Lebanon, Tennessee

Lebanon /ˈlɛbnən/ is the county seat of Wilson County, Tennessee, United States.[6] The population was 26,190 at the 2010 census and an estimated 36,479 in 2019.[7] Lebanon is located in Middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of downtown Nashville. Lebanon is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

For other places with the same name, see Lebanon (disambiguation).
Lebanon, Tennessee
City
City of Lebanon
Lebanon's Town Square with a statue of General Robert H. Hatton at the center.
Nickname(s): 
"Cedar City"
Location of Lebanon in Wilson County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°12′29″N 86°19′35″W
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyWilson
Incorporated1801[1]
Named forCedars of Lebanon
Government
 • MayorRick Bell
Area
 • Total39.66 sq mi (102.71 km2)
 • Land39.65 sq mi (102.70 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
528 ft (161 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total26,190
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
36,479
 • Density919.93/sq mi (355.19/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
37087, 37088, 37090
Area code(s)615
FIPS code47-41520[4]
GNIS feature ID1290901[5]
WebsiteCity of Lebanon, Tennessee

History

The city was incorporated in 1801,[8] and was named after the biblical cedars of Lebanon (Cedrus libani).[9] Local residents have called Lebanon "Cedar City", mostly a reference to the abundance of cedar trees in the area. The city is home to Cumberland University, a small, private four-year liberal arts institution.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.63 square miles (100.1 km2), of which 38.5 square miles (100 km2) is land and 0.03% is water.

Climate

Lebanon has a humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) with mild winters and hot summers. Under the Trewartha climate classification, it is a temperate oceanic (Do) climate due to only 7 months having a mean 50 °F (10 °C) or higher.

Demographics
Lebanon City Hall in Lebanon, TN
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,554—
18702,073—
18802,29610.8%
18901,883−18.0%
19001,9563.9%
19103,65987.1%
19204,08411.6%
19304,65614.0%
19405,95027.8%
19507,91333.0%
196010,51232.8%
197012,49218.8%
198011,872−5.0%
199015,20828.1%
200020,23533.1%
201026,19029.4%
2019 (est.)36,479[3]39.3%
Sources:[12][13]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 20,235 people, 7,987 households, and 5,319 families residing in the city. The population density was 692.0 people per square mile (267.2/km2). There were 8,693 housing units at an average density of 297.3 per square mile (114.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.89% White, 13.78% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.26% of the population.

There were 7,987 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,118, and the median income for a family was $45,094. Males had a median income of $31,207 versus $24,420 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,366. About 9.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
  • Cracker Barrel was founded in Lebanon by Dan Evins in 1969 and has its corporate headquarters there.[14]
  • PFG Customized / Kenneth O. Lester company is based in Lebanon, and has both a corporate office and a distribution center there, where they service Cracker Barrel and many other restaurant companies.
  • Lochinvar Corporation, a water products manufacturer, is based in Lebanon.[15]
  • The city threatened to sue Dell Inc. for eliminating 700 of the 1,000 jobs the company proferred as part of a tax deal on which the company later reneged.[16]
  • In 2015, Chinese tile company Wonderful Group invested $150 million to build their company's first manufacturing location in North America.[17]
  • The fraternity Sigma Pi is headquartered in Lebanon.

Arts and culture

Lebanon is host to the annual Wilson County Fair, which is considered by Busy Bee Trader Magazine (based in Greenbrier, TN) to be the best County Fair in Tennessee. The Wilson County Fair has been listed as one of the top 50 fairs in North America by attendance in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

The fair has also been named as one of the top events to attend by Southeastern Tourism and voted the "Best Fair" by the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation.[18] It has paid attendance more than double that of the Tennessee State Fair.[19]

Media

Newspapers

Radio
  • WANT 98.9 FM, country music/local sports and affairs[20]
  • WCOR 1490 AM (simulcast of WANT)
  • WRVW 107.5 FM, licensed to Lebanon but primarily serves Nashville[21]
  • WTWW, shortwave on several different frequencies

Television

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 40, runs south of the city, and has three exits that serve Lebanon. U.S. Route 70 connects the city to Nashville to the west and Smithville to the southeast. The western terminus of U.S. Route 70N is located in Lebanon, which connects to Carthage to the east. U.S. Route 231 connects the city to Murfreesboro to the south and Scottsville, Kentucky to the north. Hartmann Drive and Maddox-Simpson Parkway form a partial beltway around the city. The eastern terminus of Interstate 840 is located west of the city. State Route 109 passes west of the city and connects to Gallatin to the north. Secondary State Routes 141 and 166 also pass through Lebanon.[22]

Railroad freight service is provided by the Nashville and Eastern Railroad short line.

Commuter rail service to Nashville began service in 2006 via the Music City Star.[23] Lebanon is the eastern terminus of the Music City Star commuter rail service which runs via scheduled service Mon-Fri. There are two times when trains operate outside the normal service. July 4 fireworks at Riverfront Park calls for a special event train.[24] In addition, when the Tennessee Titans play at home, a special service called Game-Day Express operates.[25][26]

Rail service began in 1871 with the now defunct Tennessee & Pacific Railroad, which ran to Nashville. The last original passenger train departed Lebanon in 1935.

Lebanon has a municipal airport referenced by FAA Identifier M54. Operating two runways, M54's main runway is asphalt. Runway 1/19 is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 by 30 m). Runway 4/22 is turf 1,801 by 150 feet (549 by 46 m).[27]

Education

The Lebanon Special School District encompasses four elementary schools and two middle schools. Wilson County Schools operates several additional primary and secondary schools in and around Lebanon, including Wilson Central High School and the newly reconstructed Lebanon High School.[28] Lebanon also has two private schools, Friendship Christian School and McClain Christian Academy.

Lebanon is also home to Cumberland University, which was founded in 1842. The university has a rich heritage and has produced over eighty Congressmen and Senators such as Albert Gore Sr. and Thomas Gore. The institution has also produced a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Cordell Hull, who served as Secretary of State from March 1933 to November 1944.[29]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Tennessee Blue Book" (PDF). State.tn.us. 2005. pp. 618–625. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. "Quick Facts - Lebanon, TN". www.lebanontn.org. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  8. "Lebanon, Tennessee". City-Data.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  9. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 183.
  10. https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/lebanon/tennessee/united-states/ustn0283
  11. https://www.plantmaps.com/tennessee-record-high-and-low-temperature-map.php
  12. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  13. "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.
  14. "Finance News & latest business headlines from AOL". Money.aol.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  15. "Contact". Lochinvar.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  16. Josh Harkinson (2013-07-27). "Michael Dell: The Making of an American Oligarch". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  17. "$150M investment in Lebanon largest ever in Tennessee for a China-based company". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  18. "2008 Top 50 Fairs" (PDF). Carnivalwarehouse.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  19. "Board thinking about State Fair options". Nashville City Paper. 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  20. "Want/Wcor". Wantfm.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  21. "Nashville: Live Life. Love Music". 1075 The River. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  22. Tennessee Department of Transportation Long Range Planning Division Office of Data Visualization (2018). Wilson County (PDF) (Map). Tennessee Department of Transportation.
  23. "Middle Tennessee RTA Home Page - quick links, featured news, news releases, contact information". Musiccitystar.org. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  24. "Middle Tennessee RTA Special Event Information - July 4th". Musiccitystar.org. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  25. "Middle Tennessee RTA Titans Game-Day Express - Titans Train Tickets, Titans, Game Day Express, Titans information, Music City Star". Middle Tennessee RTA. 2012-04-12. Archived from the original on 2012-04-14.
  26. "Middle Tennessee RTA Home Page - quick links, featured news, news releases, contact information". Musiccitystar.org. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  27. "M54 - Lebanon Municipal Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  28. Jensen, Heather (Mar 12, 2012). "Crews continue work on new Lebanon High School". Nashville, Tennessee: WKRN.
  29. "Cumberland University About Page". Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  30. "First black mayor". Albuquerque Journal. September 2, 1976. p. 53. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. "Thomas Erby Kilby". Alabama Department of Archives & History. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
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