Murfreesboro, Tennessee
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| Murfreesboro, Tennessee | |||
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| Nickname: ""The 'Boro"" | |||
| Motto: Creating a better quality of life | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Tennessee | ||
| County | Rutherford | ||
| Settled | 1811 | ||
| Incorporated | 1817 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Mayor-Council | ||
| - Mayor | Tommy Bragg | ||
| - Vice mayor | Chris Bratcher | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 39.2 sq mi (101.5 km²) | ||
| - Land | 39.0 sq mi (101.0 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 619.0 ft (188.7 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - City | 68,816 | ||
| - Density | 1,764.9/sq mi (681.5/km²) | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| ZIP code | 37127-37130 | ||
| Area code(s) | 615 | ||
| Website: MurfreesboroTN.gov | |||
Murfreesboro is a city in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. According to the 2005 census estimate the city had a total population of 86,793. It is the county seat of Rutherford CountyGR6. The center of population of Tennessee is located in Murfreesboro.[1]
Although Murfreesboro is sometimes considered a suburb or exurb of Nashville, Tennessee, it is far enough away [about 35 mi (56 km)] and has a large enough population to maintain a separate identity from its larger neighbor.
Murfreesboro is the location of Middle Tennessee State University, the largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee.
Murfreesboro is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. From 1990 to 2000, the town's population grew 50%, from 46,000 to 69,000.
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[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 1819, Murfreesboro became the capital of Tennessee until 1826, when Nashville became the state capital.
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 (35.857700, -86.394725)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.5 km²). 39 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 airport code BNA), Smyrna Airport (MQY) and Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT)
Murfreesboro has many highways running through the city. These include the following:
- Interstate 24
- U.S. Route 41
- U.S. Route 231
- State Route 1
- State Route 2
- State Route 10
- State Route 96
- State Route 99
- State Route 268
- State Route 840
[edit] Public Transportation
The City of Murfreesboro has ordered nine buses to serve as the city's new transportation. Each bus will be capable of holding sixteen people and includes two spaces for wheelchairs. With the systen being called "Rover", the buses will be bright green in color with "Rover" and a cartoon dog painted on the side.
The system is scheduled to start in early April, with buses operating in six major corridors: Memorial Boulevard, NW Broad Street, Old Fort Parkway, South Church Street, 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 will operate Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.[2][3]
Joseph Swanson is a major developer in the area.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 68,816 people, 26,511 households, and 15,747 families residing in the city. The population density was 681.5/km² (1,764.9/mi²). There were 28,815 housing units at an average density of 285.3/km² (739.0/mi²). 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 US$39,705, and the median income for a family was US$52,654. Males had a median income of US$36,078 versus US$26,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was US$20,219. About 8.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable natives
- James M. Buchanan, Nobel Prize-winning economist
- Bart Gordon, U.S. Congressman
- Frank A Gumm, father of legendary singer Judy Garland
- Jean MacArthur, wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur
- Mary Noailles Murfree, author
- Hardy Murfree, Revolutionary War colonel
- Sarah Childress Polk, First Lady of the United States; wife of Pres. James K. Polk
- Grantland Rice, sportswriter
- M. Rhea Seddon, astronaut
- Andre Norton, science fiction and fantasy writer
- Matt Mahaffey, musician
- Will Allen Dromgoole, author
- Carl P. Mayfield, talk show host, Sirius satellite radio show Carl P & The P-Team
- Chris Young, musician, 2006 Nashville Star winner
[edit] Points of interest
- Geographic center of Tennessee
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Stones River National Battlefield
- Stones River Greenway Arboretum
- Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
- Stones River Mall
- Oaklands Historic House and Museum
- Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village
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 loactions 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 Bakery | 750 |
| 9. | Johnson Controls, Inc. | 750 |
| 10. | MAHLE Tennex | 650 |
| 11. | Lewis Brothers Bakeries | 525 |
- Information is current as of November 2006.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Population and Population Centers by State: 2000. Census.gov. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
- ^ "'Rover' bus service set to begin in early April", MurfreesboroTN.gov. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ Hutchens, Turner. "Work begins on Rover bus fleet", Daily News Journal, 2007-01-05.
- ^ Post Top 10 employers. The Murfreesboro Post (November 2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
[edit] External links
- City web page
- Daily News Journal (newspaper)
- Linebaugh Public Library System
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
