Tullahoma, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tullahoma, Tennessee
City
Caboose Park in downtown Tullahoma
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Queen City
Motto(s):  Tennessee's Rising Star
Location of Tullahoma in Coffee and Franklin Counties, Tennessee.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Counties	Coffee, Franklin
Incorporated	October 4, 1852
Area
• Total	23.50 sq mi (60.85 km2)
• Land	23.44 sq mi (60.71 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation	1,073 ft (327 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,339
• Density	867.70/sq mi (335.02/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	37388–37389
Area code(s)	931
FIPS code	47-75320
GNIS feature ID	1272964

Tullahoma is a city located in the southern part of Middle Tennessee, in both Coffee and Franklin counties. In 2020, about 20,339 people lived there. Tullahoma is the main city in the Tullahoma micropolitan area, which includes Coffee and Moore counties. This area is the second largest of its kind in Tennessee.

History of Tullahoma

How Tullahoma Began

Tullahoma was founded in 1852. It started as a work camp for people building the new Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. The city's name comes from the Choctaw language, meaning "red rock."

Another story says that Peter Decherd, who gave land for the railroad, named two stations. One was Decherd, after himself. The other was Tulkahoma, which later became Tullahoma. This name was for Decherd's favorite horse, who was named after a Choctaw chief.

Early Settlers and Life

The first people to settle here were farmers from Virginia and North Carolina. They used the labor of enslaved African Americans to grow crops like tobacco and hemp. They also raised animals such as horses and cattle. Some of the early families were named Moore, Decherd, Anderson, and Gunn.

A nearby spring, first called Bottle Spring, was important. It was later known as John Gunn's Spring and is now called Big Springs. This spring provided water for the steam trains. Later, the town used the spring to develop health spas, attracting visitors.

Tullahoma During the Civil War

When the Civil War started in 1861, a group of soldiers called Company B, 1st Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, formed in Tullahoma. They joined General Robert E. Lee's army and fought in major battles like Gettysburg.

In 1863, Tullahoma became the main base for the Confederate Army of Tennessee. However, the Union Army launched the Tullahoma Campaign that year. They defeated the Confederate forces and took control of Middle Tennessee. Union troops stayed in the area for the rest of the war. This campaign helped the Union capture Chattanooga.

Tullahoma was a very muddy place during the war, especially in 1863. Soldiers from both sides called it a place of "endless mud." Some even joked that the name "Tullahoma" came from two Greek words meaning "mud" and "more mud."

Confederate General Braxton Bragg chose Tullahoma as his headquarters. However, many historians have criticized this choice. Even though the location was good for roads and railroads, it didn't have strong natural defenses. Bragg didn't build many defenses, and the town was eventually left without a fight.

Growth After the War

After the Civil War, Tullahoma slowly recovered. Its connection to the railroad helped it grow. The city also became known for its good schools, which were rare in the area back then.

Around 1900, Tullahoma became a popular place for health tourism. Many spas opened, using the waters from Big Springs.

Factories also started to develop in the area. They made things like shoes, clothes, and sports equipment. In 1924, the General Shoe Corporation started here. This company later became Genesco, one of Tennessee's oldest companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Over the years, companies in Tullahoma have made baseballs, bats, and golf clubs.

In 1939, U.S. Route 41A was built through the town. This made it easier to travel between Tullahoma and Nashville, which is about 71 miles northwest, and Chattanooga, about 77 miles southeast.

Famous whiskey brands like George Dickel and Jack Daniel's are made in nearby areas.

Modern Developments

From the 1930s to the mid-1900s, the area received a lot of government investment. The Tennessee Valley Authority built dams to create electricity and jobs during the Great Depression. Camp Forrest was a training center during World War II.

After World War II, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) was built near Tullahoma. This is a major test center for the Air Force and NASA. Woods Reservoir was created to provide cooling water for AEDC. AEDC helped develop many aerospace systems, including parts for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. It is still one of the most advanced flight simulation test facilities in the world.

Later, two colleges were established here: Motlow State Community College and the University of Tennessee Space Institute, which focuses on aerospace engineering.

Today, manufacturing is a smaller part of Tullahoma's economy. The city has grown steadily due to education, services, tourism, and retail. The area is a big center for aerospace, especially for testing aircraft and spacecraft on the ground. Companies like Jacobs Engineering and Microcraft, Inc., which built vehicles that reached very high speeds, are located here. The Beechcraft Heritage Museum, which preserves old aircraft, is also near the city's airport.

Tullahoma celebrated its 150th anniversary on October 4, 2002.

Rock and roll pioneer Little Richard passed away in Tullahoma in 2020. The town was also mentioned in the song "Tullahoma Dancing Pizza Man" by Eddie Rabbitt.

Geography and Climate

Where is Tullahoma?

Tullahoma is located in the southwest part of Coffee County and also extends into Franklin County. It sits on the edge of the Highland Rim, which means the land is flatter here than in the surrounding areas. Early settlers called this region "the Barrens."

The city covers about 23.5 square miles (60.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Tullahoma's Weather

Tullahoma has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has relatively high temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year.

People of Tullahoma

Population Changes Over Time

Who Lives in Tullahoma?

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,339 people living in Tullahoma. These people made up 8,079 households and 5,181 families.

The city's population is mostly White (81.64%), with Black or African American people making up 6.45%. Other groups include Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of mixed races. About 4.64% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Arts and Education

Performing Arts in Tullahoma

The Annual 41A Music Festival showcases local and national music artists. The South Jackson Civic Center is a hub for performing arts. It hosts the South Jackson Civic Association, P.A.C.T. (Performing Arts for Children and Teens), and Community Playhouse, Inc. These groups put on many shows each year.

Schools and Colleges

Tullahoma has two state colleges. These are Motlow State Community College and the University of Tennessee Space Institute.

Public education for students from kindergarten to 12th grade is managed by the city's school system.

Tullahoma High School's "Wildcat" sports teams compete in the TSSAA. The Tullahoma Wildcat Football Team won the state championship in 2021.

Getting Around Tullahoma

Tullahoma Regional Airport

The Tullahoma Regional Airport was built in 1942 for the U.S. Army Air Corps. It has large runways, taxiways, and hangars. More than 100 aircraft are based there, and many visiting planes use it each year.

Train and Road Travel

The Tullahoma depot used to be a passenger train station for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway. Later, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad used it until the 1960s. Trains like the Georgian stopped here. There are plans to bring back the Nashville to Atlanta train route.

Several state roads pass through Tullahoma. These include State Route 16 (which is also US 41A), State Route 55, State Route 130, and State Route 269.

Notable People from Tullahoma

Many interesting people have connections to Tullahoma:

• Dewon Brazelton, a baseball player.
• Eric Clutton, known as Doctor Diesel, a famous designer of model aircraft.
• Gary Flandro, a key NASA scientist who helped plan the Voyager missions.
• Isham G. Harris, a politician and former Tennessee governor.
• David Hess, a baseball player.
• Antonio London, a football player.
• Dustin Lynch, a country singer.
• Steve Matthews, a football player.
• Bryan Morris, a baseball player.
• Jordan Sheffield, a baseball player.
• Justus Sheffield, a baseball player and Jordan's brother.
• Jimmy Valiant, a professional wrestler.
• Ally Walker, an actress.
• Thomas A. Wiseman, a judge and politician.
• Dave B. Mitchell, a voice actor.

Images for kids

• 

  South Jackson Street

• 

  The Tullahoma train depot

See also

In Spanish: Tullahoma para niños