Editing Sweetwater, Tennessee

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Sweetwater, Tennessee
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Sweetwater-downtown-tn1.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Downtown area, September 2016
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = File:Monroe County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sweetwater Highlighted 4772540.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Sweetwater in Monroe County and Mcminn 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|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Monroe County, Tennessee|Monroe]] and [[McMinn County, Tennessee|McMinn]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = Established
| established_date         = 1850s<ref name=sands />
| established_title2       = Incorporated
| established_date2        = 1875<ref name=sands />

<!-- 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           = 22.92
| area_land_km2            = 22.89
| area_water_km2           = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi         = 8.85
| area_land_sq_mi          = 8.84
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 6312
| population_density_km2   = 275.79
| population_density_sq_mi = 714.27

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 1011
| coordinates              = {{coord|35|36|10|N|84|28|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 37874
| area_code                = [[Area code 423|423]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 47-72540<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2405553<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405553}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.sweetwatertn.net/}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}

'''Sweetwater''' is a [[city]] in [[Monroe County, Tennessee|Monroe]] and [[McMinn County, Tennessee|McMinn]] Counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]], and the most populous city in Monroe County. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 6,312.<ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/> Sweetwater is the home of the [[Craighead Caverns]] which contains the '''Lost Sea''', the United States' largest underground lake. In 2022, ''TravelMag'' named Sweetwater one of Tennessee's "Ten Most Charming Cities".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Paul |date=June 20, 2022 |title=The Most Charming Towns and Small Cities in Tennessee |url=https://www.travelmag.com/articles/towns-small-cities-tennessee/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=TravelMag |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
A legend states that the town's name originated from settlers' descriptions of area springs.<ref name="Treadwell"/>

Sweetwater was established in the 1850s on a series of lots sold by Isaac Lenoir (1807–1875), a local politician and son of the founder of [[Lenoir City, Tennessee|Lenoir City]] (located a few miles to the northeast in [[Loudon County, Tennessee|Loudon County]]). Sweetwater was officially incorporated in 1875.<ref name=sands>Sally Sands, "[http://www.sweetwatertn.net/history/index.htm History of Sweetwater]," 2006. Retrieved: December 31, 2007.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Sweetwater-park-Main-tn1.jpg|left|thumb|Circle Park, September 2016]]
The city lies along [[Sweetwater Creek (Tennessee River)|Sweetwater Creek]], which flows northeast for several miles before emptying into the [[Watts Bar Lake]] impoundment of the [[Tennessee River]]. The creek's drainage has created a lowland area known as Sweetwater Valley, which is surrounded by low hills.

Sweetwater is centered along [[U.S. Route 11 in Tennessee|U.S. Route 11]] between its junction with [[Tennessee State Route 68|State Route 68]] to the south and [[Tennessee State Route 322|State Route 322]] to the north.  [[Interstate 75 in Tennessee|Interstate 75]] passes along the western boundary of Sweetwater.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.9|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Sweetwater is located in a valley amid the foothills of the [[Great Smoky Mountains]], and is surrounded by farmland.<ref name="Treadwell">Treadwell, David. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-22-mn-420-story.html In Tennessee, a bastion of fading Americana, the military school, surrenders to Japanese preppies.]" ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. May 22, 1989. Section 1 National Desk, Start Page 4. Retrieved on January 12, 2012.</ref>

{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 677
|1890= 879
|1900= 1716
|1910= 1850
|1920= 1972
|1930= 2271
|1940= 2593
|1950= 4199
|1960= 4145
|1970= 4340
|1980= 4725
|1990= 5066
|2000= 5586
|2010= 5764
|2020= 6312
|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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=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>
}}

==Demographics==

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Sweetwater [[Race (United States Census)|racial composition]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4772540&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 (non-Hispanic)
| 5,261
| 83.35%
|-
!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
| 328
| 5.2%
|-
!scope="row"| Native American
| 11
| 0.17%
|-
!scope="row"| Asian
| 47
| 0.74%
|-
!scope="row"| Other/mixed
| 353
| 5.59%
|-
!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino
| 312
| 4.94%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]],  6,312 people, 2,175 households, and 1,633 families resided in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000,  5,586 people, 2,315 households, and 1,537 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|810.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 2,511 housing units had an average density of {{convert|364.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 86.6% White, 7.32% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.6% of the population.
[[File:Sweetwater-Depot-tn1.jpg|right|thumb|Sweetwater Depot, September 2016]]

Of the 2,315 households, 27.4% had children under 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were not families. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the age distribution was 23.0% under 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,323, and for a family was $35,269. Males had a median income of $29,982 versus $23,075 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,746. About 11.5% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.5% of those under 18 and 18.1% of those 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:All except smallest boy work in Sweetwater Hosiery Co. He is a dinner carrier, but others like him and smaller work... - NARA - 523367.jpg|left|thumb|Sweetwater Hosiery Co., December 1910]]

{{as of|1989}}, most of the economy consisted of agriculture business. In addition, some light industry was located in Sweetwater, including a chemical factory, a hosiery mill, and a stove plant.<ref name="Treadwell"/>
A new [[Walmart Supercenter]] opened on September 11, 2013, and added 200 jobs to the Sweetwater area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/09/04/walmart-ready-to-reveal-new-store-to-sweetwater-shoppers |title=Walmart Corporate - Walmart Ready to Reveal New Store to Sweetwater Shoppers |website=www.news.walmart.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005024731/http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/09/04/walmart-ready-to-reveal-new-store-to-sweetwater-shoppers |archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref>
A Rural King store opened in Feb 2018.
On January 15, 2022, Red Stag Fulfillment announced plans to develop a 420-acre [[ecommerce]] distribution center along I-75, estimated to provide 3,500 jobs and annual tax revenue of $1.9 million to the city of Sweetwater.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sweetwatertn.net/|title=Sweetwater, TN|website=sweetwatertn.net}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:TMI Sign.JPG|thumb|[[Tennessee Meiji Gakuin High School]] entrance sign, November 2014]]
[[Sweetwater City Schools]] operate public elementary and middle schools in the portion of the city in Monroe County, with [[Monroe County Schools (Tennessee)|Monroe County Schools]] operating high-school services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47123_monroe/DC20SD_C47123.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Monroe County, TN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 28, 2022}}</ref> [[Sweetwater High School (Sweetwater, Tennessee)|Sweetwater High School]] is part of the Monroe district.

The [[U.S. Census Bureau]] indicates the Sweetwater district is entirely in Monroe County, and that the small [[McMinn County]] portion of the city is in [[McMinn County Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47107_mcminn/DC20SD_C47107.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McMinn County, TN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 28, 2022}}</ref>

[[Tennessee Meiji Gakuin High School]] was located in Sweetwater from 1989 to 2007.<ref name="DiPane">DiPane, Melissa. "[http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6203323 Tennessee Meiji Gakuin School holds last graduation] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130706154205/http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6203323 |date=2013-07-06 }}." ''[[WATE]]''. March 9, 2007. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.</ref> It was located in the former [[Tennessee Military Institute]].<ref name="Fowler">Fowler, Bob. "[http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jan/08/campus-transfer-is-a-done-deal/ Former Meiji Gakuin school goes to Sweet Water Sustainability Institute]." ''[[The Knoxville News-Sentinel]]''. [[Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group]]. January 8, 2011. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.</ref>

Cross Creek Kindergarten - Grade 12 operates as a private Christian school. It was developed by Karen Darragh and Harold Jeffers Darragh, who also developed Willow Creek.

==Notable people==
* [[Butch Baker]], [[country music]] artist
* [[Gerald Brown (American football)|Gerald Brown]], NFL and collegiate coach
* [[Kippy Brown]], NFL and collegiate coach
* [[Harry T. Burn]] (1895&ndash;1977), a Tennessee legislator, broke the deadlock on the [[Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution]] and gave women the right to vote in the United States.<ref>Boyd, Tyler L. (2019). ''Tennessee Statesman Harry T. Burn, Woman Suffrage, Free Elections, and a Life of Service''. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. {{ISBN|978-1-4671-4318-9}}. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref>
* [[North Callahan]], [[historian]] and [[journalist]]
* [[Dwight Henry (politician)|Dwight Henry]], politician
* [[Paul Dean Holt]], former [[NASCAR]] [[Sprint Cup Series|Winston Cup driver]]
* [[Frank North (American football)|Frank North]], collegiate coach
* [[Gerald North]], [[climatology|climatologist]]

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[List of cities in Tennessee]]

==References==
{{Reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sweetwater, Tennessee}}
* {{official website|http://www.sweetwatertn.net}}
* [http://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/gml-mtas.nsf/Webstatecityinfo/C55C890465E49FAB85256AF7005EDB1E Municipal Technical Advisory Service entry for Sweetwater] — information on local government, elections, and link to charter

{{McMinn County, Tennessee}}
{{Monroe County, Tennessee}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Monroe County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Cities in McMinn County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Cities in Tennessee]]