Van Buren County, Tennessee

Founding: 1840
Parent counties: Warren, and White

Namesake: Martin Van Buren, U.S. president
Seat: Spencer (1840–)

Land area: 273 square miles

Population (2020): 6,168

Population (historic): 2,674 (1850); 2,725 (1870); 2,863 (1890); 2,784 (1910); 3,516 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850; 1860–1880; 1890s; 1920–1940; 1960–2020

Subdivisions: One town

National Register listings: Four

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 158 (5.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 18.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 24.5%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 20.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $362
Average outbuilding value (1930): $246
Average farmhouse size (1940): 3.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 432
Average farm size (1920): 44.7 acres
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Spencer

Namesake: Thomas Spencer, early Tennessee resident

Founding: 1840 (platting); 1840 (post office); 1909 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,462

Population (historic): 147 (1870); 138 (1890); 210 (1910); 390 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1880; 1930–1970; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 65 (9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *Thomas Russell House (1842/1866). 1266 Laurel Creek Road.