Gallaway is a city in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, Gallaway had a population of 528.
Gallaway is located in northwestern Fayette County at (35.326725, -89.616484). U.S. Routes 70 and 79 pass through the northwest side of the city as a single two-lane highway, leading northeast to Braden and southwest to Arlington. Downtown Memphis is to the southwest. Tennessee State Route 196 leads south to Hickory Withe.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Gallaway has a total area of , all land. The Loosahatchie River, a tributary of the Mississippi, flows from east to west through the southern part of the city limits.
As of the 2020 census, Gallaway had a population of 528. The median age was 51.7 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 82.4 males age 18 and over.
72.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 212 households in Gallaway, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 18.4% were married-couple households, 38.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 51.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 230 housing units, of which 7.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%.
As of the census of 2000, there was a population of 666, with 235 households and 145 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 267 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 39.94% White, 59.01% African American, 0.15% Native American, and 0.90% from two or more races.
There were 235 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% were married couples living together, 28.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $15,192, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $25,179 versus $16,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,836. About 35.5% of families and 43.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.6% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
The town's largest employer is Medical Action Industries, a producer of plastic medical supplies and patient bedside items.