Smyrna, Tennessee

Smyrna
Town
Smyrna, Tennessee
Smyrna town hall, July 2014.
Location of Smyrna, Tennessee
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Rutherford
Founded	1855
Incorporated	1869
Named for	Ancient Smyrna
Area
• Total	23.0 sq mi (59.5 km2)
• Land	22.8 sq mi (59.1 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation	545 ft (166 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	39,974
• Estimate (2013)	43,060
• Density	1,119.8/sq mi (432.3/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	37167
Area code(s)	615
FIPS code	47-69420
GNIS feature ID	1270735
Website	Town of Smyrna

Smyrna is a town in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Smyrna's population was 39,974 at the 2010 census and 43,063 in 2013. In 2007, U.S. News & World Report listed Smyrna as one of the best places in the United States to retire.

History

Sam Davis House

The town of Smyrna has its European-American roots in the early 19th century and began as an agrarian community. It was important during the Civil War because its railroad station 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 November 20, 1863, and was hanged by Union forces on November 27 of that year. The Sam Davis Plantation, located on 160 acres (0.65 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Smyrna was originally incorporated in 1869 but its charter was rescinded by the state several years later.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-mayor form of government.

In 1941 during World War II, Sewart Air Force Base was established here and served as a B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 advanced training facility. During the 1950s and 1960s, 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. On its portion, the state a Tennessee Army National Guard base and the site for the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center. Much of the additional land was developed as the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority in 1990.

During the 1970s, many new industries moved to the area. The city began a period of growth stimulated by production of such companies as Better Built Aluminum, Cumberland Swan (currently known as Vi-Jon, Inc.), and Square D building plants. 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 employs around 6,000 workers, has a production capacity of 500,000 vehicles annually, and covers an area of 5,200,000 sq ft (480,000 m²). In 2012, Smyrna began manufacturing Nissan's electric car, the Nissan Leaf.

On March 14, 2000, the mayor and board of commissioners adopted a new charter. The city now operates under the city manager form of government, whereby the commissioners hire a city manager for daily operations.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.0 square miles (60 km²), of which 22.8 square miles (59 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.61%) is water.

Portions of the Percy Priest Lake reservoir lies within the town limits. The two main waterways are Stones River and Stewarts Creek.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	215		—
1920	463		—
1930	531		14.7%
1940	493		−7.2%
1950	1,544		213.2%
1960	3,612		133.9%
1970	5,698		57.8%
1980	8,839		55.1%
1990	13,647		54.4%
2000	25,569		87.4%
2010	39,974		56.3%
Est. 2014	45,274		13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate

As of the census 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.

Economy

Prior to their dissolution, RegionsAir (formerly Corporate Airlines) and Capitol Air were headquartered in Smyrna. Smyrna will 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.

The top employers in the city are:

• Nissan (automobile manufacturing): 4,400
• Asurion (communications): 1,165
• Vi-Jon (personal care products): 737
• Stonecrest Medical Center (hospital): 550
• Taylor Farms (produce): 550
• Square D/Schneider Electric (electrical products): 474

Parks and recreation

Smyrna has 10 parks, a public golf course, 7 miles of greenway trails and an outdoor water park. A public fitness center located in Town Center includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Education

Smyrna is served by the Rutherford County Schools school district.

Public schools

• Cedar Grove Elementary
• Smyrna Primary School (Huskies)
• David Youree Elementary School
• John Colemon Elementary School
• Smyrna Elementary School
• Stewartsboro Elementary School (Stallions)
• Rock Springs Middle School (Knights)
• Smyrna Middle School (Panthers)
• Smyrna High School (Bulldogs)
• Stewarts Creek Elementary School
• Stewarts Creek Middle School
• Stewarts Creek High School (Redhawks)
• Smyrna West Alternative School
• Thurman Francis Arts Academy (Rams)

Private schools

• Summit Christian Academy
• Lancaster Christian Academy

Notable people

• Johnny Gooch, Major League Baseball player, coach and scout; born in Smyrna in 1897.
• Sonny Gray, Major League pitcher for the Oakland Athletics; born in 1989.
• Ben H. Guill, former U.S. Representative from Texas; born in Smyrna in 1909.
• Mike Sparks, author and member of the Tennessee General Assembly; born in Smyrna at Stewart Air Force Base Hospital in 1967.
• Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997), musician.

Government

Past mayors

• Joseph Engles Smyrna’s very first mayor Dec. 20, 1869-1875
• Albert Wilkes Page Mayor of Smyrna,when Charter was lost in 1881.
• Dr. J.W. Engles 1915-
• Sam Ridley & Knox Ridley] (Twins) both former Mayors of Smyrna, born in Smyrna, June 23, 1919,Sam in 1980 was believed to be the longest serving city official in Tennessee. He was first elected to the Smyrna city commission in 1947. [1947-1987]
• Paul Johns
• Bob Spivey served as Mayor for the Town of Smyrna from 2001 until 2009
• Tony D.Dover 2009-2013
• Mary Esther Reed 2013-present

External links

• Official Smyrna site
• City-data.com Smyrna page
• Smyrna Airport
• Smyrna A.M. (newspaper)
• Moody Radio 710 Am Smyrna Tn