Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States.^[4] The population was 100,575 according to the city's 2008 special census, up from 81,393 residents certified during the 2005 special census.^[1] The center of population of Tennessee is located in Murfreesboro.^[5] The city is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes thirteen counties and a population of 1,486,695 (2007).^[6]

Although Murfreesboro is sometimes considered a suburb or exurb of Nashville, Tennessee, it is far enough away [about 35 miles (56 km)] and has a large enough population to maintain a separate identity from its larger neighbor. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with a population growth from 46,000 to 69,000 between 1990 and 2000, a change of 66%. The city is also home to Middle Tennessee State University, the largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee, with a current undergraduate population of 20,899 and 23,264 total students.^[7]

In 2006, Murfreesboro was ranked by Money as the 84th best place to live in the United States, out of 745 cities with a population over 50,000.^[8]^[9]

1 History
2 Geography
3 Transportation
- 3.1 Public transportation
4 Demographics
5 Parks
6 Culture
7 Media
8 Notable natives
9 Points of interest
10 Top employers in Murfreesboro
11 References
12 External links

[edit] History

In 1811, the Tennessee State Legislature established a county seat for Rutherford County. The town was first named "Cannonsburgh" in honor of Tennessee politician Newton Cannon, but was soon renamed "Murfreesboro" for Revolutionary War hero Colonel Hardy Murfree, later the great-grandfather of author Mary Noailles Murfree.

As Tennessee grew westward, it became clear that having the state capital in Knoxville would be a burden to those who had to travel from the western end of the state. In 1818, Murfreesboro became the capital of Tennessee until 1826, when Nashville became the state capital.^[10]

On December 31, 1862, the Battle of Stones River, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought near Murfreesboro. This was a major engagement of the American Civil War. After the battle, Murfreesboro was used as a supply depot for the Union Army. Stones River National Battlefield is now an historical site.

[edit] Geography

Murfreesboro is located at 35°51′28″N, 86°23′41″W (35.857700, -86.394725)^[11].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (102 km²). 39.0 square miles (101 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) of it (0.54%) is water.

Murfreesboro is the geographic center of the state of Tennessee. A stone monument marks the official site on Old Lascassas Pike, about a half-mile (800 m) north of MTSU.

[edit] Transportation

Murfreesboro is served by Nashville International Airport (IATA code BNA), Smyrna Airport (MQY) and Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT). The city also benefits from several highways running through the city, including Interstate 24; U.S. Routes 41 and 231; and State Routes 1, 2, 10, 96, 99, 268 and 840.

[edit] Public transportation

The City of Murfreesboro ordered nine buses to serve as the city's new transportation. Each bus is capable of holding sixteen people and includes two spaces for wheelchairs. With the system being called "Rover", the buses are bright green in color with "Rover" and a cartoon dog painted on the side.

The system has been in service since April 2007, with buses operating in six major corridors: Memorial Boulevard, NW Broad Street, Old Fort Parkway, South Church Street (Stopping at Warrior Drive), Mercury Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

A one-way fare is US$1.00 for adults, US$0.50 for children 6-16 and seniors 65 and over, and free for children under 6. The system operates Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.^[12]^[13]

Swanson Building, Murfreesboro.
Joseph Swanson is a major developer in the area.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 68,816 people, 26,511 households, and 15,747 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,764.9 inhabitants per square mile (681.4 /km²). There were 28,815 housing units at an average density of 739.0 per square mile (285.3 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.85% White, 13.89% African American, 0.28% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.88% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.53% of the population.

There were 26,511 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,705, and the median income for a family was $52,654. Males had a median income of $36,078 versus $26,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,219. About 8.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older.

According to Murfreesboro's 2008 special census, the population had reached 100,575. Special census estimates in 2005 indicated 81,393 residents, and in 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimated a population of 92,559, with 35,842 households and 20,979 families in the city.^[1]^[14]

[edit] Parks

Cannonsburgh Village, [1].
Stones River National Battlefield, [2]. Civil War Battlefield.
Oaklands Historic House Museum, [3]. Location of a Civil War house and baseball park.
Old Fort Park, [4]. 50 acre park including baseball fields, tennis courts, Kids Castle playground, 18-hole championship golf course, picnic shelters, bike trails.
Barfield-Crescent Park, [5]. 430-acre (1.7 km²) park including 8 baseball fields, 7 miles (11 km) of bike/running trails, 18-hole championship disc golf course, and 10 picnic shelters.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Jazz

WMOT radio station is a service of the local College of Mass Communication of Middle Tennessee State University and serves the greater Nashville Community.
The very popular Main Street Jazzfest that usually attracts a lot of local attention is presented by Middle Tennessee State University School of Music.

[edit] Arts

Murfreesboro contains a Center for the Arts close to the Square. It entertains with an array of exhibits, theatre arts, concerts, dance, and magic shows.

[edit] Museums

The Discovery Center of Murfree Spring houses an interactive gallery of exhibits and is a local favorite for school trips.

Bradley Academy Museum contains collectibles and exhibits of the first school in Rutherford County. This school was later renovated to become to only African American school in Murfreesboro, which closed in 1955.

The Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village is a reproduction of what a working pioneer village would have looked like from the period of 1830s to the 1930s. Visitors can view the grist mill, school house, Leeman House, Caboose, Wedding Chapel, and even a doctor's office.

[edit] Shopping

There are current two main malls located within the city limits. One is the indoor mall, Stones River Mall, and an outdoor mall, The Avenue of Murfreesboro.

[edit] Media

Murfreesboro is serviced by the following media outlets:

Newspapers:

Daily News Journal, Read more about DNJ on their website.
Murfreesboro Post

Radio:

TV:

Channel 3 - Murfreesboro, [6], Government Access Television Station
WETV-LP
WHRT-LP

[edit] Notable natives

This section needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)

David Rankin Barbee, journalist and historian
James M. Buchanan, Nobel Prize-winning economist
Will Allen Dromgoole, author
Winfield Scott Featherston, Confederate general in the American Civil War
Bart Gordon, U.S. Congressman
Andrew Nelson Lytle, author, novelist, member of Vanderbilt Fugitives
Jean MacArthur, wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Matt Mahaffey, musician
Carl P. Mayfield, talk show host, Sirius satellite radio show Carl P & The P-Team
Hardy Murfree, Revolutionary War colonel
Mary Noailles Murfree, author
Andre Norton, science fiction and fantasy writer
Sarah Childress Polk, First Lady of the United States; wife of Pres. James K. Polk
David Price, baseball pitcher; 2007 Major League Baseball Draft first round pick, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays
Grantland Rice, sportswriter
Margaret Rhea Seddon, astronaut
Chris Young, musician; 2006 Nashville Star winner
Fernando Bryant, Cornerback for the New England Patriots

Rutherford County Courthouse in Murfreesboro

[edit] Points of interest

Murfreesboro is the home of a Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP). It is part of an initiative by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mail order prescriptions to veterans using computerization at strategic locations throughout the United States.

[edit] Top employers in Murfreesboro

#	Employer	Number of employees
1.	Rutherford County government	3,350
2.	Middle Tennessee State University	1,700
3.	State Farm Operations Center	1,450
4.	Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center	1,411
5.	Middle Tennessee Medical Center	1,300
6.	Verizon Wireless Call Center	1,083
7.	Murfreesboro city government	827 (full time) 234 (part time)
8.	General Mills/Pillsbury Company	750
9.	Johnson Controls, Inc.	750
10.	MAHLE Tennex	650
11.	Lewis Brothers Bakeries	525