Bradley County
County
The Bradley County courthouse in Cleveland
Seal
Motto(s):  "Agriculture and Industry"[1]
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°09′N 84°52′W / 35.15°N 84.86°W / 35.15; -84.86
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	May 2, 1836
Named for	Edward Bradley, state legislator[2]
Seat	Cleveland
Largest city	Cleveland
Area
• Total	331 sq mi (860 km2)
• Land	329 sq mi (850 km2)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	108,620
• Density	330.15/sq mi (127.47/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	37310, 37311, 37312, 37320, 37323, 37353, 37364[3]
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.bradleycountytn.gov

Bradley County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 108,620,^[4] making it the thirteenth most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Cleveland.^[5] It is named for Colonel Edward Bradley of Shelby County, Tennessee, who was colonel of Hale's Regiment in the American Revolution and the 15th Regiment of the Tennessee Volunteers in the War of 1812.^[2] Bradley County is included in the Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL Combined Statistical Area.

History

Indigenous peoples occupied this territory, especially along the waterways, for thousands of years before European contact. The first Europeans to see this area were likely Hernando De Soto and his expedition on June 2, 1540, while traveling through the Southeast interior of the North American continent.^[6] They encountered peoples of the South Appalachian Mississippian culture.

The historic Muscogee Creek and Yuchi occupied areas of what became Tennessee. The Yuchi town of Chestowee was located on the south bank of the lower Hiwassee River. They later moved from Tennessee into Georgia and South Carolina under pressure from the Cherokee, who were rising to power in the region. Cherokee warriors from the Middle Towns destroyed Chestowee in 1714, encouraged by English fur traders from South Carolina. Archeological surveys suggest that Chestowee was located at what is known as the Rymer archeological site, identified in later studies as within the European-American J.P. Rymer farm.^[7]

The Cherokee became predominant in this area and referred to a large region in present-day Bradley County as Chatata, meaning "clear water".^[8] The Yuchi, while speaking a different language, allied with the Muscogee Creek when moving into their territory in Georgia and Alabama.

In anticipation of forced removal of the Cherokee by treaty cession in this area north of the Hiwassee River, white settlers began to move here. In 1821, the Cherokee Agency, the official liaison between the U.S. Government and the Cherokee Nation, was moved to present-day Charleston, Tennessee.^[9] Between 1832 and 1838, the Cherokee moved their capital to the Red Clay Council Grounds, on the southern border of Bradley County with Georgia; it served as the Cherokee capital and the last council grounds of the Cherokee Nation-East.^[10] This property is now a state park, Red Clay State Park.

The Cherokee Removal began after some of their leaders signed the Treaty of New Echota, signed on December 29, 1835. The government had earlier tried to persuade them to move to Indian Territory; these leaders signed the treaty while trying to gain the best conditions for their people, as they believed it was inevitable.^[10]

General Winfield Scott was directed to remove the Cherokee from the Southeast, and set up the headquarters at Fort Cass in Charleston.^[10] Several internment camps were established in Bradley County in the valleys between Charleston and Cleveland, Tennessee, where the Cherokee were held in preparation for the journey westward. This became known as the Trail of Tears.^[10] Two of the largest internment camps were located at Rattlesnake Springs.^[11]

European-American development of Bradley County

Bradley County was established by the legislature on February 10, 1836.^[12] It was named to honor Colonel Edward Bradley who served in the War of 1812.^[13] The first election in Bradley County took place on April 2, 1836.^[14] On May 2, 1836, the location for the county seat of Cleveland was chosen.^[12] On January 20, 1838, Cleveland, which had a population of 400, was formally recognized by the state legislature as the seat of Bradley County.^[15] Cleveland was incorporated on February 2, 1842.^[15]

Like most East Tennessee counties, the voters of Bradley County were largely opposed to secession on the eve of the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, the county's residents voted against secession - 1,382 to 507.^[16] No major battles were fought in Bradley County, but several major skirmishes between Union and Confederate troops took place there. In 1864, Confederate soldiers failed in an attempt to destroy a Union train near the Tasso community, an effort that resulted in destroying a Confederate train instead.^[17]

The bridge over the Hiwassee River was burned on November 8, 1861, by members of the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy led by Alfred Cate.^[18] On November 4, 1862, a train accident south of Cleveland near the Black Fox community killed 17 members of the 33rd Regiment Alabama Infantry, who were being transported to Chattanooga.^[19] Union soldiers under the command of William Tecumseh Sherman camped at Cleveland, Tasso, and Blue Springs on multiple occasions during the latter half of the war.^[20][21] The city of Cleveland was occupied by the Confederate Army from 1861 to 1863.^[22]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 331 square miles (860 km²), of which 329 square miles (850 km²) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[23] The county is situated on a series of paralleling ridges running north-northeasterly which are part of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians. The highest of these, Candies Creek Ridge, runs through the center of Cleveland.^[24] Located in between these ridges are creeks, and there are several springs in the county, which made the area favorable to early settlers. The highest point in the county is located on the Hamilton County line along White Oak Mountain. The county is bordered on the north by the Hiwassee River.^[25] The majority of the county is located in the Tennessee Valley drainage basin, except for approximately the southeastern third, which is located in the Mobile Bay Watershed and contains the Conasauga River.^[26] This river is the only river in Tennessee that is not part of the Mississippi River Watershed.^[27]

Adjacent counties

• Meigs County (northwest)
• McMinn County (north)
• Polk County (east)
• Murray County, Georgia (southeast)
• Whitfield County, Georgia (south)
• Hamilton County (west)

State protected areas

• Chickamauga Wildlife Management Area (part)
• Charlotte Anne Finnell Neal Wildlife Management Area
• Red Clay State Park

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 108,620 people, 39,992 households, and 26,516 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010,^[35][36] there were 98,963 people, 37,947 households, and 26,867 families residing in the county. The population density was 298.98 persons per square mile. There were 41,395 housing units at an average density of 125.06 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 92.10% White, 4.27% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.06% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos (of any race) were 4.71% of the population. The largest ancestral groups were Irish 14.27%, German 12.62%, English 8.91%, Italian 2.39%, and Dutch 2.18%. An estimated 3.90% of the population was foreign-born, and an estimated 7.54% were veterans.

Of all of the households, 29.07% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 53.58% were married couples living together, 4.78% had a male householder with no wife present, 12.44% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-family households, with 23.8% of householders living alone. 33.27% of all households had individuals under the age of 18 living in them, and 26.36% had individuals aged 65 and older living in them. The average household size was 2.54 persons, and the average family size was 2.98 persons.

The population was spread out, with 22.97% under the age of 18, 62.88% ages 18 to 64, and 14.15% over the age of 65. The median age was 37.9 years. 51.32% of the population was female and 48.68% was male.

The median household income was $40,032, and the average per capita income was approximately $21,444. Males had a median income of $37,735 versus $28,585 for females. Approximately 11.6% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under the age of 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

With thirteen Fortune 500 manufacturers, Cleveland has the fifth largest industrial economy in Tennessee.^[37] Cleveland is home to a variety of industries, including household cooking equipment, foodstuff, textiles, furniture, storage batteries, pharmaceuticals, industrial cleaning products, photographic processing, industrial and domestic chemicals, and automotive parts.^[38] Major employers include Whirlpool, Johnston Coca-Cola, Mars, Incorporated, Procter & Gamble, Duracell, Hardwick Clothes, and Cleveland Chair Company.^[38] Wacker Polysilicon, Olin Corporation, Amazon, and Arch Chemicals have factories and distribution centers in Charleston.^[39] Resolute Forest Products, formerly Bowater, has a plant across the river from Charleston in Calhoun.^[40]

Agriculture in Bradley County has an annual market value of over $105 million.^[41] Bradley County ranks second in the state for the production of poultry and broilers, most of which is raised in the southern half of the county.^[41] Bradley County is also home to farms which raise beef cattle, dairy, and crops, such as corn, soybeans, and fruits and vegetables.^[42]

Government