Smyrna, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Smyrna is a town in Rutherford County
, Tennessee
, United States. Smyrna's population was 25,569 people at the 2000 census
. The Census estimate of the 2009 population is 39,142.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 23 square miles (59.6 km²), of which, 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.61%) is water.
played an important role in the area due to its railroad station which lies between Nashville and Chattanooga. One of the major events of the war for the town involved the Confederate States hero Sam Davis
who after being charged with spying gave up his life instead of giving any information to the Union Army
. He was captured Nov. 20, 1863 and was hanged by Union forces Nov. 27. The Sam Davis Plantation, located on 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of well-maintained farmland, is the town's most important historical site.
Smyrna was originally incorporated in 1869 but its charter was rescinded by the state several years later. In 1915 the town re-incorporated and adopted a commission form of government and mayor.
In 1941 Sewart Air Force Base
was established and served as a B-24 advanced training facility. During the 1950s and 60s the military personnel and dependents totaled more than 10,000 persons stationed at the base. The base was scheduled for closing in 1971. Most of the property was divided among the State of Tennessee, Rutherford County and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. The property the state received was developed in a Tennessee Army National Guard base and the site for the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center. Much of the additional land was turned into the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority in 1990.
During the 1970s many new industries moved to the area and the city began a period of growth with such companies as Better Built Aluminum, Cumberland Swan, and Square D
building plants in the town. In the early 1980s planning began to build a Nissan Motors
manufacturing plant and in 1983 the first vehicle was produced. The Nissan plant now employees around 6,000 workers, has a production capacity of 500,000 vehicles annually and covers an area of 5200000 sq ft (483,095.8 m²). By 2012, Smyrna will be a manufacturing site for Nissan's electric car, the Nissan Leaf.
On March 14, 2000, the mayor and board of commissioners adopted a new charter and now operate under the city manager
form of government.
of 2000, there were 25,569 people, 9,608 households, and 7,061 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,119.8 people per square mile (432.4/km²). There were 10,016 housing units at an average density of 438.6 per square mile (169.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.23% White, 7.82% African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.31% of the population.
There were 9,608 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,405, and the median income for a family was $51,550. Males had a median income of $37,130 versus $27,325 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,704. About 6.7% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
(formerly Corporate Airlines) and Capitol Air were headquartered in Smyrna. Smyrna will also serve as the US production site for the Nissan Leaf
. Nissan's goal is that the plant in Smyrna will eventually produce 150,000 cars, and 200,000 electric car batteries per year.
school district.
Rutherford County, Tennessee
Rutherford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, it is the state's fifth-largest county by population with 262,604 people, an increase of 44.3 percent over the 2000 population of 182,023. Its county seat is Murfreesboro, which is also the geographic...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States. Smyrna's population was 25,569 people at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The Census estimate of the 2009 population is 39,142.
Geography
Smyrna is located at 35°58′46"N 86°31′16"W (35.979574, -86.521108).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 23 square miles (59.6 km²), of which, 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.61%) is water.
History
The town of Smyrna has its roots in the early 19th century and began as an agrarian community. The American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
played an important role in the area due to its railroad station which lies between Nashville and Chattanooga. One of the major events of the war for the town involved the Confederate States hero Sam Davis
Sam Davis
Sam Davis is called the Boy Hero of the Confederacy. He was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He served in various combat roles in the Confederate army in 1861 through 1863 during the American Civil War...
who after being charged with spying gave up his life instead of giving any information to the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. He was captured Nov. 20, 1863 and was hanged by Union forces Nov. 27. The Sam Davis Plantation, located on 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of well-maintained farmland, is the town's most important historical site.
Smyrna was originally incorporated in 1869 but its charter was rescinded by the state several years later. In 1915 the town re-incorporated and adopted a commission form of government and mayor.
In 1941 Sewart Air Force Base
Sewart Air Force Base
Sewart Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Smyrna, about 25 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee.-World War II:...
was established and served as a B-24 advanced training facility. During the 1950s and 60s the military personnel and dependents totaled more than 10,000 persons stationed at the base. The base was scheduled for closing in 1971. Most of the property was divided among the State of Tennessee, Rutherford County and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. The property the state received was developed in a Tennessee Army National Guard base and the site for the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center. Much of the additional land was turned into the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority in 1990.
During the 1970s many new industries moved to the area and the city began a period of growth with such companies as Better Built Aluminum, Cumberland Swan, and Square D
Square D
Square D is an American manufacturer of equipment used to control and distribute electric power headquartered in Palatine, Illinois.Square D was founded in 1903 in Detroit, Michigan by Bryson Dexter Horton who is credited with the invention of the safety switch which encased high voltage switches...
building plants in the town. In the early 1980s planning began to build a Nissan Motors
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
manufacturing plant and in 1983 the first vehicle was produced. The Nissan plant now employees around 6,000 workers, has a production capacity of 500,000 vehicles annually and covers an area of 5200000 sq ft (483,095.8 m²). By 2012, Smyrna will be a manufacturing site for Nissan's electric car, the Nissan Leaf.
On March 14, 2000, the mayor and board of commissioners adopted a new charter and now operate under the city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
form of government.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 25,569 people, 9,608 households, and 7,061 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,119.8 people per square mile (432.4/km²). There were 10,016 housing units at an average density of 438.6 per square mile (169.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.23% White, 7.82% African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.31% of the population.
There were 9,608 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,405, and the median income for a family was $51,550. Males had a median income of $37,130 versus $27,325 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,704. About 6.7% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Prior to their dissolution, RegionsAirRegionsAir
RegionsAir was a Part 121 regional airline. Its headquarters and maintenance base were located at the Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee, USA|. The hub airports for RegionsAir were Lambert-St...
(formerly Corporate Airlines) and Capitol Air were headquartered in Smyrna. Smyrna will also serve as the US production site for the Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf
Nissan introduced its first battery electric vehicle, the Nissan Altra at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on 29 December 1997. The Altra EV was produced between 1998 and 2002, only about 200 vehicles were ever produced, and it was mainly used as a fleet vehicle for companies such as...
. Nissan's goal is that the plant in Smyrna will eventually produce 150,000 cars, and 200,000 electric car batteries per year.
Education
Smyrna is served by the Rutherford County SchoolsRutherford County Schools (Tennessee)
Rutherford County Schools is a school district based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. It serves Rutherford County, Tennessee excluding PK-6 in the city of Murfreesboro which is served by the Murfreesboro City Schools system.-History:...
school district.
Landmarks
- Nissan plant
- Sam DavisSam DavisSam Davis is called the Boy Hero of the Confederacy. He was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He served in various combat roles in the Confederate army in 1861 through 1863 during the American Civil War...
Home - Smyrna Airport/Sewart Air Force BaseSewart Air Force BaseSewart Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Smyrna, about 25 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee.-World War II:...