Wilder, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilder, Tennessee
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Wilder Post Office in 2010
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 Wilder, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Wilder, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Fentress |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Founded by | John T. Wilder |
| Named for | John T. Wilder |
| Elevation | 1,506 ft (459 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
38589
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| Area code(s) | 931 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1274557 |
Wilder is a small community in Fentress County, Tennessee, in the United States. It is located in the beautiful Cumberland Mountains, not too far from the city of Cookeville, Tennessee. Wilder is an unincorporated community, which means it does not have its own local government like a city or town.
Contents
History
How Wilder Began
Wilder was a special kind of town. It was planned and built by a company called the Fentress Coal and Coke Company. The company wanted to create homes for its workers. Planning for the town started in 1901.
The first coal mine opened in 1902. The town was named after the company's owner, John T. Wilder. By 1903, Wilder was a well-established community. It even had the first school in the area. The town's church, Boyer's Chapel, was built in 1922. In 1923, the school began to offer high school classes. The first students to graduate from high school in Wilder finished in 1932.
Wilder's Population Changes
Wilder grew a lot because of coal mining. In 1924, the community had about 2,350 people. More than 10,000 people lived in the wider area around the town. However, as coal mining changed, the population decreased. By 1957, only about 400 people lived in Wilder. In 2013, the estimated population was around 249 people.
Famous People from Wilder
- Bettye Fahrenkamp (1923–1991) was born in Wilder. She became an important person in Alaska. She served as a state senator and was also an educator.
Pictures of Wilder
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This picture shows the coal company store in 1974. It had been damaged by fire.
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Here are some abandoned cars in Wilder from 1974.
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This is the Flip Co-Op Store in Wilder, next to the old company store, in 1974.
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This photo shows the Wilder Post Office in 1974.
