Sweetwateris acityinMonroeandMcMinncounties in theU.S. stateofTennessee,and the most populous city in Monroe County. As of the2020 census,its population was 6,312.[4]Sweetwater is the home of theCraighead Cavernswhich contains theLost Sea,the United States' largest underground lake. In 2022, TravelMag named Sweetwater one of Tennessee's Ten Most Charming Cities.[6]
Sweetwater, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
 Downtown area, September 2016 | |
 Location of Sweetwater in Monroe County and Mcminn County, Tennessee. | |
| Coordinates:35°36′10″N84°28′18″W/ 35.60278°N 84.47167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| Counties | MonroeandMcMinn |
| Established | 1850s[1] |
| Incorporated | 1875[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.85 sq mi (22.92 km2) |
| • Land | 8.84 sq mi (22.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,011 ft (308 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 6,312 |
| • Density | 714.27/sq mi (275.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5(Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| ZIP code | 37874 |
| Area code | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-72540[5] |
| GNISfeature ID | 2405553[3] |
| Website | www |
History
editA 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 ofLenoir City(located a few miles to the northeast inLoudon County). Sweetwater was officially incorporated in 1875.[1]
Geography
edit
The city lies alongSweetwater Creek,which flows northeast for several miles before emptying into theWatts Bar Lakeimpoundment of theTennessee River.The creek's drainage has created a lowland area known as Sweetwater Valley, which is surrounded by low hills.
Sweetwater is centered alongU.S. Route 11between its junction withState Route 68to the south andState Route 322to the north.Interstate 75passes along the western boundary of Sweetwater.
According to theUnited 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 theGreat 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
edit2020 census
edit| 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% |
| HispanicorLatino | 312 | 4.94% |
As of the2020 United States census,there were 6,312 people, 2,175 households, and 1,633 families residing in the city.
2000 census
editAs of thecensus[5]of 2000, there were 5,586 people, 2,315 households, and 1,537 families residing in the city. The population density was 810.1 inhabitants per square mile (312.8/km2). There were 2,511 housing units at an average density of 364.2 units per square mile (140.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.6%White,7.32%African American,0.14%Native American,1.61%Asian,0.02%Pacific Islander,0.41% fromother races,and 1.97% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 3.6% of the population.
There were 2,315 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% weremarried couplesliving 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. Theper capita incomefor the city was $16,746. About 11.5% of families and 16.4% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
edit
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 newWalmart Supercenteropened on September 11, 2013, and added 200 jobs to the Sweetwater area.[11] A Rural King store opened in Feb 2018. On January 15, 2022, Red Stag Fulfillment announced plans to develop a 420-acreecommercedistribution center along I-75, estimated to provide 3,500 jobs and annual tax revenue of $1.9 million to the city of Sweetwater.[12]
Education
edit
Sweetwater City Schoolsoperates public elementary and middle schools in the portion of the city in Monroe County, withMonroe County Schoolsoperating high school services.[13]Sweetwater High Schoolis part of the Monroe district.
TheU.S. Census Bureauindicates the Sweetwater district is entirely in Monroe County, and that the smallMcMinn Countyportion of the city is inMcMinn County Schools.[14]
Tennessee Meiji Gakuin High Schoolwas located in Sweetwater from 1989 to 2007.[15]It was located in the formerTennessee 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
edit- Butch Baker,country musicartist
- Gerald Brown,NFL and collegiate coach
- Kippy Brown,NFL and collegiate coach
- Harry T. Burn(1895–1977), Tennessee legislator who broke the deadlock on theNineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitutionand gave women the right to vote in the United States.[17]
- North Callahan,historianandjournalist
- Dwight Henry,politician
- Paul Dean Holt,formerNASCARWinston Cup driver
- Frank North,collegiate coach
- Gerald North,climatologist
See also
edit
References
edit- ^abcSally Sands, "History of Sweetwater,"2006. Retrieved: December 31, 2007.
- ^"ArcGIS REST Services Directory".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
- ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sweetwater, Tennessee
- ^abc"Census Population API".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
- ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^Joseph, Paul (June 20, 2022)."The Most Charming Towns and Small Cities in Tennessee".TravelMag.RetrievedSeptember 15,2023.
- ^abcTreadwell, 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.RetrievedMarch 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 fromthe originalon June 11, 2013.RetrievedDecember 11,2013.
- ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 26,2021.
- ^"Walmart Corporate - Walmart Ready to Reveal New Store to Sweetwater Shoppers".www.news.walmart.com.Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2013.
- ^"Sweetwater, TN".sweetwatertn.net.
- ^"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Monroe County, TN"(PDF).U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 28,2022.
- ^"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McMinn County, TN"(PDF).U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 28,2022.
- ^DiPane, Melissa. "Tennessee Meiji Gakuin School holds last graduationArchived2013-07-06 atarchive.today."WATE.March 9, 2007. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
- ^Fowler, Bob. "Former Meiji Gakuin school goes to Sweet Water Sustainability Institute."The Knoxville News-Sentinel.Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group.January 8, 2011. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
- ^Boyd, Tyler L. (2019).Tennessee Statesman Harry T. Burn, Woman Suffrage, Free Elections, and a Life of Service.Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press.ISBN978-1-4671-4318-9.Retrieved May 28, 2019.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Municipal Technical Advisory Service entry for Sweetwater— information on local government, elections, and link to charter