Red Bank, Tennessee

Red Bank is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 11,651 at the 2010 census[6] and an estimated 11,840 in 2019.[7] Red Bank is an enclave, being entirely surrounded by the city limits of Chattanooga. Red Bank is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Red Bank, Tennessee
City
Red Bank City Hall
Location of Red Bank in Hamilton County, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°6′37″N 85°17′49″W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Hamilton
Incorporated	1955[1]
Area [2]
• Total	6.56 sq mi (16.99 km^2)
• Land	6.56 sq mi (16.99 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	722 ft (220 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	11,651
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	11,840
• Density	1,805.15/sq mi (696.93/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	37415
Area code(s)	423
FIPS code	47-61960[4]
GNIS feature ID	1299035[5]
Website	www.redbanktn.gov

History

Red Bank was originally known as "Pleasant Hill". When a post office was established in the community in 1881, however, it was asked to adopt a new name, since the name "Pleasant Hill" was already taken.[1] The name "Red Bank" was chosen by the wife of the first postmaster, George Hartman. It was inspired by the red clay ridge that was visible from a window in her house.[8] In 1955, the communities of Red Bank and White Oak incorporated as a single town called "Red Bank-White Oak". In 1966, the city voted to drop the "White Oak" for simplification purposes.[1]

Geography

Red Bank is located at 35°6′37″N 85°17′49″W (35.110372, -85.297048).[9] The city lies at the base of the Cumberland Plateau in southwestern Hamilton County. It is bordered on all sides by the city of Chattanooga and is 5 miles (8 km) north of Chattanooga's downtown. Dayton Boulevard is the city's main thoroughfare, though U.S. Route 27 runs along the city's western edge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Bank has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.9 km²), all of it recorded as land. The city center follows the valley of Stringers Branch, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1960	10,777		—
1970	12,715		18.0%
1980	13,129		3.3%
1990	12,322		−6.1%
2000	12,418		0.8%
2010	11,651		−6.2%
Est. 2019	11,840	[3]	1.6%
Sources:[10][11]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 12,418 people, 5,897 households, and 3,290 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,927.9 people per square mile (744.5/km²). There were 6,443 housing units at an average density of 1,000.3 per square mile (386.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.61% White, 8.24% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.19% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population.

There were 5,897 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,848, and the median income for a family was $41,696. Males had a median income of $30,832 versus $24,708 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,877. About 5.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Red Bank is the site of Red Bank High School, Red Bank Middle School, and three elementary schools: Red Bank Elementary, White Oak Elementary, and Alpine Crest Elementary.

Government

As of 2016, the Board of Commissioners includes Mayor John Roberts, Vice Mayor Floy Pierce, and district Commissioners Rick Causer, Ed LeCompte, and Terry Pope. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at Red Bank City Hall on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.[12]

Mayors of Red Bank

• 1955–1959 Burk S. "Tom" Millard
• 1959–1963 J.E. Brown
• 1963–1965 R. Hayden Landers
• 1965–1971 Joe H. Godsey
• 1971–1973 Joe Glascock
• 1973–1975 Tom H. Collins
• 1976–1977 Ralph Barger
• 1979–1981 Ralph Barger
• 1981–1985 Thomas R. Dodd
• 1983–1985 Ralph Barger
• 1985–1987 John Ramey
• 1987–1989 Ralph Barger
• 1989–1991 Ronnie E. Moore
• 1991–1993 Lester Barnette
• 1993–1995 Ernest E. Lewis
• 1995–1997 Ralph Barger
• 1997–1999 Pat Brown
• 1999-2003 Howard Daniel Cotter
• 1999–2007 Ronnie E. Moore
• 2007–2010 Joe Glascock
• 2010–2012 Monty Millard
• 2012– John Roberts

Notable people

• Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, raised in Red Bank
• Wendell Rawls, Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, raised in Red Bank

References

1. History of Red Bank Community, Red Bank official website. Retrieved: April 17, 2017.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Red Bank city, Tennessee". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
8. Larry Miller, Tennessee Place Names (Indiana University Press, 2001), p. 174.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
11. "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 from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
12. http://www.redbanktn.gov/commissioners/index.html

External links

• Town of Red Bank official website
• "The City of Red Bank" – city history