Red Bank, Tennessee

Red Bank is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 11,899 at the 2020 census. Red Bank is an enclave, being entirely surrounded by the city limits of Chattanooga. Red Bank is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area.

History

Red Bank was originally known as "Pleasant Hill". When a post office was established in the community in 1881, however, it was asked to adopt a new name, since the name "Pleasant Hill" was already taken.History of Red Bank Community
Red Bank official website. Retrieved: April 17, 2017. The name "Red Bank" was chosen by the wife of the first postmaster, George Hartman. It was inspired by the red clay ridge that was visible from a window in her house. In 1955, the communities of Red Bank and White Oak incorporated as a single town called "Red Bank-White Oak". In 1966, the city voted to drop the "White Oak" for simplification purposes.

Geography

Red Bank is located at (35.110372, -85.297048). The city lies at the base of the Cumberland Plateau in southwestern Hamilton County. It is bordered on all sides by the city of Chattanooga and is north of Chattanooga's downtown. Dayton Boulevard is the city's main thoroughfare, though U.S. Route 27 runs along the city's western edge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Bank has a total area of , all of it recorded as land. The city center follows the valley of Stringers Branch, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,899 people, 5,683 households, and 2,667 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,418 people, 5,897 households, and 3,290 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 6,443 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 87.61% White, 8.24% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.19% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population.

There were 5,897 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

Education

Within the Red Bank city limits are Red Bank High School, Red Bank Junior High, and Alpine Crest Elementary School. Red Bank Elementary School, while one of Red Bank's zoned schools, is outside of the city limits in Chattanooga.

Government

Red Bank has a Council-Manager form of government with five elected commissioners. Commissioners serve staggered four year terms so that the entire commission does not turn over all at once. The five commissioners vote on city matters in public meetings and direct the City Manager (Martin Granum), who carries out the daily affairs of the city. All subsequent city employees report to the City Manager including Public Works (Greg Tate, Director), Community Development (Leslie Johnson, Director), the Fire Department (Brent Sylar, Chief), and the Police Department (Dan Seymour, Chief).

As of 2025, the Red Bank Board of Commissioners includes Mayor Stefanie Dalton, Vice Mayor Hollie Berry, Commissioners Jamie Fairbanks-Harvey, Hayes Wilkinson, and Terri Holmes. Public agenda work sessions are held at 5pm on the first and third Tuesdays of every month, followed by the board meeting at 6pm the same days. Public comments for both items on and off the agenda are welcome.

As of 2025, the Red Bank Planning Commission includes Ben Richards, Sonja Millard – Vice Chair, Robin Parker, Kate Skonberg – Secretary, and Brenna Kelly. Public planning commission meeting agenda work sessions are held the third Tuesday of every month at 12p, followed by the planning commission meeting on the third Thursday of every month at 6pm.

Two additional citizen boards, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Floodplain Revie, may assist in the zoning processes.

The City has also initiated the use of Citizens' Advisory Boards to allow for public input into issues impacting the community. Current boards include: Cemetery Citizens' Advisory Board, Festival Citizens' Advisory Board, Public Art Citizens' Advisory Board, Urban Transportation Citizens' Advisory Board, Parks & Recreation Citizens' Advisory Board, Non-Profit Citizens' Advisory Board, and Transportation Safety Committee.

The Red Bank Commission and the City Manager hold an annual strategic planning retreat to set goals for the year.

Mayors of Red Bank

*1955–1959 Burk S. "Tom" Millard
*1959–1963 J.E. Brown
*1963–1965 R. Hayden Landers
*1965–1971 Joe H. Godsey
*1971–1973 Joe Glasscock
*1973–1975 Tom H. Collins
*1976–1977 Ralph Barger
*1979–1981 Ralph Barger
*1981–1985 Thomas R. Dodd
*1983–1985 Ralph Barger
*1985–1987 John Ramey
*1987–1989 Ralph Barger
*1989–1991 Ronnie E. Moore
*1991–1993 Lester Barnette
*1993–1995 Ernest E. Lewis
*1995–1997 Ralph Barger
*1997–1999 Pat Brown
*1999–2003 Howard Daniel Cotter
*1999–2007 Ronnie E. Moore
*2007–2010 Joe Glasscock
*2010–2012 Monty Millard
*2012–2018 John Roberts
*2018–2020 Eddie Pierce
*2020 Ruth Jeno
*2020–2024 Hollie Berry
*2024 – Present: Stefanie Dalton

Politics

Natural features

Stringer's Branch – a stream that runs from north to south in Red Bank. It is a tributary of the Tennessee River and captures drainage from Stringer's Ridge on the east and Godsey Ridge on the west. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation had placed a "contact advisory" due to high levels of water contamination, including ''E. Coli''. The City of Red Bank has been actively working to clean up Stringer's Branch and TDEC monitoring does indicate improvement.

Stringer's Ridge – Red Bank and the City of Chattanooga share this 92-acre urban wilderness park. Citizen efforts stopped a condominium development on the Ridge. With assistance of the Tennessee Trust for Public Land, 7 miles of multi-use trails for both bikers and pedestrians and trail wayfaring aids.>

Red Bank is designated as a "Bird Sanctuary City" by the Red Bank Commission.

Red Bank was home to the Tennessee State Champion Virginia Pine discovered by Don McKenzie (the tree died in 2023).

Notable people

* Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, raised in Red Bank
* Wendell Rawls, Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, raised in Red Bank
* Kane Brown, Singer
* Emma Bell Miles, Writer, poet, and artist. Her works capture the essence of the natural world and the culture of southern Appalachia
* Tim Benford, former NFL wide receiver
* Keionta Davis, NFL defensive end
* Dorothy Montgomery, former professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
* Ronald L. Schlicher, diplomat and foreign service officer

Cemeteries

There are two cemeteries in Red Bank that are the responsibility of the City of Red Bank.

The Red Bank Cemetery is located off Morrison Springs Road, It has also known as the James Cemetery. Over the past two years, The Red Bank Cemetery Advisory Board has spearheaded an extensive effort to restore the property.

The second is a paupers' cemetery now referred to as The Field. This burial site for individuals who could not afford a proper burial and for deceased prisoners and others. Research is under way that will shape its future. It is located off of the White Oak Connector Trail, but is very overgrown.

Memorial Park Cemetery in Red Bank is the final resting place for several notable individuals, particularly those who contributed to the local community and region. It is privately owned and operated. It is still sometimes called White Oak Cemetery, although many simply call it "the duck pond."

Among those interned at this cemetery is Emma Bell Miles, an artist, writer, and naturalist.

References

External links

City of Red Bank official websiteCity of Red Bank official Facebook page
– city history

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Cities in Tennessee
Cities in Hamilton County, Tennessee
Cities in the Chattanooga metropolitan area
Enclaves in the United States