McMinnville, Tennessee

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McMinnville, Tennessee
Warren County Courthouse, 1920
Warren County Courthouse, 1920
Nickname: McVegas, Mac-Town, Methminnville
Location in Warren County and the state of Tennessee.
Location in Warren County and the state of Tennessee.
Coordinates: 35°41′12″N 85°46′46″W / 35.68667, -85.77944
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Warren
Government
 - Type Mayor and Board of Aldermen
 - Mayor Royce Davenport
Area
 - Total 10.0 sq mi (25.9 km²)
 - Land 10.0 sq mi (25.9 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 968 ft (295 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 12,749
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 37110, 37111
Area code(s) 931
FIPS code 47-45100[1]
GNIS feature ID 1652432[2]
Website: McMinnvilleTenn.com

McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States.[3] The population was 12,749 at the 2000 census.The 2005 census estimate is 13,242, a change of only +3.9%, making McMinnville one of Tennessee's slowest growing cities. It is the county seat of Warren County. It was named after Joseph McMinn, a governor of Tennessee, in 1810.

Contents

[edit] Geography

McMinnville is located at 35°41′12″N, 85°46′46″W (35.686708, -85.779309)[4], approximately 35 miles south of Cookeville and 70 miles northwest of Chattanooga.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (25.9 km²), all of it land. Elevation is 968 feet, as it sits near the foot of the Cumberland Plateau and on the Highland Rim.

[edit] Nearby cities and towns

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 12,749 people, 5,419 households, and 3,332 families residing in the city. The 2004 census estimate is 13,108. The population density was 1,273.4 people per square mile (491.7/km²). There were 5,961 housing units at an average density of 595.4/sq mi (229.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.42% White, 4.15% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.00% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.81% of the population.

Reported ancestries include: United States (22.8%), Irish (10.2%), English (7.0%), German (6.5%), Scots-Irish (2.1%), Dutch (1.1%).

There were 5,419 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,810, and the median income for a family was $32,759. Males had a median income of $28,474 versus $20,693 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,074. About 21.0% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.5% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

[edit] Utilities

[edit] Transportation

  • Caney Fork & Western Railroad

[edit] Education

[edit] K-12

[edit] Local Colleges/Universities

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Parks and Places of Interest

  • Falcon Rest - Tour, eat, and shop at the 1896 Victorian mansion called “Tennessee’s Biltmore” by PBS. It was built by Gorilla Pants manufacturer Clay Faulkner, and some say his friendly ghost remains. is open daily from 9-5. Falcon Rest was also called the historic Falcon Manor for many years.
  • Rock Island State Park - Located on the northeastern border with White County. This park includes many hiking trails, is home to TVA's Great Falls Dam, and is world renoun for its white-water rafting.
  • Fall Creek Falls State Park
  • Cumberland Caverns - Cumberland Caverns is Tennessee’s largest show cave. The cave displays some of the largest underground rooms in eastern America. It also features waterfalls, gleaming pools, spectacular formations, and even a ¾ ton chandelier. The historic 1812 saltpeter mine and “God of the Mountain”, an original underground pageant of light and sound, are shown on every tour. Cumberland Caverns offers daily tours from March 1 to October 31.
  • McMinnville Opera House - Built in September of 1888, this building was built by black entrepreneur, William Hawchins. The building was built with stores at the first floor, the opera house on the second, and Mr. Hawchins' apartment on the third. This building helped the growth of McMinnville as the town being known as a "Cultural Center". The first silent movie was shown here.
  • Park Theater - This once thriving theater in downtown McMinnville, built in 1932, held 210 people, with one screen. This building was shut down in the late 1980s, due to a contract with the Cumberland Amusment Company. This building is closed, but was bought out by a private group, and is currently being renovated to be a live entertainment center.
  • Court Square Park - This park is right in front of the Warren County Courthouse, in downtown McMinnville. This park was a thriving park where all the citizens of McMinnville would come together, let their horses get a drink from the Hebe Statue, which was donated by the Women's League in 1917. Several years later, after the city modernized itself, the park was forgotten. Then in 2006, the State of Tennessee gave each county money to enable them to revitalize their downtown. The city took the money and revitalized downtown and also restored the Hebe Statue, that was rusting, and the Court Square Park. The gazebo that was downtown, was moved to Pepper Branch Park. The city decided to bring back the charm of old McMinnville by adding and restoring the old city fountain, that stood in front of the courthouse, and placing it where the gazebo used to stand.
  • Blue Building - McMinnville City Hall, also called the Blue Building, is located at 211 W. Colville Street. The building was named after former mayor Franklin P. Blue. Through the years, the Blue Building has accommodated several schools and once was the grand home of Col. E.W. Munford. The building housed the city of McMinnville's administrative offices. The McMinnville City Hall is now located atop the Regions' Bank Building downtown.
  • Southern School of Photography Museum - This building is owned by Monty Wanamaker. He has many artifacts from the early life of McMinnville, and the old Southern School of Photography.
  • Site of the Southern School of Photography - In 1875, W.S. “Dad” Lively, a McMinnville native, began his photographic career. His studio was located on the 2nd floor in the Lively Building on Main Street. In 1904, where Donnell Street and College Street intersect, Lively opened the Southern School of Photography which closed, due to a fire, in 1928. It was one of the first of its kind in the U.S. His fame for the construction of a large camera producing 30” x 60” glass negatives led to his photographs being placed in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
  • Warren County Heritage Center and Museum - located at 115 East Main Street in downtown McMinnville. Open Tuesday and Thursday 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Sunday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. We also open by appointment for special group tours and events
  • McMinnville Civic Center
  • The Black House

[edit] Events

  • Highland Rim Cycling Classic - May 11, 2008.
  • Main Street LIVE! Summer Concert Series - Every Friday Starting on June 6 through July 25, 2008 in downtown McMinnville.
  • Middle Tennessee Nursery Association Trade Show - October 5-6, 2007.
  • Dottie West Fest - October 6, 2007.
  • Autumn Street Fair - October 4, 2008.
  • Rock Island Sand Bar Arts & Crafts Fair - October 6-7, 2007.
  • McMinnville Christmas Parade & 5K Reindeer Run - December 1, 2007.
  • Christmas in the Park - December 4, 2007.
  • McMinnville City Triathlon - 350 Meter Swim, 15.25 Mile Bike and 3 Mile Run.
  • Pork 'N' Bands - May 26, 2008.
  • Farmer's Market - May 5 through December 20, 2008.
  • Freedom of Expression Art Show and Sale - held during the 4th of July downtown event
  • Warren County Bi-Centennial Fair - September 8 through September 15, 2007
  • Warren County Bicentennial Celebration - will be held the weekend of Independence Day, July 4-5, 2008. Warren County's Bicentennial celebration will culminate with a special street fair and fireworks show on July 5 in downtown McMinnville.

[edit] Notable natives and residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Warren County, Tennessee
County seat: McMinnville
City

McMinnville
Towns
Unincorporated
communities

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