Slayden, Tennessee

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Slayden is a town in Dickson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 185 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Slayden is located at 36°17′39″N, 87°28′14″W (36.294208, -87.470514)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 km² (0.5 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 185 people, 79 households, and 54 families residing in the town. The population density was 132.3/km² (341.7/mi²). There were 86 housing units at an average density of 61.5/km² (158.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.30% White, 0.54% African American, 1.62% Native American, and 0.54% from two or more races.

There were 79 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 110.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,071, and the median income for a family was $46,042. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,189. About 8.2% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 14.3% of those sixty five or over.

[edit] History

Slayden's growth was spurred by the existence of a railroad line (the "Mineral Branch" of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad) which was built in the late 19th Century largely to assist the movement of iron from the nearby works at Cumberland Furnace to market. In the early 20th century Slayden was home to a department store and was considered a major community of Dickson County. With the closure of the Mineral Branch and the Cumberland Furnace works, the area went into an economic decline. The local primary school was closed in 1960, merged with the larger one in nearby Vanleer. At about this time mail ceased to be delivered from the post office, which became one providing mailing services and post offices boxes; today its own address is in Cumberland Furnace. In the 1980 census, Slayden had only 69 inhabitants and was known for the next decade as Tennessee's smallest incorporated town. In the 1980s the former railroad depot was removed to Hickman County, Tennessee to become an attraction at a proposed amusement park that never actually came into operation. The voting precinct in the area was abolished after the 2000 elections and split between those in Vanleer and Cumberland Furnace. In 2003 the town's future as an incorporated community seemed endangered when only six voters (out of 127 registered) participated in a municipal election and only two candidates qualified for the four unpaid positions on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. This was prevented when the vacancies were filled by persons who had received write-in votes; participation in the 2005 municipal elections was considerably higher.