Mercer, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mercer, Tennessee
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 Mercer, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Mercer, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Madison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.74 sq mi (4.51 km2) |
| • Land | 1.74 sq mi (4.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 351 ft (107 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 150 |
| • Density | 86.16/sq mi (33.26/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
38392
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| Area code(s) | 731 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1293606 |
Mercer is a small, unincorporated community located in Madison County, Tennessee, in the United States. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. You can find Mercer along State Route 138, about halfway between a big highway called Interstate 40 and a place called Toone. It's also just east of the Hatchie River. Mercer has its own post office, and its special mail code is 38392. In 2020, about 150 people lived in Mercer.
The Story of Mercer
Mercer was started in 1888 by a man named T. B. Mercer. The community is named after him! It began at a busy spot where a stagecoach road (a path for horse-drawn carriages carrying people and mail) crossed paths with the Tennessee Midland Railroad.
Early Buildings and Businesses
T. B. Mercer built the first general store at this important intersection. A general store sells all sorts of things, like food, tools, and clothes. A few years later, in 1894, a train station was built there and officially named Mercer.
As time went on, more businesses came to Mercer. By the early 1900s, a lumber company was set up, which cut and sold wood. Several churches were also built in the area, offering places for people to worship.
Changes Over Time
At one point, Mercer even had its own bank and an opera house. An opera house is a building where people could watch plays and musical shows. However, the bank closed down in 1933. The opera house later caught fire and was destroyed in the late 1900s. Even with these changes, Mercer remains a small community in Madison County.
