Red Bank, Tennessee

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.[1] 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.[8] 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.[1]

Red Bank is located at 35°6′37″N 85°17′49″W (35.110372, -85.297048).[9] 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 5 miles (8 km) 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 6.5 square miles (16.9 km²), all of it recorded as land. The city center follows the valley of Stringers Branch, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 12,418 people, 5,897 households, and 3,290 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,927.9 people per square mile (744.5/km²). There were 6,443 housing units at an average density of 1,000.3 per square mile (386.3/km²). 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.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,848, and the median income for a family was $41,696. Males had a median income of $30,832 versus $24,708 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,877. About 5.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Red Bank is the site of Red Bank High School, Red Bank Middle School, and three elementary schools: Red Bank Elementary, White Oak Elementary, and Alpine Crest Elementary.

As of 2016, the Board of Commissioners includes Mayor John Roberts, Vice Mayor Floy Pierce, and district Commissioners Rick Causer, Ed LeCompte, and Terry Pope. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at Red Bank City Hall on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.[12]

• 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

• Town of Red Bank official website
• "The City of Red Bank" – city history