Whitwell, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Whitwell is a city in Marion County
, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 1,660 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga
, TN–GA
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.30% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,660 people, 727 households, and 482 families residing in the city. The population density
was 500.1 people per square mile (193.1/km²). There were 786 housing units at an average density of 236.8 per square mile (91.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.35% White, 2.17% African American, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 727 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,458, and the median income for a family was $31,151. Males had a median income of $26,550 versus $21,532 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,249. About 13.2% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
, a Holocaust memorial and educational tool, that was carried out by children of the local middle school
starting in 1998, and the subsequent movie that was made about the children's achievement. This project started because a few students at the local middle school wanted to see how much a million was. So they started collecting paper clips one for every Jewish individual that died in the Holocaust during World War II. They collected well over the limit they wanted which was 11 million. They collected somewhere between 30-50 million paper clips. The rail car that is used in the movie actually transported the Jews to the concentration camps. This railcar is located at the Whitwell Middle School.
Marion County, Tennessee
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 27,776. Its county seat is Jasper.Marion County is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,660 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, TN–GA
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Chattanooga metropolitan area
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of six counties – three in southeast Tennessee and three in northwest Georgia – anchored by the city of Chattanooga...
.
History
Whitwell was incorporated as a city in 1956. It was originally a mining town. Whitwell's former name was in fact Cheekville. In the early 80's there was a major catastrophe;there were 13 miners that were killed in an explosion. You can see a full list of names at the monument at the Whitwell High School football field in front of the field house. Whitwell also has an annual Labor Day celebration that has occurred 52 consecutive years.Geography
Whitwell is located at 35°11′51"N 85°31′9"W (35.197570, -85.519082), in the Sequatchie ValleySequatchie Valley
Sequatchie Valley is a relatively long and narrow valley in the U.S. state of Tennessee and, in some definitions, Alabama. It is generally considered to be part of the Cumberland Plateau region of the Appalachian Mountains; it was probably formed by erosion of a compression anticline, rather than...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.30% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,660 people, 727 households, and 482 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 500.1 people per square mile (193.1/km²). There were 786 housing units at an average density of 236.8 per square mile (91.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.35% White, 2.17% African American, 0.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 727 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,458, and the median income for a family was $31,151. Males had a median income of $26,550 versus $21,532 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,249. About 13.2% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
Paper Clips Project
Whitwell has achieved fame due to the Paper Clips ProjectPaper Clips Project
The Paper Clips Project is a project by middle school students from the small southeastern Tennessee city of Whitwell who created a monument for the Holocaust victims in Nazi Germany. It started in 1998 as a simple 8th-grade project and evolved into one gaining worldwide attention. At last count,...
, a Holocaust memorial and educational tool, that was carried out by children of the local middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
starting in 1998, and the subsequent movie that was made about the children's achievement. This project started because a few students at the local middle school wanted to see how much a million was. So they started collecting paper clips one for every Jewish individual that died in the Holocaust during World War II. They collected well over the limit they wanted which was 11 million. They collected somewhere between 30-50 million paper clips. The rail car that is used in the movie actually transported the Jews to the concentration camps. This railcar is located at the Whitwell Middle School.
See also
- No. 21 Mine explosionNo. 21 Mine explosionOn December 8, 1981, 13 coal miners lost their lives as the result of an explosion at the No. 21 Mine, an underground coal mine near Whitwell, Tennessee....
(1981) - Artist, Jon CoffeltJon CoffeltJohnny Lee Coffelt born is an American artist who lives and works in Manhattan in the Financial District of New York City. Coffelt paints, sculpts, sews, makes book arts and curates art exhibitions.-Background:...
(b. May 16, 1963) born in Dunlap, raised in Griffith Creek and now lives and works in New York City.