Murfreesboro, Tennessee
City
From top left, cannon at Stones River National Battlefield, Rutherford County Courthouse, City Center, MTSU's Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, Battle of Stones River.
From top left, cannon at Stones River National Battlefield, Rutherford County Courthouse, City Center, MTSU's Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, Battle of Stones River.
Official logo of Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Nickname: 
"The 'Boro"
Motto: 
Creating a better quality of life.
Location of Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Location of Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee is located in Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°50′46″N 86°23′31″W / 35.84611°N 86.39194°W / 35.84611; -86.39194
Country United States
State Tennessee
CountyRutherford
Settled1811
Incorporated1817
Named forHardy Murfree
Government
 • TypeCouncil–Manager[1]
 • MayorShane McFarland (R)[2]
 • Vice mayorBill Shacklett
Area
[3]
 • City64.13 sq mi (166.08 km2)
 • Land63.99 sq mi (165.73 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2)  0.25%
Elevation
610 ft (186 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • City152,769
 • RankUS: 188th
 • Density2,387.43/sq mi (921.79/km2)
 • Urban
350,000 (US: 241st)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
37127-37133
Area code(s)615, 629
FIPS code47-51560
GNIS feature ID1295105[5]
WebsiteCity of Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro is a city in, and county seat of, Rutherford County,[6] Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010.[7] Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee, 34 miles (55 km) southeast of downtown Nashville.

It served as the state capital from 1818 to 1826. Today, it is the largest suburb of Nashville and the sixth-largest city in Tennessee. The city is both the center of population[8] and the geographic center of Tennessee.

Since the 1990s, Murfreesboro has been Tennessee's fastest-growing major city and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.[9] Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University, the largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee, with 22,729 total students as of fall 2014.[10]

History

On October 27, 1811, the Tennessee General Assembly designated the location for a new county seat for Rutherford County, giving it the name Cannonsburgh in honor of Newton Cannon, representative to the Assembly for the local area. At the suggestion of William Lytle, it was renamed Murfreesborough on November 29, 1811, after Revolutionary War hero Colonel Hardy Murfree.[11] The name was shortened to Murfreesboro in January 1812 when the town was formally chartered.[12][13] Author Mary Noailles Murfree was his great-granddaughter.

As Tennessee settlement expanded to the west, the location of the state capital in Knoxville became inconvenient for much of the population. In 1818, Murfreesboro was designated as the capital of Tennessee and its population boomed. Eight years later, however, it was superseded by Nashville.[14]

Civil War

On December 31, 1862, the Battle of Stones River, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought near the city between the Union Army of the Cumberland and the Confederate Army of Tennessee. This was a major engagement of the American Civil War, and between December 31 and January 2, 1863, the rival armies suffered a combined total of 23,515 casualties.[15] It was the bloodiest battle of the war by percentage of casualties.

Following the Confederate retreat after the drawn Battle of Perryville in central Kentucky, the Confederate army moved through East Tennessee and turned northwest to defend Murfreesboro. General Braxton Bragg's veteran cavalry successfully harassed Union General William Rosecrans' troop movements, capturing and destroying many of his supply trains. However, they could not completely prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching Rosecrans. Despite the large number of casualties, the battle was inconclusive. It is usually considered a Union victory, since afterward General Bragg retreated 36 miles (58 km) south to Tullahoma. Even so, the Union army did not move against Bragg until six months later, in June 1863. The battle was significant since the Union gained a base from which it could push its eventual drive further south, which enabled its later advances against Chattanooga and Atlanta. The Union eventually divided the territory into the Eastern and Western theaters, followed by Sherman's March to the Sea through the South. The Stones River National Battlefield is now a national historical site.

General Rosecrans' move to the south depended on a secure source of provisions, and Murfreesboro was chosen for his supply depot. Soon after the battle, Brigadier General James St. Clair Morton, Chief Engineer of the Army of the Cumberland, was ordered to build Fortress Rosecrans, some 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the town. The fortifications covered about 225 acres (0.91 km2) and were the largest built during the war. Fortress Rosecrans consisted of eight lunettes, four redoubts, and connecting fortifications. The fortress was built around the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad and the West Fork of the Stones River; two roads provided additional access and transportation.

The fort's interior was a huge logistical resource center, including sawmills, warehouses, quartermaster maintenance depots, ammunition magazines, and living quarters for the 2,000 men who handled the operations and defended the post. After the fortress was completed in June 1863, Rosecrans ventured to the south.[16] The fortress was never attacked, in part because the Union troops held the town of Murfreesboro hostage by training their artillery on the courthouse. Major portions of the earthworks still exist and have been incorporated into the battlefield historic site.

Post-Civil War

Murfreesboro was first developed as a mainly agricultural community, but by 1853 the area was home to several colleges and academies, gaining the nickname the "Athens of Tennessee". Despite the wartime trauma, the town's growth had begun to recover by the early 1900s, in contrast to other areas of the devastated South.

In 1911, the state legislature created Middle Tennessee State Normal School, a two-year institute to train teachers. It soon merged with the Tennessee College for Women. In 1925 the Normal School was expanded to a full, four-year curriculum and college. With additional expansion of programs and addition of graduate departments, in 1965 it became Middle Tennessee State University.[17] MTSU now has the largest undergraduate enrollment in the state, including many international students.

World War II was an impetus for industrial development, and Murfreesboro diversified into industry, manufacturing, and education. Growth has been steady since that time, creating a stable economy.

Since the last decade of the 20th century, Murfreesboro has enjoyed substantial residential and commercial growth, with its population increasing 123.9% between 1990 and 2010, from 44,922 to 108,755.[18] The city has been a destination for many refugee immigrants who have left areas affected by warfare; since 1990 numerous people from Somalia and Kurds from Iraq have settled there. The city has also attracted numerous international students to the university.[19]

2023 ordinance on homosexuality

In June 2023 the city passed an ordinance banning 'public homosexuality' as 'indecent'.[20][21] In October 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit against the city, in response to the ban[22] and, in December 2023, the ordinance was repealed.[23]

Geography

City Center, built by Joe Swanson, a major developer in the area.

Murfreesboro is located at 35°50′46″N 86°23′31″W / 35.846143°N 86.392078°W / 35.846143; -86.392078.[24]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (102 km2). 39.0 square miles (101 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (0.54%) is water. However, as of 2013 the city reports its total area as 55.94 square miles (144.9 km2).[25]: 24 

Plaque on a stone monument erected in 1978 designating the geographic center of Tennessee.

Murfreesboro is the geographic center of the state of Tennessee. A stone monument marks the official site on Old Lascassas Pike, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of MTSU.

The West Fork of the Stones River flows through Murfreesboro. A walking trail, the Greenway, parallels the river for several miles. A smaller waterway, Lytle Creek, flows through downtown including historic Cannonsburgh Village. Parts of the 19-mile (31 km) long creek suffer from pollution due to the urban environment and its use as a storm-water runoff.[26]

Murfreesboro is home to a number of natural and man-made lakes plus several small wetlands including Todd's Lake and the Murfree Spring wetland area.[27][28]

Murfreesboro has been in the path of destructive tornados several times. On April 10, 2009, a low-end EF4 tornado with estimated windspeeds up to 170 miles per hour struck the fringes of Murfreesboro. As a result, two people were killed and 41 others injured. 117 homes were totally destroyed, and 292 had major damage. The tornado is estimated to have caused over $40 million in damage.[29]

Climate

Being in the Sun Belt, Murfreesboro's climate is humid subtropical (Cfa) under the Köppen system, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Under the Trewartha system, it is an oceanic (Do) climate due to five months of winter chill (monthly means below 10 °F (−12 °C); however, Murfreesboro is close to being humid subtropical (Cf) even under Trewartha (March falls 0.9 °F (−17.3 °C) short of the threshold), supported by the fact that subtropical plants like Southern magnolia trees and the occasional dwarf palmetto and needle palm shrubs can thrive long-term there but struggle much further north. The hardiness zone is 7. Temperatures range from a record low of −19 °F (−28 °C) on January 26, 1940, to a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) on August 16, 1954.[30] Precipitation is abundant year-round without any major difference, but there is still slight variation. The wet season runs from February through July, reaching its peak in June with 144 millimetres (5.7 in) of rain. The dry season runs from August through January with a September low of 88 millimetres (3.5 in) and a secondary December peak of 141 millimetres (5.6 in).

Climate data for Murfreesboro, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1890–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26)		 83
(28)		 89
(32)		 91
(33)		 97
(36)		 108
(42)		 108
(42)		 109
(43)		 107
(42)		 97
(36)		 87
(31)		 77
(25)		 109
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 68
(20)		 72
(22)		 79
(26)		 84
(29)		 89
(32)		 94
(34)		 96
(36)		 96
(36)		 94
(34)		 86
(30)		 78
(26)		 69
(21)		 98
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 47.9
(8.8)		 52.5
(11.4)		 61.1
(16.2)		 70.9
(21.6)		 79.0
(26.1)		 86.2
(30.1)		 89.2
(31.8)		 89.0
(31.7)		 83.8
(28.8)		 73.1
(22.8)		 60.9
(16.1)		 51.3
(10.7)		 70.4
(21.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 37.7
(3.2)		 41.4
(5.2)		 49.1
(9.5)		 58.3
(14.6)		 67.2
(19.6)		 75.3
(24.1)		 78.8
(26.0)		 77.8
(25.4)		 71.6
(22.0)		 59.9
(15.5)		 48.9
(9.4)		 41.2
(5.1)		 58.9
(14.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 27.5
(−2.5)		 30.4
(−0.9)		 37.2
(2.9)		 45.7
(7.6)		 55.3
(12.9)		 64.4
(18.0)		 68.4
(20.2)		 66.6
(19.2)		 59.3
(15.2)		 46.7
(8.2)		 36.8
(2.7)		 31.0
(−0.6)		 47.4
(8.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 9
(−13)		 13
(−11)		 20
(−7)		 29
(−2)		 39
(4)		 52
(11)		 59
(15)		 56
(13)		 43
(6)		 30
(−1)		 20
(−7)		 15
(−9)		 7
(−14)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28)		 −16
(−27)		 2
(−17)		 19
(−7)		 32
(0)		 38
(3)		 47
(8)		 41
(5)		 33
(1)		 21
(−6)		 −3
(−19)		 −9
(−23)		 −19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.66
(118)		 4.87
(124)		 5.29
(134)		 4.83
(123)		 4.93
(125)		 5.68
(144)		 4.95
(126)		 3.61
(92)		 4.04
(103)		 3.46
(88)		 4.06
(103)		 5.54
(141)		 55.92
(1,420)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.8
(2.0)		 0.7
(1.8)		 0.4
(1.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.3
(0.76)		 2.2
(5.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 12.4 11.7 12.5 11.1 12.3 12.4 10.8 9.9 8.9 9.6 10.1 12.8 134.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 2.1
Source: NOAA[31][32]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,917—
18602,86149.2%
18703,50222.4%
18803,8008.5%
18903,739−1.6%
19003,9997.0%
19104,67917.0%
19205,36714.7%
19307,99348.9%
19409,49518.8%
195013,05237.5%
196018,99145.5%
197026,36038.8%
198032,84524.6%
199044,92236.8%
200068,81653.2%
2010108,75558.0%
2020152,76940.5%
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau[7]
U.S. Decennial Census[33]
[4]

2020 census

Murfreesboro city, Tennessee – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[34] Pop 2020[35] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 79,471 94,941 73.07% 62.15%
Black or African American alone (NH) 16,333 29,416 15.02% 19.26%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 292 398 0.27% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 3,628 5,748 3.34% 3.76%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 43 90 0.04% 0.06%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 131 815 0.12% 0.53%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 2,404 7,443 2.21% 4.87%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6,453 13,918 5.93% 9.11%
Total 108,755 152,769 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 152,769 people, 52,530 households, and 31,732 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 census, there were 108,755 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 75.62% White, 15.18% Black / African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.79% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.93% of the population.

In the 2000 Census, There were 26,511 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,705, and the median income for a family was $52,654. Males had a median income of $36,078 versus $26,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,219. About 8.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older.

Special census estimates in 2005 indicated 81,393 residents, and in 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimated a population of 92,559, with 35,842 households and 20,979 families in the city.[36] Murfreesboro's 2008 special census reported that the population had reached 100,575,[36] while preliminary information from the 2010 U.S. Census indicates a population of 108,755. In October 2017, the City of Murfreesboro started another special census. Given the continuous growth in the general area, the population is expected to exceed the 2016 estimate of 131,947.[37] According to Money.com in 2018, 136,000 people called Murfreesboro home and it would see a nearly 10% expansion of jobs in the coming years.[38]

Economy

Top employers

According to Murfreesboro's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[39] the top employers in Rutherford County are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Nissan 8,000
2 Rutherford County government and schools 6,482
3 Middle Tennessee State University 2,205
4 National Healthcare 2,071
5 Ingram Content Group 2,000
6 State Farm Insurance 1,650
7 Amazon 1,550
8 St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital 1,400
9 Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center 1,300
10 Asurion 1,250

Arts and culture

Mural along Lytle Street

Music

Murfreesboro hosts several music-oriented events annually, such as the Main Street Jazzfest presented by MTSU's School of Music and the Main Street Association each May.[40][41] For over 30 years, Uncle Dave Macon Days has celebrated the musical tradition of Uncle Dave Macon. This annual July event includes national competitions for old-time music and dancing.[40][42]

Murfreesboro also hosts an annual DIY not-for-profit music festival called Boro Fondo, which is also a bike tour and local artist feature.[43]

Arts

The Murfreesboro Center for the Arts, close to the Square, entertains with a variety of exhibits, theatre arts, concerts, dances, and magic shows.[40] Murfreesboro Little Theatre has provided the community with popular and alternative forms of theatre arts since 1962.[44]

Murfreesboro's International FolkFest began in 1982 and is held annually during the second week in June. Groups from countries spanning the globe participate in the festival, performing traditional songs and dances while attired in regional apparel.[45]

Museums

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is a nature center and interactive museum focusing on children and families. The facility includes 20 acres (8 ha) of wetlands with a variety of animals.[46]

Bradley Academy Museum contains collectibles and exhibits of the first school in Rutherford County. This school was later renovated to become the only African American school in Murfreesboro, which closed in 1955.[40][47]

The Stones River National Battlefield is a national park which memorializes the Battle of Stones River, which took place during the American Civil War during December 31, 1862, to January 3, 1863. The grounds include a museum, a national cemetery, monuments, and the remains of a large earthen fortification called Fortress Rosecrans.[40]

Oaklands Historic House Museum is a 19th-century mansion which became involved in the Civil War. It was occupied as a residence until the 1950s, after which it was purchased by the City of Murfreesboro and renovated into a museum by the Oaklands Association.[40][48]

Earth Experience: The Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History is the only natural history museum in Middle Tennessee. The museum opened in September 2014 and features more than 2,000 items on display, including a complete replica Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.[49][50]

Commerce

There are two main malls located within the city limits. Stones River Mall is a traditional enclosed mall featuring many stores and restaurants and The Avenue Murfreesboro is an outdoor lifestyle center.

The Historic Downtown Murfreesboro district also offers a wide variety of shopping and dining experiences that encircle the pre-Civil War Courthouse.[51]

Murfreesboro is the home of a Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP). It is part of an initiative by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mail order prescriptions to veterans using computerization at strategic locations throughout the United States. It is located on the campus of the Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital.

The City Center building (also known as the Swanson Building) is the tallest building in Murfreesboro. Located in the downtown area it was built by Joseph Swanson in 1989.[52] It has 15 floors, including a large penthouse, and stands 211 feet (64 m) tall.[53] As a commercial building its tenants include Bank of America and is the headquarters for the National Healthcare Corporation (NHC).

Points of interest

Parks and recreation

Cannonsburgh Village is a reproduction of what a working pioneer village would have looked like from the period of the 1830s to the 1930s. Visitors can view the grist mill, school house, doctor's office, Leeman House, Caboose, Wedding Chapel, and other points of interest. It is also home to the World's Largest Cedar Bucket.[40][54]

Old Fort Park is a 50-acre (200,000 m2) park which includes baseball fields, tennis courts, children's playground, an 18-hole championship golf course, picnic shelters and bike trail.[55]

Barfield Crescent Park is a 430-acre (1,700,000 m2) facility with eight baseball fields, 7 miles (11 km) of biking/running trails, an 18-hole championship disc golf course, and ten picnic shelters.[56]

Murfreesboro Greenway System is a system of greenways with 12 miles (19 km) of paved paths and 11 trail heads.[57] In 2013, the city council approved a controversial 25-year "master plan" to extend the system by adding 173 miles worth of new greenways, bikeways and blueways at an estimated cost of $104.8 million.[58]

Government

The city council has six members, all elected at-large for four-year terms, on staggered schedules with elections every two years. The mayor is also elected at large. City council members have responsibilities for various city departments.

List of mayors of Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  • Joshua Haskell, 1818[59][60]
  • David Wendel, 1819
  • Robert Purdy, 1820
  • Henry Holmes, 1821
  • W. R. Rucker, 1822-1823
  • John Jones, 1824
  • Wm. Ledbetter, 1825, 1827
  • John Smith, 1828, 1830
  • Edward Fisher, 1829, 1836, 1839
  • James C. Moore, 1831
  • Charles Ready, 1832
  • Charles Niles, 1833
  • Marman Spence, 1834
  • M. Spence, 1835
  • L. H. Carney, 1837
  • Edwin Augustus Keeble, 1838, 1855
  • G. A. Sublett, 1840
  • B. W. Farmer, 1841–1842, 1845-1846
  • Henderson King Yoakum, 1843
  • Wilson Thomas, 1844
  • John Leiper, 1847-1848
  • Charles Ready, 1849–1853, 1867
  • F. Henry, 1854
  • Joseph B. Palmer, 1856-1859
  • John W. Burton, 1860-1861
  • John E. Dromgoole, 1862
  • James Monro Tompkins, 1863-1864
  • R. D. Reed, 1865-1866
  • E. L. Jordan, 1868-1869
  • Thomas B. Darragh, 1870
  • Joseph A. January, 1871
  • I. B. Collier, 1872-1873
  • J. B. Murfree, 1874-1875
  • H. H. Kerr, 1876
  • H. H. Clayton, 1877
  • N. C. Collier, 1878-1879
  • Jas. Clayton, 1880-1881
  • E. F. Burton, 1882-1883
  • J. M. Overall, 1884-1885
  • H. E. Palmer, 1886-1887
  • Tom H. Woods, 1888-1895
  • J. T. Wrather, 1896-1897
  • J. O. Oslin, 1898-1899
  • J. H. Chrichlow, 1900-1909
  • G. B. Giltner, 1910-1918
  • N. C. Maney, 1919–1922, 1932-1934
  • Al D. McKnight, 1923-1931
  • W. T. Gerhardt, 1934–1936, 1941-1942
  • W. A. Miles, 1937–1940, 1943-1946
  • John T. Holloway, 1947-1950
  • Jennings A. Jones, 1951-1954
  • A. L. Todd Jr., 1955-1964
  • William Hollis Westbrooks, 1965-1982[61]
  • Joe B. Jackson, 1982-1998[62][63]
  • Richard Reeves, 1998-2002[61]
  • Tommy Bragg, 2002-2014[64]
  • Shane McFarland, 2014–present[65]

Education

Elementary education within the city is overseen by Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS). MCS focuses on prekindergarten through sixth grade learning.[66] The city has 12 schools serving 8,800 students between grades pre-K through 6th.[67]

Secondary schools are overseen by Rutherford County Schools, which has 50 schools and a student population of over 49,000.[68]

The Japanese Supplementary School in Middle Tennessee (JSMT, 中部テネシー日本語補習校 Chūbu Teneshī Nihongo Hoshūkō), a weekend Japanese education program, holds its classes in Peck Hall at Middle Tennessee State University, while its school offices are in Jefferson Square.[69]

Media

Murfreesboro is serviced by the following media outlets:

Newspapers:

Radio:

TV:

Infrastructure

Transportation

Murfreesboro is served by Nashville International Airport (IATA code BNA), Smyrna Airport (MQY) and Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT). The city also benefits from several highways running through the city, including Interstates 24 and 840; U.S. Routes 41, 70S, and 231; and State Routes 1, 2, 10, 96, 99, and 268.

Industry also has access to north–south rail service with the rail line from Nashville to Chattanooga. Into the latter 1940s the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway's #3/#4 (Memphis - Nashville - Atlanta) served Murfreesboro.[70] By 1950 that train's route was shortened to Nashville - Atlanta. Until 1965 the Louisville & Nashville's Dixie Flyer (Chicago - Florida) made a stop in the town on its route. Likewise, the #3/#2 (renumbered from #3/4) continued to that period as an overnight train between Nashville and Atlanta, also making a stop in town.[71]

Public transportation

In April 2007 the City of Murfreesboro established a public transportation system with nine small buses, each capable of holding sixteen people and including two spaces for wheelchairs. The system is called Rover; the buses are bright green with Rover and a cartoon dog painted on the side. As of 2019, buses operate in six major corridors: Memorial Boulevard, Gateway, Old Fort Parkway, South Church Street, Highland Avenue and Mercury Boulevard.[72]

A one-way fare is US$1.00 for adults, US$0.50 for children 6–16 and seniors 65 and over, and free for children under 6. The system operates Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.[73][74]

Notable people

Notable bands

Mosque controversy

Beginning in 2010, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro faced protests related to its plan to build a new 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) mosque. The county planning council had approved the project, but opposition grew in the aftermath, affected by this being a year of elections. Signs on the building site were vandalized, with the first saying "not welcome" sprayed across it and the second being cut in two.[78] Construction equipment was also torched by arsonists.[79]

In August 2011, a Rutherford County judge upheld his previous decision allowing the mosque to be built, noting the US constitutional right to religious freedom and the ICM's observance of needed process.[80] The center has a permanent membership of around 250 families and a few hundred students from the university.[81] The case ultimately attracted national media attention as an issue of religious freedom.

2023 Ban on Homosexual Activity

In June, 2023, the Murfreesboro city council enacted an ordinance outlawing “indecent exposure, public indecency, lewd behavior, nudity or sexual conduct”. A reference within the ordinance to an element of the city code that categorized homosexuality as an act of indecent sexual conduct, meant that this change effectively banned homosexual activity.[82] The ordinance was used to deny support for local Pride events and remove books with LGBT+ content from the town library.[83] Following a First Amendment lawsuit from the ACLU and BoroPride, Murfreesboro city council voted unanimously to modify the ordinance to remove reference to homosexuality on Oct. 19, 2023.[84][85]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "City Manager". City of Murfreesboro. March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  2. ↑ Broden, Scott (April 30, 2014). "Mayor McFarland to take oath of office Thursday". The Daily News Journal. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "QuickFacts: Murfreesboro city, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  8. ↑ "State the centers of population 1880-2010: Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  9. ↑ Solomon, Christopher (2010). "America's Fastest-Growing Cities". MSN Real Estate. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  10. ↑ "MTSU tops in Tennessee Board of Regents enrollment". September 16, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ "A History of Rutherford County". Rutherford County Tennessee Historical Society. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Murfreesboro's 200th Birthday Celebration". WGNS. July 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Geological Survey Bulletin, no. 258 (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 218. OCLC 1156805. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ "History of Murfreesboro, TN". MurfreesboroTN.gov. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Battle Summary: Stones River". US National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  16. ↑ "TN Encyclopedia: FORTRESS ROSECRANS". Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Facts". Middle Tennessee State University. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Murfreesboro History". City of Murfreesboro. 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2010.
  19. ↑ "MTSU services nation's largest Kurdish community". The Murfreesboro Post. August 18, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  20. ↑ Hansford, Amelia (November 11, 2023). "Officials are gunning for LGBTQ+ library books with sinister ordinance banning 'public homosexuality'". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  21. ↑ Reed, Erin. "City Ordinance Banning Public Homosexuality Reaches Rutherford County Libraries". www.erininthemorning.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  22. ↑ Brianna Hamblin (November 18, 2023). "City of Murfreesboro amends ordinance banning public homosexuality". WTVF. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  23. ↑ Murfreesboro Holler [@TheBoroHoller] (December 23, 2023). "INBOX: We're told MURFREESBORO @cityofmborotn just quietly repealed their controversial "decency ordinance", which was being used as cover for anti-LGBTQ censorship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Annual Budget". City of Murfreesboro. 2013. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Lytle Creek". MurfreesboroTN.gov. November 3, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Understanding Town Creek". MurfreesboroTN.gov. 2008. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Town Creek, Murfreesboro Tennessee". EPA.gov. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  29. ↑ Davis, Doug (April 17, 2009). "Damage estimates hit $41.8M". The Daily News Journal. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  30. ↑ "Calendar of Significant Weather Events in Middle Tennessee".
  31. ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Station: Murfreesboro 5 N, TN". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  34. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Murfreesboro city, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  35. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Murfreesboro city, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  36. 1 2 Hudgins, Melinda (July 1, 2009). "'Boro ranks 12th in U.S. for growth". Daily News Journal. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  37. ↑ "'Be Murfreesboro, Be Counted': Special Census available online". City of Murfreesboro. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  38. ↑ Lim, Christine (August 28, 2018). "Murfreesboro, Tennessee". Money.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, For the Year Ended June 30, 2018". City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. January 2019. p. 185. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Littman, Margaret (2013). Tennessee. Moon Handbooks. Avalon Travel. pp. 271–272. ISBN 978-1612381503. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Main Street Murfreesboro releases lineup for JazzFest". Southern Manners. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Uncle Dave Macon Days celebrates 36 years". Murfreesboro Post. June 26, 2013. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Murfreesboro's music festival releases lineup, itinerary". Rutherford Source. April 17, 2014. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  44. ↑ Willard, Michelle (July 25, 2013). "Murfreesboro Little Theatre wraps up 50th season". Murfreesboro Post. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  45. ↑ Kemph, Marie (June 10, 2012). "International Folkfest celebrates diversity". Murfreesboro Post. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Discovery Center adds Lifelong Learning classes". The Daily News Journal. February 21, 2014. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  47. ↑ West, Mike (January 24, 2010). "Bradley Academy dates back to 1811". Murfreesboro Post. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  48. ↑ "History of Oaklands Plantation". Oaklands Historic House Museum. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  49. ↑ De Gennaro, Nancy (September 8, 2014). "Earth Experience: Museum now open". Daily News Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  50. ↑ Revill, Caleb (February 24, 2017). "'Rock on': Murfreesboro's Museum of Natural History". MTSU Sidelines. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Main Street Murfreesboro". DowntownMurfreesboro.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  52. ↑ "100 E Vine Street – City Center". Showcase.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2011.
  53. ↑ "City Center". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Cannonsburgh Village". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Old Fort Park". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008.
  56. ↑ "Barfield Crescent Park". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Murfreesboro Greenway system". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Concerns and Enthusiasm Over Greenway Expansion Clash at City Council Meeting". WGNS. March 7, 2013. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  59. ↑ Westbrooks, W. H. (Winter 1973). "Mayors of Murfreesboro, 1818-1973". Publication No. 2. Murfreesboro, TN: Rutherford County Historical Society. pp. 37–38 – via Internet Archive. Free access icon
  60. ↑ Pittard, Mabel (1984). "Appendix B: Mayors of Murfreesboro". In Corlew III, Robert E. (ed.). Rutherford County. Tennessee County History Series. Memphis State University Press. pp. 132–133. ISBN 0-87870-182-6. OCLC 6820526 – via Internet Archive. Free access icon
  61. 1 2 "Former mayors honored with street names". Murfreesboro Post. September 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  62. ↑ "Update: Former Mayor Joe B. Jackson dies". Murfreesboro Post. April 22, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  63. ↑ Gordon, Bart (May 7, 1998). "Honoring the Distinguished Career of Mayor Joe B. Jackson". Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 105th Congress, Second Session. Vol. 144. Government Printing Office. p. 8577. ISBN 9780160857072.
  64. ↑ Fagan, Jonathon (April 27, 2014). "End of 'The Bragg Era'". The Murfreesboro Post. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  65. ↑ "Mayor: Shane McFarland". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  66. ↑ "Schools". Murfreesboro City Schools. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  67. ↑ "Community Report" (PDF). Murfreesboro City Schools. 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  68. ↑ "Fact Book and Annual Report" (PDF). Rutherford County Schools. May 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  69. ↑ "所在地・連絡先". Japanese Supplementary School in Middle Tennessee. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry, Table 1". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 78 (12). May 1946.
  71. ↑ "Louisville and Nashville, Table 2". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 94 (1). June 1961.
  72. ↑ "Public Transit - Rover Bus System". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  73. ↑ "'Rover' bus service set to begin in early April". City of Murfreesboro. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  74. ↑ Hutchens, Turner (January 5, 2007). "Work begins on Rover bus fleet". Daily News Journal.
  75. ↑ De Gennaro, Nancy (March 11, 2016). "Murfreesboro's Marisa Davila earns roles on TV shows". Daily News Journal.
  76. ↑ Holman, Dixon W. (March 3, 2017). "James Sanders Holman". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  77. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers – Michael Newton – Google Books
  78. ↑ Kauffman, Elizabeth (August 19, 2010). "In Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Church 'Yes,' Mosque 'No'". Time. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  79. ↑ "Fire at Tenn. Mosque Building Site Ruled Arson". Associated Press via CBS News. August 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  80. ↑ Broden, Scott (August 31, 2011). "Judge upholds ruling for Murfreesboro mosque". The Tennessean. Gannett Tennessee. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  81. ↑ Blackburn, Bradley (June 18, 2010). "Plan for Mosque in Tennessee Town Draws Criticism from Residents". ABC News. ABC News. Archived from the original on December 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  82. ↑ Reed, Erin. "City Ordinance Banning Public Homosexuality Reaches Rutherford County Libraries". www.erininthemorning.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  83. ↑ Reed, Erin. "City Ordinance Banning Public Homosexuality Reaches Rutherford County Libraries". www.erininthemorning.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  84. ↑ "The Daily News Journal Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts". subscribe.dnj.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  85. ↑ "The Daily News Journal". www.dnj.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.

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