Red Bank, Tennessee Facts for Kids

Red Bank is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It's a cool place where about 11,899 people lived in 2020. Red Bank is special because it's completely surrounded by the city of Chattanooga. Think of it like an island within another city! It's also part of the larger Chattanooga metropolitan area.

The History of Red Bank
- How Red Bank Got Its Name
- Becoming a City
Exploring Red Bank's Geography
- Land and Water in Red Bank
Who Lives in Red Bank?
- Red Bank's Population Over Time
- A Look at the 2020 Census
Education in Red Bank
Parks and Nature in Red Bank
Famous People from Red Bank
See also

The History of Red Bank

How Red Bank Got Its Name

Red Bank wasn't always called Red Bank. It was first known as "Pleasant Hill." But in 1881, when a post office was being set up, they needed a new name. This was because another place in Tennessee was already called Pleasant Hill.

The name "Red Bank" was chosen by the wife of the first postmaster, George Hartman. She got the idea from a red clay ridge she could see from her house window. That's how Red Bank got its unique name!

Becoming a City

In 1955, two communities, Red Bank and White Oak, decided to join together. They formed one town called "Red Bank-White Oak." Later, in 1966, the city voted to make things simpler. They dropped "White Oak" from the name, and it became just "Red Bank."

Exploring Red Bank's Geography

Red Bank is located at 35°6′37″N 85°17′49″W / 35.11028°N 85.29694°W / 35.11028; -85.29694. The city sits at the bottom of the Cumberland Plateau in the southwest part of Hamilton County. As we mentioned, it's completely surrounded by Chattanooga. It's only about 5 miles north of downtown Chattanooga.

Dayton Boulevard is the main road that goes through Red Bank. Also, U.S. Route 27 runs along the western side of the city.

Land and Water in Red Bank

The United States Census Bureau says that Red Bank covers about 16.9 square kilometers (about 6.5 square miles). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the city limits. The center of the city follows the valley of Stringers Branch. This is a small stream that flows southwest into the Tennessee River.

Who Lives in Red Bank?

Red Bank's Population Over Time

Here's how the number of people living in Red Bank has changed over the years:

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%
2020	11,899	2.1%
Sources:

A Look at the 2020 Census

The 2020 United States census counted 11,899 people living in Red Bank. There were 5,683 households and 2,667 families in the city.

Here's a breakdown of the different groups of people living in Red Bank in 2020:

Red Bank racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	9,442	79.35%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	789	6.63%
Native American	18	0.15%
Asian	138	1.16%
Pacific Islander	2	0.02%
Other/Mixed	589	4.95%
Hispanic or Latino	921	7.74%

Education in Red Bank

Red Bank has several schools for students of different ages. These include:

Red Bank High School
Red Bank Junior High
Alpine Crest Elementary School

Even though Red Bank Elementary School is one of the schools for Red Bank students, it's actually located just outside the city limits in Chattanooga.

Parks and Nature in Red Bank

Red Bank is a great place for enjoying nature and outdoor activities. Here are some of the natural spots and parks you can find:

Stringer's Branch
Stringer's Ridge
White Oak Park & Dog Park
Red Bank Community Center & Park
Kids Corner Park
Norma Cagle Ballfields
Town Center Park

Red Bank is also special because it's known as a "Bird Sanctuary." This means it's a protected area where birds can live safely. Plus, Red Bank is home to the Tennessee State Champion Virginia Pine tree, which was found by Don McKenzie!

Famous People from Red Bank

Many interesting people have connections to Red Bank. Here are a few:

Bill Dedman: A journalist and author who won a Pulitzer Prize. He grew up in Red Bank.
Wendell Rawls, Jr.: Another Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author who was raised in Red Bank.
Kane Brown: A popular singer.
Emma Bell Miles: A writer, poet, and artist. Her work often showed the beauty of nature and the culture of southern Appalachia.
Tim Benford: A former NFL wide receiver.
Keionta Davis: An NFL defensive end.
Dorothy Montgomery: A professional baseball player who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Ronald L. Schlicher: A diplomat and foreign service officer who represented the United States in other countries.

Red Bank, Tennessee facts for kids

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