Murfreesboro is a city in and

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Rutherford County,

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropolitan area of

Middle Tennessee Middle Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the U.S. state of Tennessee that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties. Middle Tennessee contains the s ...

, southeast of downtown

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...

. Serving as the state capital from 1818 to 1826, it was superseded by Nashville. Today, it is the largest

suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...

of Nashville and the sixth-largest city in Tennessee. The city is both the

center of population In demographics, the center of population (or population center) of a region is a geographical point that describes a centerpoint of the region's population. There are several ways of defining such a "center point", leading to different geogr ...

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. 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.

History

On October 27, 1811, the

Tennessee General Assembly The Tennessee General Assembly (TNGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is a part-time bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Speaker of the Senate carries the additional title ...

designated the location for a new county seat for Rutherford County, giving it the name Cannonsburgh in honor of

Newton Cannon Newton Cannon (May 22, 1781 – September 16, 1841) was an American politician who served as the eighth Governor of Tennessee from 1835 to 1839. He also served several terms in the United States House of Representatives, from 1814 to 1817, and fr ...

, 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 Hardy Murfree (June 5, 1752 – April 6, 1809) was a lieutenant colonel from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. Early life Murfree was born on June 5, 1752 at Murfree's Landing, North Carolina, later renamed Murfreesboro. ...

. The name was shortened to Murfreesboro in January 1812 when the town was formally chartered. Author

Mary Noailles Murfree Mary Noailles Murfree (January 24, 1850 – July 31, 1922) was an American author of novels and short stories who wrote under the pen name Charles Egbert Craddock. She is considered by many to be Appalachia's first significant female writer a ...

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

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 The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, and between December 31 and January 2, 1863, the rival armies suffered a combined total of 23,515 casualties. 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 Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was an American army officer during the Second Seminole War and Mexican–American War and Confederate general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, serving in the Weste ...

'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 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 Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, ...

and

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

. 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 Stones River National Battlefield, a park along the Stones River in Rutherford County, Tennessee, three miles (5 km) northwest of Murfreesboro and twenty-eight miles southeast of Nashville, memorializes the Battle of Stones River. This ke ...

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 James St. Clair Morton (September 24, 1829 – June 17, 1864) was an American military officer who served as chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio, the Army of the Cumberland and the XI Corps in the Union Army during the American Civil War. ...

, Chief Engineer of the Army of the Cumberland, was ordered to build Fortress Rosecrans, some northwest of the town. The fortifications covered about and were the largest built during the war. Fortress Rosecrans consisted of eight

lunettes A lunette (French ''lunette'', "little moon") is a half-moon shaped architectural space, variously filled with sculpture, painted, glazed, filled with recessed masonry, or void. A lunette may also be segmental, and the arch may be an arc take ...

, four redoubts, and connecting fortifications. The fortress was built around the

Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and t ...

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. 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. MTSU now has the largest undergraduate enrollment in the state, including many international students.

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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. The city has been a destination for many refugee immigrants who have left areas affected by warfare; since 1990 numerous people from

Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...

and

Kurds ug:كۇردلار Kurds ( ku, کورد ,Kurd, italic=yes, rtl=yes) or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Ir ...

from

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

have settled there. The city has also attracted numerous international students to the university.

Geography

Murfreesboro is located at . According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (0.54%) is water. However, as of 2013 the city reports its total area as . Geographic Center of Tennessee PC270247

Murfreesboro is the

geographic center In geography, the centroid of the two-dimensional shape of a region of the Earth's surface (projected radially to sea level or onto a geoid surface) is known as its geographic centre or geographical centre or (less commonly) gravitational centre. I ...

of the state of Tennessee. A stone monument marks the official site on Old Lascassas Pike, about 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 long creek suffer from pollution due to the urban environment and its use as a storm-water runoff. 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. Murfreesboro has been in the path of destructive tornados several times. On April 10, 2009, a low-end

EF4 tornado The Enhanced Fujita scale (abbreviated as EF-Scale) rates tornado intensity based on the severity of the damage they cause. It is used in some countries, including the United States, Canada, China, and Mongolia. The Enhanced Fujita scale repla ...

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.

Climate

Being in the

Sun Belt The Sun Belt is a region of the United States generally considered to stretch across the Southeast and Southwest. Another rough definition of the region is the area south of the 36th parallel. Several climates can be found in the region — des ...

, Murfreesboro's climate is humid subtropical (''Cfa'') under the Köppen system, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Under the

Trewartha Trewartha and Andrewartha are Cornish family names (and placename, Dexter). There are places called Trewartha in the parishes of Merther, St Agnes, St Neot and Veryan. According to the ''Handbook of Cornish Names'' by G. Pawley White, "Trew ...

system, it is an oceanic (''Do'') climate due to five months of winter chill (monthly means below 10 °C (50 °F)); however, Murfreesboro is close to being humid subtropical (''Cf'') even under Trewartha (March falls 0.9 °F (0.5 °C) short of the threshold), supported by the fact that subtropical plants like

Southern magnolia ''Magnolia grandiflora'', commonly known as the southern magnolia or bull bay, is a tree of the family Magnoliaceae native to the Southeastern United States, from Virginia to central Florida, and west to East Texas. Reaching in height, it is a ...

trees and the occasional

dwarf palmetto ''Sabal minor'', commonly known as the dwarf palmetto, is a small species of palm. It is native to the deep southeastern and south-central United States and northeastern Mexico. It is naturally found in a diversity of habitats, including maritime ...

and

needle palm ''Rhapidophyllum hystrix'', the needle palm, is a palm, the sole member of the genus ''Rhapidophyllum''. It is native to coastal margins of the subtropical eastern Gulf and south Atlantic states of the United States. Endemic populations can be ...

shrubs can thrive long-term there but struggle much further north. 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. 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 zenith in June with 144 mm of rain. The dry season runs from August through January with a September nadir of 88 mm and secondary December peak of 141 mm.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, 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 White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 15.18% Black / African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.36%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.04%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 2.79% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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 Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $20,219. About 8.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, 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. Murfreesboro's 2008 special census reported that the population had reached 100,575, 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. 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.

Economy

Top employers

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

Arts and culture

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

Arts

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

Museums

The

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring The Discovery Center is a children's museum, nature center and wetlands boardwalk near downtown Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Exhibits include themed exploration areas for town life, science, trains, cars, a fire engine and farmers market. There are l ...

is a nature center and interactive museum focusing on children and families. The facility includes of wetlands with a variety of animals.

Bradley Academy Museum Bradley Academy Museum is a historic school building in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that now serves as a museum and community center. History The original Bradley Academy was established in 1811 near Jefferson, Tennessee, Jefferson, the original cou ...

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. The

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.

Oaklands Historic House Museum Oaklands Mansion is an historic house museum located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. Oaklands is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a local landmark known for its unique Italianate design. The plantation was caught in ...

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. 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.

Shopping

There are two main malls located within the city limits.

Stones River Mall Stones River Town Centre (formerly Stones River Mall) is a partially enclosed regional shopping mall in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. Built in 1992, it was expanded and renovated in the late 2000s. The mall comprises more than fifty store ...

is a traditional enclosed mall, featuring stores and restaurants such as

Forever 21 Forever 21 is a multinational fast fashion retailer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. Originally founded as the store Fashion 21 in Highland Park, Los Angeles in 1984,Forever 21History & Facts, n.d. Retrieved 27 April 2014 ...

, Aéropostale, Journey's, Hot Topic, Agaci,

Dillard's Dillard's, Inc. is an upscale American department store chain with approximately 282 stores in 29 states and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Currently, the largest number of stores are located in Texas with 57 and Florida with 42. The ...

, Buckle,

Books-A-Million Books-A-Million, Inc., also known as BAM!, is a bookstore chain in the United States, operating 260 stores in 32 states. Stores range in size from 4,000 to 30,000 square feet and sell books, magazines, manga, collectibles, toys, technology, ...

Olive Garden Olive Garden is an American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is headquartered in Orange County, Florida. As of 2012, Olive Garden restaurants accounted ...

, and Miller's Ale House.

The Avenue Murfreesboro The Avenue Murfreesboro is an open-air regional lifestyle shopping center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, located southeast of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville. More than one hundred stores reside within the complex. The anchor stores are The ...

is an outdoor lifestyle center with such shops as American Eagle, Hollister,

Best Buy Best Buy Co. Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was rebra ...

, Belk, Petco,

Dick's Sporting Goods Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (stylized as "DICK'S Sporting Goods") is an American sporting goods retail company, based in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The company was established by Richard "Dick" Stack in 1948, and has approximately 854 stores an ...

Express Express or EXPRESS may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * '' Express: Aisle to Glory'', a 1998 comedy short film featuring Kal Penn * '' The Express: The Ernie Davis Story'', a 2008 film starring Dennis Quaid Music * ''Express'' ...

Mimi's Cafe Mimi's Bistro + Bakery (formerly Mimi's Café) is an American restaurant chain with 46 locations in 12 states. Originally headquartered in Tustin, California, its headquarters moved to Dallas, Texas in 2014 after 36 years in California. It serve ...

Romano's Macaroni Grill Romano's Macaroni Grill is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. The company claims 41 locations in the U.S. and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. History Romano's first restaurant was founded by restaura ...

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

Points of interest

* Geographic center of Tennessee * Middle Tennessee State University *

* Stones River Greenway Arboretum *

* Cannonsburgh Village * Bill Rice Ranch Murfreesboro is the home of a

Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy The Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) initiative of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses highly automated facilities to fulfill prescriptions for Veterans. History During the 1970s and 1980s, the VA began exper ...

(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 Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known as Sergeant York, was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine ...

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. It has 15 floors, including a large penthouse, and stands tall. As a commercial building its tenants include

Bank of America The Bank of America Corporation (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank w ...

and is the headquarters for the National Healthcare Corporation (NHC).

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. Old Fort Park is a park which includes baseball fields, tennis courts, children's playground, an 18-hole championship golf course, picnic shelters and bike trail. Barfield Crescent Park is a facility with eight baseball fields, of biking/running trails, an 18-hole championship

disc golf Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. Most disc golf discs are made out of polypropylene plastic, otherwise known as polypropene, which ...

course, and ten picnic shelters. Murfreesboro Greenway System is a system of

greenways Greenway or Greenways may refer to: * Greenway (landscape), a linear park focused on a trail or bike path * Another term for bicycle boulevards in some jurisdictions People * Greenway (surname) Places Australia * Electoral Division of Greenway ...

with of paved paths and 11 trail heads. 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.

Government

The city council has six members, all elected

at-large At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather than ...

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. * Joshua Haskell, 1818 * 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 Joseph Benjamin Palmer (November 1, 1825 – November 4, 1890) was an American lawyer, legislator, and soldier. He served as a Confederate general in the American Civil War, during which he was wounded four times. After the conflict he resum ...

, 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 * Joe B. Jackson, 1982-1998 * Richard Reeves, 1998-2002 * Tommy Bragg, 2002-2014 * Shane McFarland, 2014–present

Education

Elementary education within the city is overseen by Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS). MCS focuses on prekindergarten through sixth grade learning. The city has 12 schools serving 8,800 students between grades pre-K through 6th. Secondary schools are overseen by Rutherford County Schools, which has 50 schools and a student population of over 49,000. 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.

Media

Murfreesboro is serviced by the following media outlets: Newspapers: *'' The Daily News Journal'' *''The Murfreesboro Post'' *''The Murfreesboro Pulse'' *''Sidelines'' – MTSU student newspaper *''Rutherford Source'' *''

The Sword of the Lord ''The Sword of the Lord'' is a Christian fundamentalist, Independent Baptist biweekly newspaper. ''The Sword of the Lord'' is published by Sword of the Lord Ministries, a non-profit organization based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which also publi ...

'' Radio: *

WGNS WGNS (1450 AM) is a radio station based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. The call letters are an acronym An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from ...

– Talk radio *

WMOT WMOT is a public radio station serving the metropolitan Nashville, Tennessee market. Licensed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, it is owned by the Middle Tennessee State University, located in nearby Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it broadcasts an Ame ...

– MTSU

public radio Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...

station *

WMTS-FM WMTS-FM (88.3 FM broadcasting, FM) is a student-run college radio station licensed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The station is currently owned by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). It is the fourth attempt by students at MTSU to organize ...

– MTSU free-form student-run station *WRHW-LP -

3ABN Radio The Three Angels Broadcasting Network, or 3ABN, is a Christian media television and radio network which broadcasts Seventh-day Adventist religious and health-oriented programming, based in West Frankfort, Illinois, United States. Although it is ...

Christian TV: *City TV Murfreesboro, Channel 3 – Government-access

television channel A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with ...

*MT10, Channel 10 – MTSU student-run educational-access television channel

Infrastructure

Transportation

Murfreesboro is served by Nashville International Airport ( IATA code BNA), Smyrna Airport (MQY) and

Murfreesboro Municipal Airport Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located north of the central business district of Murfreesboro, a city in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrate ...

(MBT). The city also benefits from several

highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...

s running through the city, including Interstates 24 and 840; U.S. Routes 41, 70S, and

231 Year 231 ( CCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Claudius and Sallustus (or, less frequently, year 984 '' Ab urbe ...

; and State Routes 1, 2, 10, 96, 99, and

268 __NOTOC__ Year 268 ( CCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paternus and Egnatius (or, less frequently, year 1021 ...

. Industry also has access to north–south

rail service Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

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. 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.

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. , buses operate in six major corridors: Memorial Boulevard, Gateway, Old Fort Parkway, South Church Street, Highland Avenue and Mercury Boulevard. A one-way fare is for adults, 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.

Notable people

* Jerry Anderson (1953–1989), football player *

Rankin Barbee David Rankin Barbee (October 15, 1874, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Tennessee—March 7, 1958, Orange, Texas, Orange, Texas) was an American journalist, a public relations writer for the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, and a res ...

(1874–1958), journalist and author *

Ronnie Barrett Ronnie G. Barrett (born 1954) is the CEO and founder of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing of Christiana, Tennessee, board member of the National Rifle Association, and the designer of the Barrett M82. Life and career Barrett was born in Murfreesbor ...

(born 1954), firearms manufacturer * Rex Brothers (born 1987),

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

pitcher, currently on the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

James M. Buchanan James McGill Buchanan Jr. (; October 3, 1919 – January 9, 2013) was an American economist known for his work on public choice theory originally outlined in his most famous work co-authored with Gordon Tullock in 1962, ''The Calculus of Consen ...

(1919–2013), economist * Bryan M. Clayton - businessman and real estate investor, CEO and cofounder of

GreenPal GreenPal is an online freelancing platform that connects landscapers to clients in the United States. The company is based in Nashville, Tennessee and was founded in 2012. GreenPal's business model was inspired by Uber, Airbnb and Lyft. As of Jan ...

Reno Collier Reno Collier is a stand up comedianKlister, Eric (17 August 2006 ''The Post-Crescent'', Retrieved October 28, 2010 who gained celebrity as the opening act for Larry the Cable Guy and with his own Comedy Central Presents special. He was also fea ...

, stand-up comedian *

Crystal Dangerfield Crystal Simone Dangerfield (born May 11, 1998) is an American basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). After a high school career that made her the nation's top-ranked point guard, she played c ...

(born 1998),

Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team won the WNBA title in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Founded pr ...

point guard * Colton Dixon (born 1991), singer *

Will Allen Dromgoole Will Allen Dromgoole (October 26, 1860 – September 1, 1934) was an author and poet born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She wrote over 7,501 poems; 5,000 essays; and published thirteen books. She was renowned beyond the Sou ...

, (1860–1934), author and poet *

Harold Earthman Harold Henderson "Doc" Earthman (April 13, 1900 – February 26, 1987) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Tennessee. Biography Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Earthman was the son of Vernon King Earthman, a physician, and ...

(1900–1987), politician *

Mary Ann Eckles Mary Ann Eckles (born July 22, 1947) was an American politician. Eckles lived in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with her husband and family. She served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 and was a Democrat Democrat, Democrats, ...

(born 1947), politician *

Corn Elder Cornelius Marquis Elder (born October 9, 1994) is an American football cornerback for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Miami and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round o ...

(born 1994), football player *

Jeff Givens Jeff Givens (1961/1962 – October 6, 2013) was a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer who won three World Championships with the same horse. Givens died in a truck and trailer crash in 2013, at age 51. Career Givens was a lifelong resident of Ruther ...

(died 2013), horse trainer *

Bart Gordon Barton Jennings Gordon (born January 24, 1949) is an American politician and former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1985 until 2011. The district includes several rural areas and fast-growing suburbs east of Nashville. He was Chairman of t ...

(born 1949), politician and lawyer *

Joe Black Hayes Joe Black Hayes Sr. (September 20, 1915 − December 9, 2013) was an American football player and coach. Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Hayes played for the Tennessee Volunteers football, Tennessee Volunteers. Hayes was an assistant under Cha ...

(1915–2013), football player *

James Sanders Holman James Sanders Holman (February 7, 1804 – December 8, 1867) was a soldier, entrepreneur, and the first mayor of Houston. Early life Holman was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to Isaac and Polly Anne (Wiggleworth) Holman on February, 7, 1804. W ...

(1804-1867), 1st

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

Montori Hughes Montori Hughes (born August 25, 1990) is a former American football nose tackle. He played college football at University of Tennessee at Martin, and was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He has also be ...

(born 1990), football player *

Yolanda Hughes-Heying Yolanda R. Hughes-Heying (born October 30, 1963) is an American professional female bodybuilder from the United States. Biography Yolanda Hughes-Heying (born Yolanda Hughes) was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 30, 1963. She was rais ...

(born 1963), professional

female bodybuilder Female bodybuilding is the female component of competitive bodybuilding. It began in the late 1970s, when women began to take part in bodybuilding competitions.

Robert James Robert James may refer to: *Robert James (actor) (1924–2004), Scottish actor *Robert James (businessman) (died 1983), American founder of Raymond James Financial * Robert James (defensive back) (born 1947), played in the National Football League, ...

(born 1947), football player *

Marshall Keeble Marshall Keeble (December 7, 1878 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee – April 20, 1968 in Nashville, Tennessee) was an African American preacher of the church of Christ, whose successful career notably bridged a racial divide in an important American ...

(1878–1962),

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

preacher *

Muhammed Lawal Oklahoma State Cowboys Central Oklahoma Bronchos Muhammed Lawal (born January 11, 1981), also known as "King Mo", is an American professional wrestler and retired mixed martial artist currently signed to Major League Wre ...

(born 1981), mixed martial artist *

Mike Liles Mike J. Liles (September 19, 1945 – May 1, 2022) was an American businessman and politician. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995 and was a Republican. Liles lived in Murfreesboro, Tennessee Murfreesbor ...

(1945-2022), businessman and politician *

Sondra Locke Sandra Louise Anderson (''née'' Smith; May 28, 1944 – November 3, 2018), professionally known as Sondra Locke, was an American actress and director. She achieved worldwide recognition for her relationship with Clint Eastwood and the six hit f ...

(1944–2018), actress and director *

Andrew Nelson Lytle Andrew Nelson Lytle (December 26, 1902 – December 12, 1995) was an American novelist, dramatist, essayist and professor of literature. Early life Andrew Nelson Lytle was born on December 26, 1902, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He graduated from V ...

(1902–1995), novelist, dramatist, essayist and professor *

Jean MacArthur Jean Marie MacArthur ( Faircloth; December 28, 1898 – January 22, 2000) was the second wife of U.S. Army General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Early life and education Born Jean Marie Faircloth in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the dau ...

(1898–2000), wife of U.S. Army General of the Army

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...

Bayer Mack Bayer Leevince Mack (born August 26, 1972) is an American record executive and filmmaker. He is the publisher of the late-1990s, early-2000s urban entertainment website ''HOT 104.com'', the founder of Block Starz Music and the director of '' The C ...

(born 1972), filmmaker, journalist and founder of

Block Starz Music Block Starz Music is an American independent record label owned and operated by Bayer Mack. Its catalog includes independent releases by Machine Gun Kelly, Lega-C, Wiz Khalifa, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Big Sean, Rhymefest, and Ceddy Bu Rap Su ...

. * Matt Mahaffey (born 1973), record producer and recording engineer * Philip D. McCulloch Jr. (1851–1928), politician *

Ridley McLean Rear Admiral Ridley McLean, USN (10 November 1872 – 12 November 1933) was a two-star Admiral in the United States Navy. He was a Naval Academy graduate, the original author of the Navy's '' Bluejacket's Manual'', and Judge Advocate General (JA ...

(1872–1933),

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

* Judith Ann Neelley (born 1964), double murderer *

William Northcott William Allen Northcott (28 January 1854 – 25 January 1917) was an American politician. Between 1897 and 1905 he served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Life William Northcott was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He studied law an ...

(1854-1917), lieutenant governor of Illinois *

Andre Alice Norton Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton, February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, who also wrote works of historical and contemporary fiction. She wrote primarily under the pen name ...

(1912-2005), author of science fiction and fantasy *

(1825–1890), lawyer, legislator, and soldier * Sarah Childress Polk (1803–1891), First Lady of the United States *

Patrick Porter Patrick Porter is an American singer/songwriter, novelist, poet, and painter. Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and raised in the isolated mountain town of Bailey, Colorado, Porter began playing music at a young age, often acting as a sit-in drumm ...

, singer-songwriter * David Price (born 1985),

pitcher * Grantland Rice (1880–1954), iconic sportswriter, journalist and poet * Mary Scales (1928–2013), professor and civic leader * Robert W. Scales (1926–2000), Vice-Mayor of Murfreesboro *

Margaret Rhea Seddon Margaret Rhea Seddon (born November 8, 1947) is an American surgeon and retired NASA astronaut. After being selected as part of the first group of astronauts to include women in 1978, she flew on three Space Shuttle flights: as mission spe ...

(born 1947),

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

astronaut *

Adam Smith Adam Smith (baptized 1723 – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish economist and philosopher who was a pioneer in the thinking of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Seen by some as "The Father of Economics"——— ...

(born 1990),

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 season, making it the third longest-running professional football league in ...

player * Chuck Taylor (born 1942), Major League Baseball relief pitcher * Chris Young (born 1985), country music artist *

Audrey Whitby Audrey Whitby (born April 10, 1996) is an American actress. She is known for her many appearances on ''AwesomenessTV'' including starring in the cast of ''Betch: A Sketch Show'', and for her recurring roles as Audrey Vale on the Disney Channel ...

(born 1996), actress

Notable bands

Mosque controversy

Beginning in 2010, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro faced protests related to its plan to build a new 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. Construction equipment was also torched by arsonists. 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. The center has a permanent membership of around 250 families and a few hundred students from the university. The case ultimately attracted national media attention as an issue of religious freedom.

References

Bibliography

External links

*
''Daily News Journal'' (newspaper)''Murfreesboro Post'' (newspaper)
{{Authority control Cities in Tennessee Cities in Rutherford County, Tennessee County seats in Tennessee

Cities in Nashville metropolitan area Populated places established in 1811 1811 establishments in Tennessee