Hilham, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hilham
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SR 85 (Hilham Highway) in Hilham
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 Hilham
Location in Tennessee
Hilham
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Overton |
| Founded | 1797 |
| Named for | Combination of "hill" and "hamlet" |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.53 sq mi (9.15 km2) |
| • Land | 3.53 sq mi (9.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 338 |
| • Density | 95.72/sq mi (36.96/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
38568
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| Area code(s) | 931 |
| FIPS code | 47-34580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1287776 |
Hilham is a small community in Overton County, Tennessee. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of the larger county. Hilham is located where two main roads meet: Tennessee State Route 136 (which goes north and south) and Tennessee State Route 85 (which goes east and west).
A Community's Beginning
Hilham was started way back in 1797 by a man named Moses Fisk. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College. Moses Fisk had a big idea: he thought Hilham was the exact middle point of the United States at that time! (Back then, the Mississippi River was the western edge of the country).
Fisk's Vision for Hilham
Moses Fisk designed Hilham with roads spreading out from its center in all four directions: north, south, east, and west. He truly believed that Hilham would become a super important crossroads for the new nation. In 1806, he even opened one of the very first schools for girls in the southeastern United States right there in Hilham.
Nearby Nature
Just about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Hilham, you can find the huge Standing Stone State Park and Forest. It covers about 11,000 acres (45 square kilometers) and is a great place to explore nature. You can get there by following State Route 136.
How Many People Live Here?
According to the 2020 census, about 338 people live in Hilham. The area around Hilham, which shares the same ZIP code (38568), includes most of the rural northwest part of Overton County and a bit of northeast Jackson County.
