Nationally, the post-war years are known as the “baby-boom” years and the nation saw a large increase in the building and construction industries as the number of marriages increased and couples began building and buying homes.
In the first half of the 20th century in Henderson County, the largest growth in population occurred from 1920 to 1930 during the Roaring 20s. The second highest period of growth was from 1940 to 1950. The population rose from 26,049 in 1940 to 30,921 in 1950, an 18.7 percent increase.
But, Henderson County did not experience the “baby boom” seen in the rest of the nation. The under 20 population in the county in 1940 was 40.61 percent of the population. The under 20 population in the county in 1950 decreased to 38.56 percent.
The overall population, though, consisted of young adults. The median age in the 1950 census was 29.
There was an outward migration of the black population in the 1930s during the Great Depression and again in the 1940s. In 1930, 9.4 percent of the population was black. This decreased to 8.2 percent by 1940. By 1950, only 6.7 percent of the population was non-white.
About 35 percent of the population still lived on farms. An additional 45 percent of the population lived in a rural area but did not live on a farm. Only 20 percent of the population was living in an urban area.
There are drastic changes in the people’s way of life as the technologies invented during the war begin finding their way into practical, everyday uses.
By 1950, electricity is available throughout the majority of the county. Some people who do not have electricity by 1950 either choose not to have electricity or can’t afford the cost of “hooking up” the electricity to an isolated house.
Electric and gas stoves replace wood-burning stoves in most homes, refrigerators and freezers replace spring houses, and most homes either have wringer washing machines or the new electric washing machines.
The majority of homes have oil heat or use coal as a heat source.
By 1950, the majority of homes have indoor plumbing and wells. Some homes are still pumping water, using various methods, from springs, creeks and rivers via pump houses and other technologies.
During the 1940s, radio is still extremely popular and the major source of news and entertainment.
Henderson County gets his first radio station in 1946 when radio station WHKP is on the airwaves. The radio station was owned by businessmen in the county. The station’s original owners were Monroe M. Redden and William Egerton. In the early 1950s, Kermit Edney became a part owner. He had joined the staff in 1947.
The late 1940s to early 1950s marks the arrival of the first televisions in the county.
Civic organizations and clubs by 1950 include the Kiwanis Club, Rotarv Club, Exchange Club, Executive Club, Lions Club, Woman’s Club, and the Junior Welfare Club. There is still the Chamber of Commerce and now a Junior Chamber of Commerce. Hendersonville has a Golf and Country Club.
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