Loretto, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loretto, Tennessee
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Bank of Loretto building
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Location of Loretto in Lawrence County, Tennessee.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Lawrence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.79 sq mi (9.81 km2) |
| • Land | 3.78 sq mi (9.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 825 ft (251 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,739 |
| • Density | 459.81/sq mi (177.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
38469
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| Area code(s) | 931 |
| FIPS code | 47-43700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1292062 |
Loretto is a city in Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,714 at the 2010 census, and 1,739 at the 2020 census.
History
Loretto began as a stagecoach station known as "Glen Rock" in the early 19th century. In 1870, a number of German Catholic immigrants settled in the Loretto area, and a new city was established shortly afterward. Some sources suggest the name "Loretto" was inspired by the Loreto region in Italy, while others say the city was named for a sainted nun. The congregation the immigrants formed, the Sacred Heart Church of Jesus, still exists, and their church (built in 1912) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the arrival of the railroad in the 1880s, Loretto thrived as a lumber town.
Other historic buildings include the Bank of Loretto building, which was built in the 1920s. The Bank of Loretto building was renovated in 2013. Next door to the old Loretto bank building was Weathers Store and Myers Store. They sold general merchandise to generations of families. Steps down the street lies the Loretto Milling Company, established in 1895 and still open for business, making it one of the oldest family-run businesses in the city. Other businesses located in this district included a doctor's office, cobbler's shop, cafes, hotels, and a funeral home. There was also a stage coach stop, and then later on a bus depot. The historic downtown area began to decline following the construction of U.S. Route 43 to the east of the district in the 1940s, when its commercial activity shifted to the new highway. Like many Southern towns, Loretto is applying for grants to help revive the older historic district.
Loretto is the home of the Loretto High School Mustangs.
Geography
Loretto is located at 35°4′42″N 87°26′20″W / 35.07833°N 87.43889°W (35.078401, -87.439023). The city is situated on a relatively broad ridgetop between the Shoal Creek Valley to the west and Bluewater Creek to the east. U.S. Route 43 connects Loretto with Lawrenceburg to the northeast and the Muscle Shoals area in Alabama to the southwest. Tennessee State Route 227 connects Loretto with rural Lawrence County and Lexington, Alabama, to the southeast (the road becomes Alabama State Route 101 at the state line).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2), of which 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) is land and 0.27% is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 706 | — | |
| 1960 | 929 | 31.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,375 | 48.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,612 | 17.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,515 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,665 | 9.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,714 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,739 | 1.5% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,646 | 94.65% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5 | 0.29% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 4 | 0.23% |
| Other/Mixed | 48 | 2.76% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33 | 1.9% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,739 people, 703 households, and 455 families residing in the city.
Notable people
- Grace & Tony, country music artists
- Robert Hitchcock Spain, Methodist bishop
- David Weathers, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Ryan Weathers, Major League Baseball pitcher
- John Paul White, member of The Civil Wars Americana (music) duo
See also
In Spanish: Loretto (Tennessee) para niños
