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Dyersburg, Tennessee

Dyersburg is a city and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States. It is located in northwest Tennessee, 79 miles (127 km) northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 16,164 at the 2020 census, down 5.72% from the 2010 census.[6]

Dyersburg, Tennessee
Motto: 
"Dyersburg...the Gateway to Everywhere"[1]
Location of Dyersburg in Dyer County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°2′N 89°23′W / 36.033°N 89.383°W / 36.033; -89.383
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyDyer
First Settled1819
Established1826
Named forCol. Robert H. Dyer (1774-1826)
Government
 • MayorJohn Holden
Area
 • Total17.43 sq mi (45.15 km2)
 • Land17.32 sq mi (44.86 km2)
 • Water0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation312 ft (95 m)
Population
 • Total16,164
 • Density933.31/sq mi (360.35/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
38024-38025
Area code731
FIPS code47-22200[5]
GNIS feature ID1283267[3]
Websitewww.dyersburgtn.gov

History edit

Early history edit

The lands encompassing Dyersburg were originally inhabited by the Chickasaw people. As westward expansion continued, the Chickasaw Nation relinquished their claims to West Tennessee through a series of treaties, culminating in the final agreement signed in 1818. Following this, European settlers began arriving in the area around 1819.[7]

19th century edit

In 1823, the Tennessee General Assembly established two new counties immediately west of the Tennessee River, Dyer County being one of them. John McIver and Joel H. Dyer donated 60 acres (240,000 m2) for the new county seat, aptly named Dyersburg, at a central location within the county known as "McIver's Bluff". Dyer surveyed the town in 1825, laying out 86 lots.[8] The county (and county seat) were named for Joel Dyer's father, Colonel Robert Henry Dyer. Col. Dyer served as the first postmaster of Dyersburg, and sat on its first chancery court.[9] The first courthouse was constructed on the square in 1827, while the current Classical Revival-style courthouse, designed by Asa Biggs in 1911, remains a centerpiece of the downtown historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 
Map of Dyer County, Tennessee (1836)

Brothers Ben McCulloch and Henry McCulloch settled in Dyersburg prior to moving westward to participate in the Texas Revolution. It was in the Dyersburg area they befriended Davy Crockett. They later became well-known as Texas Rangers and Confederate officers.

Dyersburg's early development hinged on its strategic location as a hub for steamboat navigation on the Forked Deer River. The success of the Grey Eagle's maiden voyage in 1836 solidified Dyersburg's status as a river town. The county's first industrial boom commenced in 1879 with the shipment of timber from A. M. Stevens Lumber Company to St. Louis markets via steamboat. This paved the way for further investments in timber processing, with the establishment of a large sawmill in 1880 and a planing mill in 1885. The financial sector also saw growth with the opening of the Bank of Dyersburg in 1880, while another timber industry, Nichols & Co. Wooden Bowl Factory, began operations in 1881.[8]

The arrival of the Newport News and Mississippi Valley Railroad in 1884 further expanded market possibilities; a branch line, the Dyersburg Northern, soon linked the county seat to Tiptonville. The new railroad links encouraged the creation of new industries and businesses. In 1884, for example, investors established the Dyersburg Oil Company, a cottonseed factory. This company remained locally important through the 20th century.[8]

Civil War edit

During the Civil War, Dyersburg witnessed several skirmishes, ultimately resulting in Union victories. On August 7, 1862, about 50 men of the 6th Illinois Cavalry Regiment attacked a group of Confederates about 5 miles east of Dyersburg.[10] In a report by Brigadier General Grenville M. Dodge, he wrote the Confederates who escaped left without their clothes, arms, or horses and said that "they killed some 25 to 30 [Confederates], took 53 horses, and a large number of guns & arms." Dodge also recommended burning the county as "They pay no attention to the oath, feed and guide the rebels." He reported they were assisted in routing the Confederates by "two Negros" and that "No white man had the pluck to do it."[10] On August 18, 1862, the 6th Illinois Cavalry Regiment attacked a small band of Confederates on the Obion River six miles from Dyersburg taking all their horses, arms, and ammunition.[11]

On January 30, 1863, the Skirmish at Dyersburg was fought. Confederate soldiers from Dawson's Guerrilla Band spent the day skirmishing near the Forked Deer River bridge in Downtown Dyersburg with men from the Third Michigan Cavalry. Near midnight, Union forces under the command of Colonel Oliver Wood of the 22nd Ohio Infantry Regiment located the rebel stronghold in a house near the bridge and "completely routed them [Confederates], killing 2, wounding 4, and capturing 17, when the rebels broke and fled in every direction."[12] Nathan Bedford Forrest and Robert V. Richardson occupied Dyersburg in August 1863, before retreating upon the arrival of Colonel Edward Hatch in the area.[13]

20th century edit

The 20th century saw Dyersburg emerge as a crucial railroad hub. By 1914, it became the junction point for three different lines, led by the Illinois Central Railroad.[8]

In 1916, Julius Morgan was convicted of raping Laura Sullivan of Dyersburg and became the first person to be executed by the electric chair in Tennessee.[14]

Lynching and Mob Violence edit

William Thomas edit

A black man named William Thomas was lynched on March 19, 1917, for allegedly shooting an officer.[15]

Lation Scott edit

On December 2, 1917, a 24-year-old black farmhand named Lation (or Ligon) Scott[16] was brutally lynched by a white mob[17] before a crowd of eight thousand[18] people.[19] Over the course of several hours, Scott was publicly tortured. He was chained to a post in an empty lot adjacent to the town's court square.[20] Torturers burned out his eyes with red-hot irons.[19] When he cried out in pain, a red-hot poker was rammed down his esophagus.[19] He was then castrated, and more hot irons placed on his feet, back, and body until "a hideous stench of burning flesh filled the Sabbath air".[19] After being tortured, Scott was slowly burned at the stake.[17][19] Scott's torture and murder occurred over a three and a half hour period.[19] No one was prosecuted for the lynching.[16] Author Margaret Vandiver wrote in Lethal Punishment: Lynchings and Legal Executions in the South, “The lynching of Lation Scott was the most ghastly of all those I researched.”[16] H. L. Mitchell, future president of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union, wrote of the lynching, "The flames rose high, and the odor of burning flesh permeated the air. The black man's body sagged against the iron post and chains. Nauseated, I broke through the crowd and rushed back to the railway station where I stretched out trembling, on the cold ground."[21] The lynching was widely reported on at the time, with Baltimore newspaper The Afro-American running the headline "TENNESSEE LYNCHING OUTRIVALS WORST GERMAN ATROCITIES"[18] and coverage in The New York Times.[22] There were no more documented lynchings in Dyersburg after Scott's.[23]

 
The Edward Moody King House is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1942, Dyersburg Army Air Base was established by the War Department to facilitate and support military bomber training. Following the end of World War II, the base was decommissioned in 1946.[24] A museum is currently located at the site of the former air base.[25]

On March 5, 1963, a Piper Comanche plane carrying country singers Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and Cline's manager & pilot Randy Hughes stopped to refuel in Dyersburg. The plane crashed around 20 minutes later in inclement weather near Camden, Tennessee.[26]

In 1990, Boss Hoss Cycles was founded by Dyersburg resident Monte Warren.[27][28]

21st century edit

 
Buildings across from the Dyer County Courthouse in 2022
 
Example of downtown Dyersburg architecture

On September 17, 2003, Harold Kilpatrick Jr. took 15 hostages in a classroom at Dyersburg State Community College. Kilpatrick was killed following a nine-hour standoff with police.[29]

In June and July 2020, multiple peaceful demonstrations were held in downtown Dyersburg around the city's Confederate Statue.[30][31][32][33] These protests focused on systemic racism and police brutality.[34] At one of the protests a speech was given about Lation Scott, a man who was brutally lynched in front of a crowd of thousands in the same court square over a hundred years prior. These events are notable as they are the first known protests to have occurred in the town.[35] During one protest, participants were met by a group of counter-protesters concerned about the removal of Dyersburg's Confederate Statue, with some claiming the statue commemorates all Confederate soldiers in Tennessee including black ones, and claiming "Black men joined because of deprivations, like burning, raping and looting, committed by the Union". Another said Black Lives Matter was becoming "like a terrorist group." Rebuking the counter-protestors, A Dyersburg resident said, “We’re not here about the statue. We’re here to get justice for our brothers and sisters. That statue didn’t kill George Floyd. That statue didn’t kill Breonna Taylor.”[32][34]

Geography edit

Dyersburg is located in central Dyer County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.5 square miles (45.2 km2), of which 17.3 square miles (44.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.66%, is water.[36]

Dyersburg is located on the Forked Deer River and is 13 mi (21 km) from the Mississippi River.

The city's proximity to the New Madrid Seismic Zone places it at risk for future earthquakes. USGS data shows an 18.28% chance of a major earthquake within 31 miles (50 km) of Dyersburg within the next 50 years. The largest earthquake within 30 miles (48 km) of Dyersburg was a 4.0-magnitude event in 2005.[37]

Climate edit

Climate data for Dyersburg Regional Airport, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26)
80
(27)
85
(29)
93
(34)
97
(36)
105
(41)
104
(40)
104
(40)
103
(39)
93
(34)
84
(29)
78
(26)
105
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 47.3
(8.5)
51.7
(10.9)
61.1
(16.2)
71.0
(21.7)
79.7
(26.5)
87.6
(30.9)
90.1
(32.3)
89.5
(31.9)
83.7
(28.7)
73.0
(22.8)
59.5
(15.3)
50.4
(10.2)
70.4
(21.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 38.3
(3.5)
41.8
(5.4)
50.6
(10.3)
60.0
(15.6)
69.6
(20.9)
77.6
(25.3)
80.4
(26.9)
79.0
(26.1)
72.5
(22.5)
60.9
(16.1)
48.9
(9.4)
41.5
(5.3)
60.1
(15.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 29.2
(−1.6)
31.8
(−0.1)
40.2
(4.6)
49.0
(9.4)
59.5
(15.3)
67.7
(19.8)
70.7
(21.5)
68.5
(20.3)
61.3
(16.3)
48.8
(9.3)
38.3
(3.5)
32.6
(0.3)
49.8
(9.9)
Record low °F (°C) −12
(−24)
−5
(−21)
6
(−14)
25
(−4)
38
(3)
46
(8)
55
(13)
49
(9)
37
(3)
25
(−4)
6
(−14)
−7
(−22)
−12
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.80
(97)
4.56
(116)
5.87
(149)
5.08
(129)
5.38
(137)
4.47
(114)
4.29
(109)
3.27
(83)
2.64
(67)
4.16
(106)
4.54
(115)
5.19
(132)
53.25
(1,353)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.3 7.8 11.3 9.9 10.4 8.4 7.2 5.7 6.7 7.8 8.5 9.4 102.4
Source: NOAA[38]

[39]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870683
18801,01047.9%
18902,00998.9%
19003,64781.5%
19104,14913.8%
19206,44455.3%
19308,73335.5%
194010,03414.9%
195010,8858.5%
196012,49914.8%
197014,52316.2%
198015,8569.2%
199016,3172.9%
200017,4527.0%
201017,145−1.8%
202016,164−5.7%
Sources:[5][40][4]

2020 census edit

Dyersburg racial composition[41]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 10,106 62.49%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 4,337 26.82%
Native American 18 0.11%
Asian 169 1.05%
Pacific Islander 7 0.04%
Other/Mixed 809 5.0%
Hispanic or Latino 725 4.48%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,164 people, 6,865 households, and 4,500 families residing in the city.

2000 census edit

Dyersburg's population was estimated at 17,002 in 2013. As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 17,452 people, 7,036 households, and 4,517 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,158.7 inhabitants per square mile (447.4/km2). There were 7,885 housing units at an average density of 523.5 per square mile (202.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.68% White, 22.02% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.

There were 7,036 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males. In 2013 there were 7,989 males and 9,013 Females. The median age: 37.6.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,232, and the median income for a family was $34,754. Males had a median income of $30,898 versus $21,337 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,388. About 17.4% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over.

Sports edit

From 1923 to 1925, Dyersburg was home to a Minor League Baseball team known as the Dyersburg Forked Deers (1923–1924) and Dyersburg Deers (1925).[42] They won the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League championship in 1923 and 1924.[43][44]

On March 9, 2024, the Dyersburg High School Girls Basketball Team (The Lady Trojans) won their first State Championship in Class 3A by beating Upperman High School 41-39. The tournament was played at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. [45]

Parks and recreation edit

Dyersburg has several public parks, recreational centers, and swimming pools.[46]

Education edit

Media edit

Newspaper edit

The Dyersburg State Gazette is a semi-weekly broadsheet newspaper published in Dyersburg.[49] The newspaper has had a circulation reaching 7,900.[50]

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

Hospital edit

West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital is a Joint Commission accredited hospital.[52] The medical center has 225 beds.[53] Originally built as Parkview Hospital in 1956,[54] the hospital has changed stewardship multiple times since its inception.[55][56]

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ "City of Dyersburg, Tennessee". City of Dyersburg, Tennessee. from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dyersburg, Tennessee
  4. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts Dyersburg city, Tennessee". QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Willoughby Jr., Earl (November 6, 2002). "The genesis of Dyer County". Dyersburg State Gazette. Retrieved September 28, 2019.[dead link](subscription required)
  8. ^ a b c d Van West, Carroll. "Dyer County". from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  9. ^ Willoughby, Earl Jr. "Dyer County TNGenWeb: Robert Henry Dyer". www.tngenweb.org. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  10. ^ a b The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. 24. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1880–1901. pp. 29–30. from the original on May 24, 2022.
  11. ^ The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. 24. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1880–1901. pp. 33–34. from the original on May 24, 2022.
  12. ^ The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. 35. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1880–1901. p. 335. from the original on May 24, 2022.
  13. ^ The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. 109. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1880–1901. pp. 431–432. from the original on May 24, 2022.
  14. ^ "Tennessee Executions". Tennessee Department of Correction. from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  15. ^ Burghardt Du Bois, William Edward (1918). The Crisis, Volume 15, No. 4. New York: Crisis Publishing Company. p. 183.
  16. ^ a b c "1917: Lation Scott lynched". executedtoday.com. December 2, 2014. from the original on May 13, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Hiaasen, Carl (February 21, 2015). . Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  18. ^ a b "TENNESSEE LYNCHING OUTRIVALS WORST GERMAN ATROCITIES". Baltimore, Maryland: The Afro-American. December 8, 1917. from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Burghardt Du Bois, William Edward (1918). The Crisis, Volume 15, No. 4. New York: Crisis Publishing Company. pp. 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183.
  20. ^ . Black Ripley. November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  21. ^ Mitchell, H.L. (October 22, 2014). . University of Oklahoma Press. p. 1. ISBN 9780806186078. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  22. ^ "NEGRO BURNED AT STAKE.; Tennessee Mob Puts Prisoner to Death in Sight of Thousands" (PDF). The New York Times. Vol. LXVII, no. 21863. New York, NY. December 3, 1917. p. 22. (PDF) from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  23. ^ Vandiver, Margaret (2006). Lethal Punishment : Lynchings and Legal Executions in the South. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. pp. 96–98. ISBN 9780813537283. from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "WWII Dyersburg Army Air Base – Halls TN, 1942". Tennessee History. August 22, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  25. ^ "Dyersburg Army Air Base Memorial Association". website. from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  26. ^ Larry Jordan (March 5, 2013). "What really happened in the Patsy Cline plane crash". boardhost.com. from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  27. ^ "Boss Hoss Background". Boss Hoss. from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  28. ^ Jones, Ken (January 20, 2016). "Boss Hoss under new ownership, staying in Dyersburg". State Gazette. Retrieved May 29, 2022.(subscription required)
  29. ^ "Dyersburg Hostage Situation Ends in Death, Bloodshed". KAIT. from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  30. ^ "Protest held at Dyer County Courthouse". State Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2020.(subscription required)
  31. ^ "Protesters, local citizens hold discussions in downtown Dyersburg". State Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2020.(subscription required)
  32. ^ a b "Protesters, counter-protesters hold discussion in Dyersburg". WBBJ. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "Protesters address racial injustice, police brutality in Dyersburg". WBBJ. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  34. ^ a b "Confederate monument in Dyersburg becomes focus of protest against systemic racism". Jackson Sun. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  35. ^ "Protesters gather in downtown Dyersburg, spectators react". WBBJ. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  36. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dyersburg city, Tennessee". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  37. ^ "M 4.0 - 12km S of Ridgely, Tennessee". USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  38. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  39. ^ "Station: Dyersburg III Golf, TN". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  40. ^ . Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  41. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  42. ^ "1923 Dyersburg Forked Deers Roster". Stats Crew. from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  43. ^ "Dyersburg Crowned League Champion After Winning Series from Mayfield". News-Democrat. Paducah. September 12, 1923. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Deers Win Title of Kitty Loop from Paris". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. September 17, 1924. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "TSSAA Box Score".
  46. ^ "Dyersburg, TN". dyersburgtn.gov. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  47. ^ "About the College". www.dscc.edu. from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  48. ^ "DSCC Locations". www.dscc.edu. from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  49. ^ "Dyersburg State Gazette". Dyersburg State Gazette. from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.(subscription required)
  50. ^ "Dyersburg News State Gazette". YP Intellectual Property LLC. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  51. ^ "City of New Orleans". Amtrak. from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  52. ^ "Dyersburg Hospital awarded accreditation from joint commission". Dyersburg State Gazette. June 25, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.(subscription required)
  53. ^ "Dyersburg Hospital". West Tennessee Healthcare. from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  54. ^ "Methodist Healthcare-Dyersburg Hospital on Parkview Street in Dyersburg". Dyersburg State Gazette. September 25, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2019.(subscription required)
  55. ^ "Dyersburg Regional joins Tennova Healthcare". Dyersburg State Gazette. September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2019.(subscription required)
  56. ^ "Dyersburg hospital sold to West Tennessee Healthcare". Dyersburg State Gazette. March 27, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2019.(subscription required)
  57. ^ Sources vary as to the exact date of his death. Banks (p. 87) gives June 4; both "Antietam on the Web" and Allardice (p. 87) state June 14; Eicher (p. 596) gives June 15.
  58. ^ "Former Dyersburg resident to star in new CBS drama". State Gazette. June 19, 2015. from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.(subscription required)
  59. ^ . United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  60. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (December 15, 2002). "Remembering George "Two Ton" Harris". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
  61. ^ "John D. Hunter '90". January 21, 2016.
  62. ^ . www.emmettkellyjr.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  63. ^ "Michael Swift NFL Stats - Pro Football Archives". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  64. ^ Ed Wright at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Bob Brady, Retrieved August 16, 2017.

External links edit

  • Official website

dyersburg, tennessee, dyersburg, redirects, here, other, uses, dyersburg, disambiguation, dyersburg, city, county, seat, dyer, county, tennessee, united, states, located, northwest, tennessee, miles, northeast, memphis, forked, deer, river, population, 2020, c. Dyersburg redirects here For other uses see Dyersburg disambiguation Dyersburg is a city and the county seat of Dyer County Tennessee United States It is located in northwest Tennessee 79 miles 127 km northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River The population was 16 164 at the 2020 census down 5 72 from the 2010 census 6 Dyersburg TennesseeCityThe Bank of Dyersburg building listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesSealMotto Dyersburg the Gateway to Everywhere 1 Location of Dyersburg in Dyer County Tennessee Coordinates 36 2 N 89 23 W 36 033 N 89 383 W 36 033 89 383CountryUnited StatesStateTennesseeCountyDyerFirst Settled1819Established1826Named forCol Robert H Dyer 1774 1826 Government MayorJohn HoldenArea 2 Total17 43 sq mi 45 15 km2 Land17 32 sq mi 44 86 km2 Water0 11 sq mi 0 29 km2 Elevation 3 312 ft 95 m Population 2020 4 Total16 164 Density933 31 sq mi 360 35 km2 Time zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP codes38024 38025Area code731FIPS code47 22200 5 GNIS feature ID1283267 3 Websitewww wbr dyersburgtn wbr gov Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1 2 19th century 1 3 Civil War 1 4 20th century 1 4 1 Lynching and Mob Violence 1 4 1 1 William Thomas 1 4 1 2 Lation Scott 1 5 21st century 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 2020 census 3 2 2000 census 4 Sports 5 Parks and recreation 6 Education 7 Media 7 1 Newspaper 8 Infrastructure 8 1 Transportation 8 2 Hospital 9 Notable people 10 References 11 External linksHistory editEarly history edit The lands encompassing Dyersburg were originally inhabited by the Chickasaw people As westward expansion continued the Chickasaw Nation relinquished their claims to West Tennessee through a series of treaties culminating in the final agreement signed in 1818 Following this European settlers began arriving in the area around 1819 7 19th century edit In 1823 the Tennessee General Assembly established two new counties immediately west of the Tennessee River Dyer County being one of them John McIver and Joel H Dyer donated 60 acres 240 000 m2 for the new county seat aptly named Dyersburg at a central location within the county known as McIver s Bluff Dyer surveyed the town in 1825 laying out 86 lots 8 The county and county seat were named for Joel Dyer s father Colonel Robert Henry Dyer Col Dyer served as the first postmaster of Dyersburg and sat on its first chancery court 9 The first courthouse was constructed on the square in 1827 while the current Classical Revival style courthouse designed by Asa Biggs in 1911 remains a centerpiece of the downtown historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places nbsp Map of Dyer County Tennessee 1836 Brothers Ben McCulloch and Henry McCulloch settled in Dyersburg prior to moving westward to participate in the Texas Revolution It was in the Dyersburg area they befriended Davy Crockett They later became well known as Texas Rangers and Confederate officers Dyersburg s early development hinged on its strategic location as a hub for steamboat navigation on the Forked Deer River The success of the Grey Eagle s maiden voyage in 1836 solidified Dyersburg s status as a river town The county s first industrial boom commenced in 1879 with the shipment of timber from A M Stevens Lumber Company to St Louis markets via steamboat This paved the way for further investments in timber processing with the establishment of a large sawmill in 1880 and a planing mill in 1885 The financial sector also saw growth with the opening of the Bank of Dyersburg in 1880 while another timber industry Nichols amp Co Wooden Bowl Factory began operations in 1881 8 The arrival of the Newport News and Mississippi Valley Railroad in 1884 further expanded market possibilities a branch line the Dyersburg Northern soon linked the county seat to Tiptonville The new railroad links encouraged the creation of new industries and businesses In 1884 for example investors established the Dyersburg Oil Company a cottonseed factory This company remained locally important through the 20th century 8 Civil War edit During the Civil War Dyersburg witnessed several skirmishes ultimately resulting in Union victories On August 7 1862 about 50 men of the 6th Illinois Cavalry Regiment attacked a group of Confederates about 5 miles east of Dyersburg 10 In a report by Brigadier General Grenville M Dodge he wrote the Confederates who escaped left without their clothes arms or horses and said that they killed some 25 to 30 Confederates took 53 horses and a large number of guns amp arms Dodge also recommended burning the county as They pay no attention to the oath feed and guide the rebels He reported they were assisted in routing the Confederates by two Negros and that No white man had the pluck to do it 10 On August 18 1862 the 6th Illinois Cavalry Regiment attacked a small band of Confederates on the Obion River six miles from Dyersburg taking all their horses arms and ammunition 11 On January 30 1863 the Skirmish at Dyersburg was fought Confederate soldiers from Dawson s Guerrilla Band spent the day skirmishing near the Forked Deer River bridge in Downtown Dyersburg with men from the Third Michigan Cavalry Near midnight Union forces under the command of Colonel Oliver Wood of the 22nd Ohio Infantry Regiment located the rebel stronghold in a house near the bridge and completely routed them Confederates killing 2 wounding 4 and capturing 17 when the rebels broke and fled in every direction 12 Nathan Bedford Forrest and Robert V Richardson occupied Dyersburg in August 1863 before retreating upon the arrival of Colonel Edward Hatch in the area 13 20th century edit The 20th century saw Dyersburg emerge as a crucial railroad hub By 1914 it became the junction point for three different lines led by the Illinois Central Railroad 8 In 1916 Julius Morgan was convicted of raping Laura Sullivan of Dyersburg and became the first person to be executed by the electric chair in Tennessee 14 Lynching and Mob Violence edit William Thomas edit A black man named William Thomas was lynched on March 19 1917 for allegedly shooting an officer 15 Lation Scott edit On December 2 1917 a 24 year old black farmhand named Lation or Ligon Scott 16 was brutally lynched by a white mob 17 before a crowd of eight thousand 18 people 19 Over the course of several hours Scott was publicly tortured He was chained to a post in an empty lot adjacent to the town s court square 20 Torturers burned out his eyes with red hot irons 19 When he cried out in pain a red hot poker was rammed down his esophagus 19 He was then castrated and more hot irons placed on his feet back and body until a hideous stench of burning flesh filled the Sabbath air 19 After being tortured Scott was slowly burned at the stake 17 19 Scott s torture and murder occurred over a three and a half hour period 19 No one was prosecuted for the lynching 16 Author Margaret Vandiver wrote in Lethal Punishment Lynchings and Legal Executions in the South The lynching of Lation Scott was the most ghastly of all those I researched 16 H L Mitchell future president of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union wrote of the lynching The flames rose high and the odor of burning flesh permeated the air The black man s body sagged against the iron post and chains Nauseated I broke through the crowd and rushed back to the railway station where I stretched out trembling on the cold ground 21 The lynching was widely reported on at the time with Baltimore newspaper The Afro American running the headline TENNESSEE LYNCHING OUTRIVALS WORST GERMAN ATROCITIES 18 and coverage in The New York Times 22 There were no more documented lynchings in Dyersburg after Scott s 23 nbsp The Edward Moody King House is on the National Register of Historic Places In 1942 Dyersburg Army Air Base was established by the War Department to facilitate and support military bomber training Following the end of World War II the base was decommissioned in 1946 24 A museum is currently located at the site of the former air base 25 On March 5 1963 a Piper Comanche plane carrying country singers Patsy Cline Hawkshaw Hawkins Cowboy Copas and Cline s manager amp pilot Randy Hughes stopped to refuel in Dyersburg The plane crashed around 20 minutes later in inclement weather near Camden Tennessee 26 In 1990 Boss Hoss Cycles was founded by Dyersburg resident Monte Warren 27 28 21st century edit nbsp Buildings across from the Dyer County Courthouse in 2022 nbsp Example of downtown Dyersburg architectureOn September 17 2003 Harold Kilpatrick Jr took 15 hostages in a classroom at Dyersburg State Community College Kilpatrick was killed following a nine hour standoff with police 29 In June and July 2020 multiple peaceful demonstrations were held in downtown Dyersburg around the city s Confederate Statue 30 31 32 33 These protests focused on systemic racism and police brutality 34 At one of the protests a speech was given about Lation Scott a man who was brutally lynched in front of a crowd of thousands in the same court square over a hundred years prior These events are notable as they are the first known protests to have occurred in the town 35 During one protest participants were met by a group of counter protesters concerned about the removal of Dyersburg s Confederate Statue with some claiming the statue commemorates all Confederate soldiers in Tennessee including black ones and claiming Black men joined because of deprivations like burning raping and looting committed by the Union Another said Black Lives Matter was becoming like a terrorist group Rebuking the counter protestors A Dyersburg resident said We re not here about the statue We re here to get justice for our brothers and sisters That statue didn t kill George Floyd That statue didn t kill Breonna Taylor 32 34 Geography editDyersburg is located in central Dyer County According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 17 5 square miles 45 2 km2 of which 17 3 square miles 44 9 km2 is land and 0 1 square miles 0 3 km2 or 0 66 is water 36 Dyersburg is located on the Forked Deer River and is 13 mi 21 km from the Mississippi River The city s proximity to the New Madrid Seismic Zone places it at risk for future earthquakes USGS data shows an 18 28 chance of a major earthquake within 31 miles 50 km of Dyersburg within the next 50 years The largest earthquake within 30 miles 48 km of Dyersburg was a 4 0 magnitude event in 2005 37 Climate edit Climate data for Dyersburg Regional Airport Tennessee 1991 2020 normals extremes 1948 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high F C 78 26 80 27 85 29 93 34 97 36 105 41 104 40 104 40 103 39 93 34 84 29 78 26 105 41 Mean daily maximum F C 47 3 8 5 51 7 10 9 61 1 16 2 71 0 21 7 79 7 26 5 87 6 30 9 90 1 32 3 89 5 31 9 83 7 28 7 73 0 22 8 59 5 15 3 50 4 10 2 70 4 21 3 Daily mean F C 38 3 3 5 41 8 5 4 50 6 10 3 60 0 15 6 69 6 20 9 77 6 25 3 80 4 26 9 79 0 26 1 72 5 22 5 60 9 16 1 48 9 9 4 41 5 5 3 60 1 15 6 Mean daily minimum F C 29 2 1 6 31 8 0 1 40 2 4 6 49 0 9 4 59 5 15 3 67 7 19 8 70 7 21 5 68 5 20 3 61 3 16 3 48 8 9 3 38 3 3 5 32 6 0 3 49 8 9 9 Record low F C 12 24 5 21 6 14 25 4 38 3 46 8 55 13 49 9 37 3 25 4 6 14 7 22 12 24 Average precipitation inches mm 3 80 97 4 56 116 5 87 149 5 08 129 5 38 137 4 47 114 4 29 109 3 27 83 2 64 67 4 16 106 4 54 115 5 19 132 53 25 1 353 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 9 3 7 8 11 3 9 9 10 4 8 4 7 2 5 7 6 7 7 8 8 5 9 4 102 4 Source NOAA 38 39 Demographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 1870683 18801 01047 9 18902 00998 9 19003 64781 5 19104 14913 8 19206 44455 3 19308 73335 5 194010 03414 9 195010 8858 5 196012 49914 8 197014 52316 2 198015 8569 2 199016 3172 9 200017 4527 0 201017 145 1 8 202016 164 5 7 Sources 5 40 4 2020 census edit Dyersburg racial composition 41 Race Num Perc White non Hispanic 10 106 62 49 Black or African American non Hispanic 4 337 26 82 Native American 18 0 11 Asian 169 1 05 Pacific Islander 7 0 04 Other Mixed 809 5 0 Hispanic or Latino 725 4 48 As of the 2020 United States census there were 16 164 people 6 865 households and 4 500 families residing in the city 2000 census edit Dyersburg s population was estimated at 17 002 in 2013 As of the census 5 of 2000 there were 17 452 people 7 036 households and 4 517 families residing in the city The population density was 1 158 7 inhabitants per square mile 447 4 km2 There were 7 885 housing units at an average density of 523 5 per square mile 202 1 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 75 68 White 22 02 African American 0 21 Native American 0 54 Asian 0 02 Pacific Islander 0 53 from other races and 0 99 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 36 of the population There were 7 036 households out of which 31 5 had children under the age of 18 living with them 42 4 were married couples living together 17 9 had a female householder with no husband present and 35 8 were non families 30 9 of all households were made up of individuals and 13 1 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 39 and the average family size was 2 99 In the city the population was spread out with 26 3 under the age of 18 9 6 from 18 to 24 27 6 from 25 to 44 21 4 from 45 to 64 and 15 0 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 36 years For every 100 females there were 86 5 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 82 3 males In 2013 there were 7 989 males and 9 013 Females The median age 37 6 The median income for a household in the city was 28 232 and the median income for a family was 34 754 Males had a median income of 30 898 versus 21 337 for females The per capita income for the city was 16 388 About 17 4 of families and 20 5 of the population were below the poverty line including 29 5 of those under age 18 and 19 0 of those age 65 or over Sports editFrom 1923 to 1925 Dyersburg was home to a Minor League Baseball team known as the Dyersburg Forked Deers 1923 1924 and Dyersburg Deers 1925 42 They won the Kentucky Illinois Tennessee League championship in 1923 and 1924 43 44 On March 9 2024 the Dyersburg High School Girls Basketball Team The Lady Trojans won their first State Championship in Class 3A by beating Upperman High School 41 39 The tournament was played at Middle Tennessee State s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro Tennessee 45 Parks and recreation editDyersburg has several public parks recreational centers and swimming pools 46 Education editDyersburg State Community College established 1969 with satellite campuses in Henry and Tipton counties 47 48 Media editNewspaper edit The Dyersburg State Gazette is a semi weekly broadsheet newspaper published in Dyersburg 49 The newspaper has had a circulation reaching 7 900 50 Infrastructure editTransportation edit Dyersburg Regional Airport KDYR DYR by the FAA 275 Acres Newbern Dyersburg station serves the City of New Orleans route one of two Amtrak stations in Tennessee 51 Hospital edit West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital is a Joint Commission accredited hospital 52 The medical center has 225 beds 53 Originally built as Parkview Hospital in 1956 54 the hospital has changed stewardship multiple times since its inception 55 56 Notable people editJohn Calvin Fiser 1838 1876 was an American merchant and soldier Colonel 57 Harry Ford actor 1980 present actor starred in CBS show Code Black 58 James A Gardner First Lieutenant recipient of the Medal of Honor 1966 59 George Two Ton Harris 1927 2002 wrestler known as Baby Blimp professional wrestler National Wrestling Alliance 60 John D Hunter 1968 2012 neurobiologist and the original author of Matplotlib 61 Emmett Kelly Jr 1923 2006 The World s Most Famous Clown better known as Weary Willie 62 Michael Swift 1974 present former National Football League player Played for San Diego Chargers Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars from 1997 to 2000 63 Henderson Edward Wright 1919 1995 former Major League Baseball pitcher played for the Boston Braves from 1945 48 and for the Philadelphia Athletics and 1952 64 References edit City of Dyersburg Tennessee City of Dyersburg Tennessee Archived from the original on July 4 2012 Retrieved August 14 2012 ArcGIS REST Services Directory United States Census Bureau Retrieved October 15 2022 a b U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Dyersburg Tennessee a b Census Population API United States Census Bureau Retrieved October 15 2022 a b c U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 QuickFacts Dyersburg city Tennessee QuickFacts U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on August 16 2022 Retrieved August 16 2022 Willoughby Jr Earl November 6 2002 The genesis of Dyer County Dyersburg State Gazette Retrieved September 28 2019 dead link subscription required a b c d Van West Carroll Dyer County Archived from the original on July 12 2021 Retrieved September 28 2019 Willoughby Earl Jr Dyer County TNGenWeb Robert Henry Dyer www tngenweb org Retrieved March 14 2024 a b The War of the Rebellion a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies 24 Washington D C Government Printing Office 1880 1901 pp 29 30 Archived from the original on May 24 2022 The War of the Rebellion a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies 24 Washington D C Government Printing Office 1880 1901 pp 33 34 Archived from the original on May 24 2022 The War of the Rebellion a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies 35 Washington D C Government Printing Office 1880 1901 p 335 Archived from the original on May 24 2022 The War of the Rebellion a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies 109 Washington D C Government Printing Office 1880 1901 pp 431 432 Archived from the original on May 24 2022 Tennessee Executions Tennessee Department of Correction Archived from the original on May 17 2022 Retrieved December 31 2021 Burghardt Du Bois William Edward 1918 The Crisis Volume 15 No 4 New York Crisis Publishing Company p 183 a b c 1917 Lation Scott lynched executedtoday com December 2 2014 Archived from the original on May 13 2018 Retrieved April 17 2018 a b Hiaasen Carl February 21 2015 Racial lynchings our own history of terrorism Miami Herald Archived from the original on February 22 2015 Retrieved September 28 2019 a b TENNESSEE LYNCHING OUTRIVALS WORST GERMAN ATROCITIES Baltimore Maryland The Afro American December 8 1917 Archived from the original on March 26 2022 Retrieved March 25 2022 a b c d e f Burghardt Du Bois William Edward 1918 The Crisis Volume 15 No 4 New York Crisis Publishing Company pp 178 179 180 181 182 183 Who was Lation Ligon Scott Dyersburg TN Black Ripley November 2 2013 Archived from the original on September 28 2019 Retrieved September 28 2019 Mitchell H L October 22 2014 Mean Things Happening in this Land The Life and Times of H L Mitchell Co Founder of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union University of Oklahoma Press p 1 ISBN 9780806186078 Archived from the original on March 25 2022 Retrieved March 25 2022 NEGRO BURNED AT STAKE Tennessee Mob Puts Prisoner to Death in Sight of Thousands PDF The New York Times Vol LXVII no 21863 New York NY December 3 1917 p 22 Archived PDF from the original on June 30 2022 Retrieved June 30 2022 Vandiver Margaret 2006 Lethal Punishment Lynchings and Legal Executions in the South New Brunswick N J Rutgers University Press pp 96 98 ISBN 9780813537283 Archived from the original on February 26 2022 Retrieved December 20 2021 WWII Dyersburg Army Air Base Halls TN 1942 Tennessee History August 22 2017 Retrieved September 28 2019 Dyersburg Army Air Base Memorial Association website Archived from the original on March 17 2022 Retrieved September 28 2019 Larry Jordan March 5 2013 What really happened in the Patsy Cline plane crash boardhost com Archived from the original on September 28 2021 Retrieved November 29 2015 Boss Hoss Background Boss Hoss Archived from the original on June 16 2021 Retrieved May 29 2022 Jones Ken January 20 2016 Boss Hoss under new ownership staying in Dyersburg State Gazette Retrieved May 29 2022 subscription required Dyersburg Hostage Situation Ends in Death Bloodshed KAIT Archived from the original on September 28 2019 Retrieved September 28 2019 Protest held at Dyer County Courthouse State Gazette Retrieved July 26 2020 subscription required Protesters local citizens hold discussions in downtown Dyersburg State Gazette Retrieved July 26 2020 subscription required a b Protesters counter protesters hold discussion in Dyersburg WBBJ Retrieved July 26 2020 Protesters address racial injustice police brutality in Dyersburg WBBJ Retrieved July 26 2020 a b Confederate monument in Dyersburg becomes focus of protest against systemic racism Jackson Sun Retrieved July 26 2020 Protesters gather in downtown Dyersburg spectators react WBBJ Retrieved July 26 2020 Geographic Identifiers 2010 Demographic Profile Data G001 Dyersburg city Tennessee American Factfinder U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 13 2020 Retrieved January 7 2016 M 4 0 12km S of Ridgely Tennessee USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Archived from the original on September 28 2019 Retrieved September 28 2019 NowData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved September 25 2021 Station Dyersburg III Golf TN U S Climate Normals 2020 U S Monthly Climate Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved September 25 2021 title Archived from the original on November 6 2013 Retrieved December 11 2013 Explore Census Data data census gov Retrieved December 7 2021 1923 Dyersburg Forked Deers Roster Stats Crew Archived from the original on May 31 2022 Retrieved May 25 2020 Dyersburg Crowned League Champion After Winning Series from Mayfield News Democrat Paducah September 12 1923 p 6 via Newspapers com Deers Win Title of Kitty Loop from Paris The Courier Journal Louisville September 17 1924 p 9 via Newspapers com TSSAA Box Score Dyersburg TN dyersburgtn gov Retrieved September 28 2019 About the College www dscc edu Archived from the original on November 1 2023 Retrieved September 28 2019 DSCC Locations www dscc edu Archived from the original on November 1 2023 Retrieved November 1 2023 Dyersburg State Gazette Dyersburg State Gazette Archived from the original on August 14 2012 Retrieved August 14 2012 subscription required Dyersburg News State Gazette YP Intellectual Property LLC Retrieved August 14 2012 City of New Orleans Amtrak Archived from the original on June 30 2022 Retrieved June 30 2022 Dyersburg Hospital awarded accreditation from joint commission Dyersburg State Gazette June 25 2019 Retrieved September 28 2019 subscription required Dyersburg Hospital West Tennessee Healthcare Archived from the original on September 1 2021 Retrieved September 28 2019 Methodist Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital on Parkview Street in Dyersburg Dyersburg State Gazette September 25 2002 Retrieved September 28 2019 subscription required Dyersburg Regional joins Tennova Healthcare Dyersburg State Gazette September 15 2015 Retrieved September 28 2019 subscription required Dyersburg hospital sold to West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg State Gazette March 27 2018 Retrieved September 28 2019 subscription required Sources vary as to the exact date of his death Banks p 87 gives June 4 both Antietam on the Web and Allardice p 87 state June 14 Eicher p 596 gives June 15 Former Dyersburg resident to star in new CBS drama State Gazette June 19 2015 Archived from the original on December 23 2015 Retrieved December 22 2015 subscription required Medal of Honor recipients Vietnam A L United States Army Center of Military History August 3 2009 Archived from the original on September 21 2012 Retrieved August 13 2009 Mooneyham Mike December 15 2002 Remembering George Two Ton Harris The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham Retrieved January 19 2009 John D Hunter 90 January 21 2016 Emmett Kelly Jr www emmettkellyjr com Archived from the original on December 22 2019 Retrieved September 29 2019 Michael Swift NFL Stats Pro Football Archives profootballarchives com Retrieved July 2 2022 Ed Wright at the SABR Baseball Biography Project by Bob Brady Retrieved August 16 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dyersburg Tennessee Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dyersburg Tennessee amp oldid 1219838478, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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