Henderson County is located in the heart of West Tennessee midway between Nashville and Memphis, Chicago and New Orleans, St. Louis and Atlanta. Its 526 square miles of prosperous farms, lush hardwood forests and inviting lakes are places of natural beauty. In addition, the county - including its four incorporated communities of Lexington, Parker's Crossroads, Sardis and Scotts Hill - has become an area of growing economic opportunity for the 25,000 Tennesseans who live here. People looking for a better place to settle have placed their roots in Henderson County.
Among the many things enjoyed by those who live and work in Henderson County are -

LEXINGTON
Lexington, the county seat and largest city in Henderson County, is in the center of the county just 10 miles south of Interstate 40 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 412 and Tennessee Highway 22. One thousand-acre Beech Lake is located within the city and supplies its water. It also provides great outdoor recreation, flood protection and lakefront living.

With a population of approximately 7,500, Lexington is the trade center for those who live within a 20-mile radius of the city. It's governed by a mayor and seven aldermen and has modern, well equipped fire and police departments.

PARKER'S CROSSROADS
Parker's Crossroads is located at the junction of Interstate Route 40 and Tennessee Primary Highway 22 in the northern part of the county. It's a developing community whose restaurants, motels and other retail businesses serve the thousands of highway travelers who stop at Exit 108 each year. A Civil War battle was fought at Parker's Crossroads in 1862. Confederate troops were under the leadership of Gen. Nathan B. Forrest. A self-guided driving tour route of the battleground was completed and dedicated in 1995; a re-enactment of the battle is conducted in June of each even-numbered year. Thousands come to see the authentically dressed Union and Confederate troops, hear the roar of cannon fire, walk through realistic Civil War army camps, and purchase relics and souvenirs.

SARDIS
Sardis, with a population of 450, is located about 20 miles from Lexington in southern Henderson County. The town is located at the intersection of three state highways: Highway 104, 421 and 201. Farming is still an important occupation, although many residents work in business and industry both in the local area and surrounding towns. Sardis offers an exceptional quality of life through its rural lifestyle, its proximity to shopping areas in surrounding towns, and its nearness to recreational areas along the Tennessee River. Local recreational opportunities are provided at the City Park which offers basketball, tennis, baseball/softball and other activities.
Public education is provided by the Henderson County School system through schools in the Reagan Community (Southside Elementary), Scotts Hill (both elementary and high school) and Lexington (Lexington High School). Sardis residents have access to public water through the Sardis Water System, natural gas service provided by Lexington Gas Department and fire protection provided by the Henderson County Fire Department. Sardis has an active Senior Citizens Center which provides services and activities for the older citizens of the Sardis area.

SCOTTS HILL
Scotts Hill was settled in the mid-1800's. It is at the eastern edge of the county in a productive farming region. It was territory close to places where Confederate and Union troops clashed in the early 1860's. Today it is a progressive community with a good school, active citizens, vital churches and room for growth. The town is only seven miles from the Tennessee River where a new bridge is under construction for an outlet to middle Tennessee and Alabama. Scotts Hill is reached by Tennessee Primary Highway 100, Tennessee Secondary Highway 114, and Highway 20. It is located between beautiful Natchez Trace State Park and Shiloh National Military Park, and approximately midway between Kentucky and Pickwick lakes on the Tennessee River. If you enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, sightseeing and water sports, Scotts Hill is your kind of community.
Scotts Hill High School is one of two high schools in the Henderson County School System. The county is building a new school scheduled to open in Spring 2002. Advanced level courses are offered to its students through Jackson State Community College satellite courses. Scotts Hill is also proud of its active Youth Rodeo Association, which has a bi-monthly horse sale at the local livestock yard.


Weather
Annual Average Temperature: 60.3 degrees F
Monthly Average High Temperature: Jan.: 48.1; July: 91.2
Monthly Average Low Temperature: Jan.: 29.1; July: 69.3
Annual Average Precipitation: 48.07 inches
Annual Average Snowfall: 3.00 inches
Elevation: 500 feet above sea level
Prevailing winds: South-Southwest
Mean Length of Freeze-Free Period: 210 days


Education
T he education of our youth is taken very seriously by Henderson Countians. Out of that concern, Henderson County Schools, with 3,403 students, and the Lexington City School System, 900 students, provide quality learning opportunities for all the area's young people.

There are 11 schools in the county. Henderson County schools and Caywood City School received the Governor's A+ Award for Community Commitment to Excellence in Education.

Average class size per teacher is approximately 18 students. Teachers' salaries compare favorably to those paid throughout the state. Educational progress indicators show consistent improvement year to year and compare well with state and national scores.

The Henderson County School System is a consolidated system administered by a superintendent and a school board elected by popular vote. Vocational education classes, programs for the mentally disabled, and free bus transportation are provided by the county's schools.

The Lexington City School System has one facility, Paul G. Caywood School, with classes for grades K-8. The system is a special school district administered by a superintendent and a school board appointed by the city aldermen.

Several colleges and universities are close to Henderson County.

Henderson County's Schools

Communications

Postal Facilities
Lexington is served by a first-class post office with two incoming and outgoing dispatches daily. Airmail is received from Memphis, Nashville and Jackson.
Telephone and Telegraph

Telephone service is provided by BellSouth, with approximately 8,000 access lines in the Lexington area. Digital telecommunications capabilities needed by any type industry - service or manufacturing - is available in the Lexington Exchange.

BellSouth serves Lexington and Henderson County with digital switching and an advanced network of digital transmission lines connecting with the rest of the world. This means -advanced services like Touch Tone, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Speed Calling, Three Way Calling, and Prestige (R) Family of Services. Pricing options based on actual use are available for homes and small businesses. Businesses have access to WATTS service, 1.544 megabits per second and 56 kilobits per second digital transmission circuits, and a host of digital services including Digital ESSX (R) service, MegaLink (R) service and SychroNet (R) service.

Western Union provides telegraph service.

Radio
Lexington's Broadcasting Company has both AM and FM stations. Reception is outstanding from all Memphis stations and other stations located in the surrounding areas. WDXL also operates Channel 2 cable TV which supplies local programs to the surrounding area.

Television
Excellent reception is enjoyed from three Nashville stations (110 miles), three Memphis stations (110 miles) and one Jackson station (27 miles). All major television networks are presented by one or more of these stations. Intermedia provides 39 channel cable television as well as FM music. Lexington has an educational TV channel.

Newspapers
The Lexington Progress, published weekly, does an excellent job of serving the surrounding area. In addition, residents have a choice of several daily metropolitan newspapers, including the Memphis Commercial Appeal, The Jackson Sun and USA Today.

Transportation Highways
Lexington is 10 miles south of Interstate 40 which serves east-west traffic through the southern part of the United States. An excellent state highway system serves Lexington. U. S. Highway 412 gives excellent east-west access and Tennessee Highways 104, 22 and 22A provide for north-south traffic.
Truck Lines

Approximately 30 truck lines presently operate through Lexington. With deregulation of the trucking industry, this number can increase as necessary. There are local trucking companies as well as many others as close as 25 miles. United Parcel Service, Federal Express and Emery are available in Lexington.

Airports
Franklin-Wilkins Field is within five minutes of downtown. The 5000' x 75' runway is lighted and paved. The field has an administration building which is attended during the daylight hours and JA jet fuel and 100 octane fuel are available. There is a storage hangar located at the field with maintenance and engine overhaul capabilities available.

Commercial service is available in Jackson (21 miles west) at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport. Both commuter and charter services can be accommodated at the airport. Memphis and Nashville airports offer international service.
Barge Transportation

The Tennessee River is located 20 miles east of Lexington. U. S. Highway 412 has access to the river and direct service is available on several contract and common carriers.

Real Estate
Whether you want to buy or rent, the local real estate market offers something for everyone. Newcomers to Lexington will find a wide range of housing options at surprisingly affordable prices. Prospective homeowners can choose from recently built developments to well-established neighborhoods, all convenient to schools, parks, and shopping, with homes ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. Water enthusiasts will enjoy the residential developments on either Beech Lake or Pine Lake. Whether you want the closeness of neighbors that is found in a subdivision, the wide open spaces offered by a farm, or just enough land to garden, you will find all these possibilities in our "small" town. Custom building is available through our many competent contractors with a wide selection of desirable building sites. Tax rates are very reasonable, as well as water, gas and electric rates, as compared to other West Tennessee communities.

Economic factors have greatly influenced the ability of homeowners to buy or build, resell and move up in size of homes. This movement in the housing industry continues to enhance "on the market" residential properties as well as investment properties. As our community grows, we invite you and your family to grow with us!

With your help, the real estate industry will determine your needs, show you the homes that fit those needs, and walk with you through the buying process. You may contact the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce for a listing of area realtors, 731-968-2126 or email vickibunch@hendersoncountychamber.com.

Agriculture
Farming continues to contribute significantly to Henderson County's economy. The latest available information showed Henderson County's approximately 750 farms produced goods with total market value of $20,405,000. Livestock accounted for about 75 percent of that value.

Henderson County ranks 38th among Tennessee's 95 counties in income from crops and livestock. But it ranks twelfth in corn production, seventh in hogs and pigs, and 20th in cotton production. The size of the average Henderson County farm is 191 acres, with land and buildings valued at $160,000.
While traditional types of farming have declined in recent years, there has been expansion in truck farming, orchards, recreational land use, and forestry. The future looks bright for cotton, feeder cattle, and market hog production.
While agriculture has been undergoing great transition and many changes have occurred in the past few years, the future of agriculture in Henderson County remains bright.

Recreation
If outdoor sports are what you like, especially hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, baseball, softball, tennis, bowling and golf, then Henderson County is for you. The environment provides plenty to enjoy, and outdoor recreation is popular year around, with something for nearly everyone. Recreational lodestones attracting people to the county are the Beech River Watershed Development Authority's seven lakes and Natchez Trace State Park, Tennessee's largest.

The seven lakes provide 3,000 acres of surface area and 100 miles of shoreline. Part of the BRWDA water control system completed by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1965, all the lakes are open to the public and provide facilities for public use and enjoyment. Beech, Pine, Cedar, Redbud, Dogwood, Sycamore, and Pin Oak Lakes and their adjacent lands are open to swimming, hunting (in season), boating, hiking, picnicking and other activities. Water skiing can be enjoyed on Beech, Pine and Pin Oak lakes. Facilities to be found at the lakes include launching ramps, paved parking areas, concession-bathhouse buildings, sand beaches, picnic tables, playground equipment, and family camping facilities; however, services and facilities vary from lake to lake. Pin Oak Lake is now a part of Natchez Trace State Park and is managed by the Tennessee Department of Conservation.

Natchez Trace State Park, the state's largest and most visited park, is just six miles northeast of Lexington. The park was named for the important wilderness road that ran between Nashville and Natchez, Mississippi, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The park covers over 46,000 square acres and is managed by the Tennessee Department of Conservation.

The park's Pin Oak Lodge provides single and double room accommodations and has a 160 seat restaurant, as well as swimming pool and tennis courts for guests. They have added 27 rooms making a total of 160. They have added suites, which are available in 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms. There are 10 new villas. Pin Oak Lodge has a new campground with 77 sites. It has five camping cabins. They added one group camp that has five cottages, a bunkhouse, administration building and kitchen. They have also added an equestrian center. Located on the shores of Pin Oak Lake, guests will find good fishing and boating at their doorstep during their stay. Cabins and camping site are also available.

The park has two stocked and managed fishing lakes where anglers take good catches of black crappie, bass and catfish. Within park boundaries are an abundance of deer, wild turkey, squirrel, dove, quail, raccoon and waterfowl. There are 33 miles of backpacking trails, an archery range and wrangler camp.

More terrific recreation opportunities are to be experienced in and near Henderson County. If golf is your game, there are a number of public and private courses. More fishing, boating and water-skiing can be enjoyed at the Tennessee River, just 23 miles east of Lexington; Pickwick Reservoir and State Park just 40 miles away; and nearby Chickasaw State Park. Pinson Indian Burial Mounds, just a few miles southwest of Lexington, and Shiloh National Military Park, 30 miles south near Savannah, Tennessee are also popular recreation sites. Finally, the county is a half-hour drive from Jackson, and is midway between Memphis and Nashville, all home to many outstanding recreational, entertainment and cultural attractions.

Medical care
Henderson County residents can rely on the availability of convenient, high-quality medical and dental care.
Methodist Hospital of Lexington is a 41-bed general acute care facility growing in the technology and services necessary to provide close-to-home patient care. The hospital was built in 1958 and was acquired by Methodist Health Systems in 1985. Critical and special care are available at 662-bed Jackson- Madison County General Hospital and 166-bed HCA Regional Hospital of Jackson 25 miles from Lexington.
For a listing of medical providers in Henderson County, please contact the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce (731) 968-2126 or email: hccc@netease.net

Henderson county churches
T here are approximately 125 churches in Henderson County representing various denominations and non-denominational religions. Religion plays an important role in the lives of most who live in the county, and you will find hospitality and friendliness at the church of your choice. For a complete guide to churches in Lexington and Henderson County, phone the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, 968-2126 or email us at vickibunch@hendersoncountychamber.com.


WIN! PLACE! SHOW! it's the place to go!
Each September hundreds of Henderson countians flock to the Henderson County Fair in Lexington to enjoy the best the county produces. In addition to exhibits of livestock and agricultural products, there are baby shows, talent competitions, industrial exhibits and beauty revues. Add good food, Midway fun, and a Saturday night music show featuring top entertainers, and you have a week's enjoyment for young and old. The Henderson County Fair is the only fair in Tennessee that has never charged admission; it's usually spoken of as "the free fair".


Calendar of events
FEBRUARY
Henderson County Bass Anglers Invitational Tournament, Beech Lake, Lexington
Miss Lexington Scholarship Pageant
(preliminary to Miss Tennessee Pageant)
APRIL
West Tennessee Fiddlers' Contest, Sardis
MAY
Freedom Day Lake Festival, Beech Lake, Lexington
JUNE
Battle of Parker's Crossroads Civil War
Re-enactment and Living History Demonstration, Parker's Crossroads
(held in even years)
JULY
Fourth of July Boat Parade, Pine Lake, Lexington
AUGUST
Parker's Crossroads Annual Racking Horse Show, City Park, Parker's Crossroads
National Championship Rodeo,
Guy B. Amis Park, Lexington
Annual Steer Wrestling Competition,
Tim McPeake Arena, Lexington
National Drag Boat Races, Beech Lake, Lexington
SEPTEMBER
Henderson County Free Fair, Fairgrounds, Lexington
Antique Farm and Home Show,
City Park, Sardis
OCTOBER
Possum Festival, City Park, Parker's Crossroads
DECEMBER
Civic League Breakfast With Santa, Lexington
Annual Christmas Parade,