Norris, Tennessee: Difference between revisions
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'''Norris''' is a city in [[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson County]], [[Tennessee]], [[United States]]. Its population was 1,446 at the [[United States Census 2000|2000 census]]. It is included in the [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. |
'''Norris''' is a city in [[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson County]], [[Tennessee]], [[United States]]. Its population was 1,446 at the [[United States Census 2000|2000 census]]. It is included in the [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and in the [[Norris District]], a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1948 the [[U.S. Congress]] directed that the city be sold at public [[auction]]. It was purchased for $2.1 million by a [[Philadelphia]] investment group headed by Henry D. Epstein, which then sold individual homes to their residents. The city was officially [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1949. In 1953 the Epstein group sold its remaining Norris real estate to a corporation formed by Norris residents and known as the Norris Corporation.<ref name=MTSU/> |
In 1948 the [[U.S. Congress]] directed that the city be sold at public [[auction]]. It was purchased for $2.1 million by a [[Philadelphia]] investment group headed by Henry D. Epstein, which then sold individual homes to their residents. The city was officially [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1949. In 1953 the Epstein group sold its remaining Norris real estate to a corporation formed by Norris residents and known as the Norris Corporation.<ref name=MTSU/> |
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The original townsite, including 340 buildings and {{convert|40000|acre|km2}} of land, was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1975 as |
The [[Norris District]], an area including the original townsite, including 340 buildings and {{convert|40000|acre|km2}} of land, was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1975 as a [[Historic district (United States)|historic district]].<ref name=nrhpdotcom>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/TN/Anderson/districts.html |title= |
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Tennessee - Anderson County - Historic Districts |publisher=NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces.Com, a private website mirroring public domain National Register data}}</ref> |
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Today Norris primarily serves as a [[bedroom community]] for [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] and [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee|Oak Ridge]].<ref name="TVA FERI" /> Services available within the community include one [[elementary school]] serving grades K-5, one [[middle school]] serving grades 6-8, a small grocer, and a diner. The community's high school students attend [[Anderson County High School]]. |
Today Norris primarily serves as a [[bedroom community]] for [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] and [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee|Oak Ridge]].<ref name="TVA FERI" /> Services available within the community include one [[elementary school]] serving grades K-5, one [[middle school]] serving grades 6-8, a small grocer, and a diner. The community's high school students attend [[Anderson County High School]]. |
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Revision as of 06:41, 19 July 2009
Norris, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
 Location of Norris, Tennessee | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Anderson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.9 sq mi (17.8 km2) |
| • Land | 6.9 sq mi (17.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,073 ft (327 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,446 |
| • Density | 210.6/sq mi (81.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 37828 |
| Area code | 865 |
| FIPS code | 47-53600Template:GR |
| GNIS feature ID | 1295831Template:GR |
Norris is a city in Anderson County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 1,446 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area and in the Norris District, a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
Norris was built as a model planned community by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1933 to house workers building Norris Dam. It is named in honor of Nebraska Senator George W. Norris, a long-term supporter of TVA.
The city design was developed by TVA staff,[1] who loosely based their design on the English garden city movement of the 1890s. Winding roads followed the contour of the terrain. Houses did not always face the street. A central common green and a belt of rural land around the town were reserved for use by residents. The houses, which were some of the first all-electric homes, were built using local wood and stone, according to twelve basic house designs that each included a porch and fireplace. Different exterior materials were used for visual variety. [1][2] Norris represents the first use of greenbelt design principles in a self-contained town in the United States. The town was the first in Tennessee to have a complete system of dial telephones. Norris Creamery was the first milk-producing plant in the world to be powered solely by electricity.[1]
During the 1930s TVA officials excluded black families from the city, purportedly to conform to the customs and traditions of the area. However, black leaders said that poor whites and blacks had lived and worked together in the area long before TVA came into existence. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) complained repeatedly (in 1934, 1935 and 1938) about racial discrimination by TVA in the hiring, housing and training of blacks.[3]
In 1948 the U.S. Congress directed that the city be sold at public auction. It was purchased for $2.1 million by a Philadelphia investment group headed by Henry D. Epstein, which then sold individual homes to their residents. The city was officially incorporated in 1949. In 1953 the Epstein group sold its remaining Norris real estate to a corporation formed by Norris residents and known as the Norris Corporation.[1]
The Norris District, an area including the original townsite, including 340 buildings and 40,000 acres (160 km2) of land, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as a historic district.[4]
Today Norris primarily serves as a bedroom community for Knoxville and Oak Ridge.[3] Services available within the community include one elementary school serving grades K-5, one middle school serving grades 6-8, a small grocer, and a diner. The community's high school students attend Anderson County High School.
The Museum of Appalachia is a popular attraction on the outskirts of Norris. Norris is a short distance from both the Norris Dam and Big Ridge State Parks, which include popular camping areas.
Government
The government of Norris is vested in a mayor, a vice mayor and a three member city council. As of 2009, the current mayor of Norris is Chris Mitchell. The vice mayor is Tommy Mariner. The councilmembers are: Jack Black, Loy Johnson, and Joy Wilson.
The original city hall was located in an old TVA dormitory on Ridgeway Drive until 1978, when it was destroyed by a fire. The cause was never determined, but arson was rumored to be the cause. The city hall then moved to a location on Chestnut Road, but this location was destroyed in an accidental fire in 2002. The facility on Chestnut Drive was reconstructed and continues to serve as a City Office and Community Building. The Norris Public Safety Department is located at 23 West Circle Road.
The city of Norris also operates a public library. The library has about 20,000 materials in its collection, which is located in the McNeeley Municipal Building.
Geography
Norris is located at 36°11′58″N 84°4′9″W / 36.19944°N 84.06917°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (36.199515, -84.069077)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 1,446 people, 644 households, and 426 families residing in the city. The population density was 210.6 people per square mile (81.3/km²). There were 682 housing units at an average density of 99.3/sq mi (38.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.41% White, 0.21% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.
There were 644 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,105, and the median income for a family was $55,179. Males had a median income of $41,813 versus $27,727 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,832. About 0.7% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
References
- ^ a b c d Norris Historic District, Cumberland River Valley Consortium Project website, Middle Tennessee State University, accessed June 12, 2009
- ^ History and Facts on Norris Dam, Tennessee GenWeb Project (accessed November 11, 2007)
- ^ a b Tennessee Valley Authority, The Planned Community of Norris, Tennessee
- ^ "Tennessee - Anderson County - Historic Districts". NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces.Com, a private website mirroring public domain National Register data.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Anderson County, Tennessee, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Town | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns/ neighborhoods | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |