Cumberland Gap, Tennessee

Cumberland Gap is a town in Claiborne County, Tennessee, United States.[5] Its population was 494 at the 2010 census, and estimated to be 490 in 2019.[6] The town is located below the Cumberland Gap, a historic mountain pass for which is the town's namesake, and inside of the boundaries of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.[1]

Cumberland Gap, Tennessee
Town
Town of Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Gap, as viewed from the Pinnacle Overlook
Nickname(s): 
The Gap[1]
Location of Cumberland Gap in Claiborne County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°35′56″N 83°40′2″W
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyClaiborne
Settled1770s[2]
Incorporated1907[3]
Named forCumberland Gap mountain pass
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorNeal Pucciarelli
 • Town Council
Area
 • Total0.33 sq mi (0.85 km2)
 • Land0.33 sq mi (0.85 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation1,417 ft (432 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total494
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
490
 • Density1,489.36/sq mi (575.34/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
37724, 37752
Area code(s)423
FIPS code47-18880[7]
GNIS feature ID2406347[5]
Websitetownofcumberlandgap.com

The majority of the town's downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Cumberland Gap Historic District.[8]

History

In 1888, a work camp was established at Cumberland Gap by Scottish-born entrepreneur Alexander Arthur (1846–1912) to house workers needed to build a tunnel for the Knoxville, Cumberland Gap & Louisville Railroad. Arthur, who was attempting to establish a large-scale iron production operation in the Cumberland Gap region, founded the nearby cities of Middlesboro, Kentucky, and Harrogate, Tennessee, and the nearby community of Arthur.[9]

In 1996, the completion of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel re-routed US 25E, bypassing the town's central business district. This bypassing of the town caused the local economy to decline as annual payrolls for Cumberland Gap dropped 40% in a ten-year span from 1994 (two years before the tunnel's completion) to 2004.[1]

Geography

Cumberland Gap is located at 36°35′56″N 83°40′2″W (36.598976, -83.667318).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), all land.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1910347—
1920304−12.4%
193036921.4%
194040910.8%
1950403−1.5%
1960291−27.8%
1970231−20.6%
198026313.9%
1990210−20.2%
2000204−2.9%
2010494142.2%
2019 (est.)490[6]−0.8%
Sources:[11][12]

As of the census of 2000, there were 204 people, 89 households, and 51 families residing in the town. The population density was 629.9 people per square mile (246.1/km2). There were 111 housing units at an average density of 342.8 per square mile (133.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White and 0.98% Native American. Cumberland Gap ranks 289th in city size in Tennessee according to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau.[13]

There were 89 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were nonfamilies. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,005. About 9.3% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under the age of 18 and 28.6% of those 65 or over.

Economy

The major industry sectors employing Cumberland Gap residents are healthcare, education, arts, and service.[1] Food preparation and service-related jobs have become the fastest growing within the town of Cumberland Gap. However, according to the American Community Survey, 10% of Cumberland Gap residents work inside of the town limits, with most commuting to other parts of Claiborne County, Middlesboro, and Campbell County.[1]

Arts and culture

Festivals

There are several festivals and events held in Cumberland Gap,[1] some of the more notable events include:

culture.[14]

  • Mountain Heritage Literary Festival - festival held every June drawing in writers from throughout the country to celebrate writing,

music, and Appalachian heritage.[15]

  • The Mountain Fiesta - celebration of Latin American and Appalachian culture held every April, includes professional dance classes, live music, art demonstrations, and a variety of Latin American and Appalachian cultural activities.[16]

Historic sites

Education

There are no schools in the town limits, but Cumberland Gap High School located southwest of Harrogate, Tennessee, is in Cumberland Gap's 37724 zip code.

Lincoln Memorial University is located in nearby Harrogate.

Notable person

References
  1. "Cumberland Gap Master Plan and Trailhead Development Plan" (PDF). Town of Cumberland Gap. Community Development Partners. December 1, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. Kivett, John (October 8, 2017). "Claiborne County". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Tennessee Historical Society. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  3. "Cumberland Gap". Municipal Technical Advisory Service. University of Tennessee. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  5. "Town of Cumberland Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. "Cumberland Gap National Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  9. Carolyn Sakowski, Touring the East Tennessee Backroads (Winston-Salem: J.F. Blair, 1993), pp. 178–179.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  12. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  13. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/data/summary-file.html
  14. "White Lightning Trail Festival". Claiborne Economic Partnership. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  15. "Mountain Heritage Literary Festival". Lincoln Memorial University. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  16. "Mountain Fiesta - CUMBERLAND GAP". Cumberland Gap Region. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  17. "NPGallery Asset Detail". National Park Gallery. National Park Service. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  18. Erlewine, Stephen. "Rodney Atkins". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2021.

Further reading
  • Sweet, Natalie. Harrogate and Cumberland Gap. (Arcadia Publishing, 2014).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.