Sweetwater, Tennessee
Sweetwater, Tennessee | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 47-72540[5] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 2405553[3] | |
Website | www |
Sweetwater is a city in Monroe and McMinn counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the most populous city in Monroe County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,312.[4] Sweetwater is the home of the Craighead Caverns which contains the Lost Sea, the United States' largest underground lake. In 2022, TravelMag named Sweetwater one of Tennessee’s Ten Most Charming Cities.[6]
History
A legend states that the town's name originated from settlers’ descriptions of area springs.[7]
Sweetwater was established in the 1850s on a series of lots sold by Isaac Lenoir (1807–1875), a local politician and son of the founder of Lenoir City (located a few miles to the northeast in Loudon County). Sweetwater was officially incorporated in 1875.[1]
Geography
The city lies along
Sweetwater is centered along U.S. Route 11 between its junction with State Route 68 to the south and State Route 322 to the north. Interstate 75 passes along the western boundary of Sweetwater.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (18 km2), all land.
Sweetwater is located in a valley amidst the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and is surrounded by farmland.[7]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 677 | — | |
1890 | 879 | 29.8% | |
1900 | 1,716 | 95.2% | |
1910 | 1,850 | 7.8% | |
1920 | 1,972 | 6.6% | |
1930 | 2,271 | 15.2% | |
1940 | 2,593 | 14.2% | |
1950 | 4,199 | 61.9% | |
1960 | 4,145 | −1.3% | |
1970 | 4,340 | 4.7% | |
1980 | 4,725 | 8.9% | |
1990 | 5,066 | 7.2% | |
2000 | 5,586 | 10.3% | |
2010 | 5,764 | 3.2% | |
2020 | 6,312 | 9.5% | |
Sources:[8][9][4] |
Demographics
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
5,261 | 83.35% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
328 | 5.2% |
Native American
|
11 | 0.17% |
Asian
|
47 | 0.74% |
Other/Mixed
|
353 | 5.59% |
Latino
|
312 | 4.94% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,312 people, 2,175 households, and 1,633 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the
There were 2,315 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,323, and the median income for a family was $35,269. Males had a median income of $29,982 versus $23,075 for females. The
Economy
As of 1989[update], most of the economy consisted of agriculture business. In addition, some light industry is located in Sweetwater, including a chemical factory, a hosiery mill, and a stove plant.[7] A new
Education
Sweetwater City Schools operates public elementary and middle schools in the portion of the city in Monroe County, with Monroe County Schools operating high school services.[13] Sweetwater High School is part of the Monroe district.
The
Tennessee Meiji Gakuin High School was located in Sweetwater from 1989 to 2007.[15] It was located in the former Tennessee Military Institute.[16]
Cross Creek K-12 operates as a private Christian school. It was developed by the couple Harold Jeffers Darragh, who also developed Willow Creek, and Karen Darragh.
Notable people
- Butch Baker, country music artist
- Gerald Brown, NFL and collegiate coach
- Kippy Brown, NFL and collegiate coach
- 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution and gave women the right to vote in the United States.[17]
- North Callahan, historian and journalist
- Dwight Henry, politician
- Winston Cup driver
- Frank North, collegiate coach
- Gerald North, climatologist
See also
- List of cities in Tennessee
References
- ^ a b c Sally Sands, "History of Sweetwater," 2006. Retrieved: December 31, 2007.
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sweetwater, Tennessee
- ^ a b c "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Joseph, Paul (June 20, 2022). "The Most Charming Towns and Small Cities in Tennessee". TravelMag. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c Treadwell, David. "In Tennessee, a bastion of fading Americana, the military school, surrenders to Japanese preppies." Los Angeles Times. May 22, 1989. Section 1 National Desk, Start Page 4. Retrieved on January 12, 2012.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Walmart Corporate - Walmart Ready to Reveal New Store to Sweetwater Shoppers". www.news.walmart.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
- ^ "Sweetwater, TN". sweetwatertn.net.
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- WATE. March 9, 2007. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
- Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group. January 8, 2011. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-4671-4318-9. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Tourism website
- Municipal Technical Advisory Service entry for Sweetwater — information on local government, elections, and link to charter