Henagar was first settled circa 1855. The town is named after an early settler, George Henegar. A post office was established in 1878. It was then that a postal official misspelled the town's name as "Henagar". In 1901, a public school was built.[3] At daybreak on November 18, 1906, a Sunday, the Rainsville tornado struck the town, and all "fifteen stores and houses were reduced to splinters."[4] They rebuilt, and Henagar incorporated in 1965.[3]
Geography
Henagar is located in northern DeKalb County; it borders Jackson County in the northwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Henagar has a total area of 22.3 square miles (57.8 km2), of which 22.3 square miles (57.7 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.15%, is water. South Sauty Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee River, flows southwest through the central and southern part of the city.
At the 2000 census there were 2,400 people, 937 households, and 715 families living in the town. The population density was 109.8 inhabitants per square mile (42.4/km2). There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of 48.3 per square mile (18.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.46% White, 1.67% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[7]
Of the 937 households 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.8% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.7% of households were one person and 10.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.96.
The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median household income was $29,777 and the median family income was $34,469. Males had a median income of $29,309 versus $19,401 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,836. About 10.3% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 2,344 people, 942 households, and 676 families living in the town. The population density was 107.0 inhabitants per square mile (41.3/km2). There were 1,092 housing units at an average density of 49.9 per square mile (19.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.2% White, 1.8% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[8]
Of the 942 households 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.2% of households were one person and 10.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93.
The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.
The median household income was $32,130 and the median family income was $39,432. Males had a median income of $40,227 versus $24,122 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,701. About 17.9% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
