Murfreesboro, Tennessee
From Free net encyclopedia
Murfreesboro is a city located in Rutherford County, Tennessee. According to the 2004 census estimate the city had a total population of 81,511. It is the county seat of Rutherford CountyTemplate:GR.
Although Murfreesboro is sometimes considered a suburb or exurb of Nashville, Tennessee, it is far enough away and has a large enough population to maintain a separate identity from its larger neighbor.
Murfreesboro is the location of Middle Tennessee State University.
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.
Image:Downtown murfreesboro9741.JPG Image:Swanson building 9743.JPG
Contents |
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. So 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.
Geography
Image:TNMap-doton-Murfreesboro.PNG Murfreesboro is located at 35°51'28" North, 86°23'41" West (35.857700, -86.394725)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 101.5 km² (39.2 mi²). 101.0 km² (39.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.54% 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 (800m) north of MTSU.
Transportation
Murfreesboro is served by Nashville International Airport (IATA Airport Code BNA).
Murfreesboro has many highways through the city. These include the following:
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR 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. 3.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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. 14.1% of the population and 8.2% of families were below the poverty line. 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Notable natives
- James M. Buchanan, Nobel Prize-winning economist
- Bart Gordon, U.S. Congressman
- 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
