Henry County comprises the Paris, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area. West Tennessee lands and commodity culture were associated with the lowlands and delta of the Mississippi River, which created fertile areas that supported cotton culture. During the antebellum era, numerous enslaved African Americans provided labor for the cotton plantations.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 593 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 562 square miles (1,460 km2) are land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (5.3%) are covered by water.[5]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,199 people, 13,394 households, and 9,024 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the census[13] of 2000, 31,115 people, 13,019 households, and 9,009 families resided in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21 people/km2). The 15,783 housing units averaged 28 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.21% White, 8.96% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. About 1.00% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 13,019 households, 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were not families. About 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the county, the population was distributed as 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,169, and for a family was $35,836. Males had a median income of $27,849 versus $20,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,855. About 10.60% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.