Editing Beersheba Springs, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Beersheba Springs, Tennessee
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Tarlton Valley (234 365).jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = A view of Tarlton Valley from Beersheba Springs
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Grundy County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Beersheba Springs Highlighted 4704240.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Beersheba Springs in Grundy County, Tennessee.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Tennessee]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Tennessee|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Grundy County, Tennessee|Grundy]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1835

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='47'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 12.43
|area_land_km2            = 12.43
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.80
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.80
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
|population_total         = 434
|population_density_km2   = 34.92
|population_density_sq_mi = 90.44

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 1850
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|28|2|N|85|40|18|W|region:US-TN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 37305
|area_code                = [[Area code 931|931]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 47-04240<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1305073<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1305073}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Beersheba Springs''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɝ|ʃ|ə|b|ə}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aschmann.net/AmEng/#Au_Tennessee|title=North American English Dialects, Based on Pronunciation Patterns|author=Rick Aschmann|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=November 25, 2019|website=Aschmann.net}}</ref> is a town in [[Grundy County, Tennessee]], United States, in the south central part of the state. The population was 477 at the 2010 census. A prominent resort town in the 19th century, Beersheba Springs was developed in 1854 by retired wealthy [[slave trader]], [[John Armfield]], who bought property in the area. It became a destination for wealthy guests from Nashville and other cities. 

Tennessee author [[Mary Noailles Murfree]] later regularly stayed at the complex in the summer. The town now serves as a major summer meeting center for the Tennessee [[United Methodist Church]].

== History ==

In 1833 Beersheba Porter Cain discovered a [[chalybeate spring]]. The spring and surrounding area, located above [[Collins River|Collins River Valley]], were incorporated in 1839. Upon its incorporation, Beersheba Springs was developed as a summer rural [[resort]] with a small hotel and log cabins. It was notable for its [[mineral water]]s, which were thought to have health-giving properties.<ref name="Nostalgia">{{cite web | title=TENNESSEE- Beersheba, TN | work=Images from Nostagliaville | publisher=Nostalgiaville | url=http://nostalgiaville.com/travel/Tennessee/Grundy/beershebasprings/beer.htm | access-date=November 4, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331110657/http://nostalgiaville.com/travel/Tennessee/Grundy/beershebasprings/beer.htm | archivedate=March 31, 2012 }}</ref>   The resort would be popular with [[stagecoach]] traffic that would travel between [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]] and [[McMinnville, Tennessee|McMinnville]].<ref name="BeerTSLA"/> 

Eventually Louisiana planters also moved into the area, leaving behind the notoriously hot and humid summers of their home state.<ref name="BeerTSLA">{{cite web | author= | year=1993 | title=Beersheba Springs | work=Wish You Were Here: Retreat to Tennessee’s Historic Resorts | publisher=[[Tennessee State Library and Archives]] | url=http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/tnresorts/beersheba.htm | access-date=November 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014213113/http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/tnresorts/beersheba.htm | archive-date=October 14, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Beersheba Springs served as the summer home for Tennessee author[[Mary Noailles Murfree]].<ref name="Nostalgia"/>
[[File:Beersheba Springs Hotel 1913.jpg|thumb|left|Beersheba Springs Hotel, 1913]]

===Beersheba Springs resort===
In 1854 Colonel [[John Armfield]], a planter and former [[History of slavery in Louisiana|slave trader]] based in [[Alexandria, Virginia]] and New Orleans, Louisiana, acquired the property. He transported upwards of 100 slaves to Beersheba Springs to develop the property as a resort destination with a new luxury hotel, cabins and grounds to accommodate 400 guests. The resort also featured laundry facilities, ice houses, [[billiard room]]s, and [[bowling alley]]s. French chefs were brought in to serve guests, as were musical acts from [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]].<ref name="BeerTSLA"/>

Enslaved African Americans built a wooden [[observatory]] at the front of the hotel. From the observatory, white guests could watch [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] and [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] armies battle during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Eventually the threat of war, raids, and plundering caused a decline in visitors to Beersheba Springs. It was sold to Northern investors.<ref name="BeerTSLA"/>

The resort re-opened in the 1870s during the Reconstruction era, but it never returned to its former glory. In 1940, the [[Methodist Church]] purchased the resort and re-opened it for assembly and summer camps. 

Architecturally the resort remains largely unchanged, although in the late 20th century,  parts of the hotel were "modernized" or restored.<ref name="BeerTSLA"/> The camp now serves as the site of the annual Beersheba Springs Arts and Craft Fair.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beershebaassembly.com/|title=Beersheba Springs Assembly|language=en|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> It is still a site for Methodist Church assemblies and summer camps.

In 1980 the resort area was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="NHRP">{{cite web | author= | year=2011 | title=Beersheba Springs Historic District | work=Database | publisher=American Dreams, Inc. | url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/tn/Grundy/state.html | access-date= November 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==

Beersheba Springs is located at {{coord|35|28|2|N|85|40|18|W|type:city}} (35.467209, -85.671700).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|4.9|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 138
|1960= 577
|1970= 560
|1980= 643
|1990= 596
|2000= 553
|2010= 477
|2020= 434
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 4, 2012|title=Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archivedate=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:47&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Beersheba Springs racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4704240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 26, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 397
| 91.47%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 1
| 0.23%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 2
| 0.46%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 27
| 6.22%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 7
| 1.61%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 434 people, 198 households, and 144 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 553 people, 232 households, and 168 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|112.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 304 housing units at an average density of {{convert|61.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 99.82% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], and 0.18% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 232 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,045, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $20,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,691. About 26.9% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 26.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Beersheba Springs today==

The former resort serves as a retreat for the Tennessee branch of the [[United Methodist Church]] and the Arts and Craft festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beershebaassembly.com/about/|title=Beersheba Springs Assembly {{!}} About|language=en|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Arts---Crafts-Store/BeershebaCrafts/about/|title=The Beersheba Springs Arts and Crafts Fair|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> The Old Brown Museum, a former [[General store|country store]], now serves as a community museum documenting the history of Beersheba Springs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beershebaspringshistoricalsociety.org/museum/|title=Beersheba Springs Historical Society|website=www.beershebaspringshistoricalsociety.org|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> The town, with a population of 477, is the home to seven churches.<ref name="Nostalgia"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Beersheba Springs, Tennessee}}

{{Coord|display=title|35.467209|-85.6717|format=dms}}

{{Grundy County, Tennessee}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Grundy County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Towns in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Spa towns in the United States]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]