Toone, Tennessee Explained

Official Name:Toone, Tennessee
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:260px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Tennessee
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Hardeman
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1856[1]
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:1903[2]
Named For:James Toone (early settler)
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:2.79
Area Land Km2:2.79
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:1.07
Area Land Sq Mi:1.07
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:270
Population Density Km2:96.94
Population Density Sq Mi:251.16
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:125
Elevation Ft:410
Coordinates:35.3522°N -88.9539°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:38381
Area Code:731
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:47-74640[4]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1304137[5]

Toone is a town in Hardeman County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 364 at the 2010 census.[6]

History

Toone is located in former Chickasaw country. The first Europeans to visit the area arrived on flatboats via the Hatchie River as early as 1725. By 1830 the community was populated enough that it was included in the United States census. In 1856, Toone developed into a railroad town with businesses opening up around the railroad. Brick manufacturing became the major industry, and many homes still have original Toone bricks in their architecture. During the Civil War, the town served as an encampment for the Union Army and saw one small skirmish for rail line control.[7]

Kilgore Flares Company explosion

On September 14, 2010, an explosion and flash fire occurred at the Kilgore Flares Company plant near Toone. Six workers were injured in the mishap, three of them critically. Another accident at the facility in 2001 caused the death of one employee. Kilgore manufactures airborne expendable decoy flares for the US military.

Geography

Toone is located in northern Hardeman County at 35.3522°N -88.9539°W (35.352311, -88.953801).[8] Tennessee State Route 138 (SR 138) is Main Street, leading northwest to Interstate 40 (I-40) between Jackson and Brownsville, and southeast 2miles to its terminus at SR 18. Bolivar, the Hardeman county seat, is 8miles south of Toone via SR 138 and SR 18. SR 100 runs through a northern extension of Toone, leading east to Henderson and west to Whiteville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7km2, all of it recorded as land. Pugh Creek flows through the southern part of the town, running southwest to Mill Creek and the Hatchie River.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 330 people, 107 households, and 80 families residing in the town. The population density was 397.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 115 housing units at an average density of 138.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 65.45% White, 34.24% African American, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 107 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 127.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,500, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $16,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,956. About 12.8% of families and 30.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Toone has a bank and a post office in its downtown area.

Toone is home to the Kilgore Flare Company. The company has operated near Toone since the early 1920s. They manufacture air-deployable decoy flares for use by U.S. military aircraft on a 264acres facility on the town's outskirts. An additional 242acres testing ground is also located near the town.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Hardeman County, Tennessee: Family History, Vol. 2 (Turner Publishing Company, 2001), p. 41.
  2. Tennessee Blue Book, 2005-2006, pp. 618-625.
  3. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 15, 2022.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  5. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. January 31, 2008. United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007.
  6. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Toone town, Tennessee. U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. January 29, 2018. https://archive.today/20200213113725/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4774640. February 13, 2020. dead.
  7. Web site: 2011 . Toone . Cities & Towns . Hardeman, Tennessee . November 19, 2011.
  8. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  9. Adrian Sainz, "6 Hurt in Explosion at Tenn. Plant Making Flares," Yahoo! News, September 14, 2010. Retrieved via archive.org February 26, 2013.