Most of South Carthage was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1980. Below: maps from 1962 on and the census since 1970.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, South Carthage is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of South Carthage’s overall grade.
Tennessee towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Tennessee town has 6.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so South Carthage’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (16% of Tennessee towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±2.0 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about South Carthage’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of South Carthage yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
South Carthage is a town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, South Carthage had a population of 1,490. The town is located along the Cumberland River opposite Carthage .
Its first post office opened in 1970. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 1,322 to 1,490 (+13%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of South Carthage. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1962Gordonsville sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of South Carthage.
People over time
South Carthage, census by census
Between 851 and 1,490 people in every census since 1970.
6 censuses, 1970–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on South Carthage’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
Famous people close to South Carthage
Nobody well known was born in South Carthage itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
The South Carthage post office opened in 1970, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does South Carthage rank for history?
South Carthage is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in South Carthage?
2% of South Carthage’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.0 points), against a typical 4.9% for a Tennessee town; the median home was built in 1980.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (5), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
