House Museum which showcases artifacts from early settlers to Carroll County; Rosemont Plantation which was built by William Polk before he moved to Nashville to become governor of Tennessee; Camp Humboldt National Historic Site at Big Sandy which commemorates Union troops who were stationed there during the Civil War era; as well as several other historic sites scattered throughout Carroll County.
History of Carroll County, Tennessee
Carroll County, Tennessee has a rich and varied history that dates back to the early 1800s. It was originally part of Hickman County, which was created in 1807. In 1821, Carroll County was officially established with the county seat located in Huntingdon. The county was named after Charles Carroll of Maryland, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
In the 1830s, Carroll County began to experience an influx of settlers from Virginia, North Carolina and other southern states. These settlers were mostly farming families who sought new opportunities in this rural area. Farming quickly became the primary industry in Carroll County and many small towns developed around these farms. These towns included Bruceton, McLemoresville, Clarksburg and others.
The Civil War had a major impact on Carroll County as it did on most areas of Tennessee. Union forces occupied Huntingdon during much of the war and made use of it as a supply center for their camps throughout West Tennessee. During Reconstruction after the war, Carroll County saw an increase in African American residents as freed slaves moved into the area seeking economic opportunity and freedom from oppression in other parts of the state.
By the late 1800s industry had developed in Carroll County with several factories producing items such as textiles, furniture and lumber products opening up throughout various towns in the county. This period also saw an increase in educational opportunities for residents with several schools being established throughout this time period including McKenzie College which opened its doors in 1886 offering college level courses to students from all over West Tennessee and beyond.
Today, Carroll County is a thriving community with many different industries providing jobs for its citizens including manufacturing companies such as DENSO Manufacturing TN which produces automotive parts at its plant located near Huntingdon; agriculture is still important to many citizens; tourism has become increasingly popular due to its proximity to Reelfoot Lake; and education remains an important part of life with Bethel University being one of its most well-known institutions located just outside Huntingdon’s city limits.
Major cities and towns in Carroll County, Tennessee
Carroll County is located in the western part of Tennessee and is home to several small towns and cities. The county seat is Huntingdon, a town with a population of 5,000 located near the Kentucky border. The other major towns in the county include Bruceton, McLemoresville, Clarksburg, and McKenzie.
Bruceton is a small town with a population of 1,200 that was founded in 1845. It is known for its historic homes and buildings as well as its annual festivals and events including the Bruceton Bluegrass Festival held every August.
McLemoresville is a town of 500 people located just outside Huntingdon’s city limits. It was originally founded by settlers from North Carolina in 1835 and has since become known for its antique stores, local restaurants, historical sites such as the McLemoresville Cemetery which dates back to 1845, and its annual Harvest Festival held each October.
Clarksburg is another small town with a population of 800 that was established in 1872 when it became an important railroad stop on the Nashville & Northwestern line. Today, it continues to be an important part of Carroll County life as it hosts several festivals throughout the year including the Clarksburg Cornbread Festival held each April.
McKenzie is one of the larger towns in Carroll County with a population of 5300 people located just east of Huntingdon’s city limits. It was established in 1886 when McKenzie College opened its doors offering college-level courses to students from all over West Tennessee and beyond. Today, it remains an important educational hub for citizens throughout Carroll County as well as is home to several businesses such as manufacturing companies producing textiles, furniture, lumber products and more; agricultural operations; and tourism due to its proximity to Reelfoot Lake State Park which offers visitors recreational activities such as fishing, boating, hiking and more year-round.
Airports in Carroll County, Tennessee
According to Countryaah, Carroll County, Tennessee is home to two airports that serve both local and international travelers. The first airport is the McKenzie-Carroll County Airport (MKZ), which is located in McKenzie, Tennessee and serves as a general aviation facility. The airport features a single asphalt runway measuring 5,000 feet in length and provides services such as aircraft fueling, maintenance, and flight instruction. It also has facilities for corporate aircraft operations. The second airport in Carroll County is the Huntingdon Municipal Airport (HGD), which is located near Huntingdon’s city limits and serves as a regional air hub for West Tennessee. It features two asphalt runways measuring 5,400 feet and 4,000 feet respectively. The airport offers services such as aircraft fueling, maintenance, flight instruction, corporate aircraft operations, air cargo handling, and charter flights. Additionally, the airport has facilities for transient aircraft with tie-downs available for rent on a daily or monthly basis.
The two airports offer several amenities to their passengers including car rental services from national companies like Avis and Hertz; restaurants offering both local fare as well as national chains; an onsite hotel; conference rooms; and shops selling souvenirs from the area. In addition they offer free Wi-Fi access to passengers while they wait for their flights.
Both airports are also served by several major airlines including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and JetBlue Airways who offer direct flights to major cities throughout the United States such as Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). They also offer connecting flights to destinations around the world through their partner airlines like Air Canada Rouge (ROU), British Airways (BAW)and Lufthansa German Airlines (DLH).
Carroll County offers travelers reliable transportation options through its two airports which provide excellent service at competitive rates making it an ideal destination for tourists or business travelers alike looking to explore all that West Tennessee has to offer.