Erwin, Tennessee

Last updated

Erwin
Town
Erwin-Main-Street-tn1.jpg
View along Main Street in Erwin
Motto(s): 
"Where the Mountains and the People Welcome You." [1]
Unicoi County Tennessee Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Erwin Highlighted 4724360.svg
Location of Erwin in Unicoi County, Tennessee.
USA Tennessee location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Erwin
Coordinates: 36°8′42″N82°24′39″W / 36.14500°N 82.41083°W / 36.14500; -82.41083
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Unicoi
Settled1780s [2]
Founded1876 [2]
Incorporated1903 [3]
Named for David J.N. Ervin, early resident [4]
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • MayorGlenn White
 • AldermenGary Chandler, Gary Edwards, Mark Lafever, Virgil Moore, Rachelle Shurtz
Area
[5]
 • Total4.13 sq mi (10.70 km2)
 • Land4.13 sq mi (10.69 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,673 ft (510 m)
Population
 (2020) [6]
 • Total6,083
 • Density1,474.31/sq mi (569.20/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
37650
Area code 423
FIPS code 47-24360 [7]
GNIS feature ID1328148 [8]
Website erwintn.org

Erwin is a town in and the county seat of Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States. [9] The population was 6,097 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Johnson City metropolitan area, which is a component of the "Tri-Cities" region.

Contents

History

The town of Erwin received its name by a mail mishap. On December 5, 1879, the name of the town was Ervin, in honor of D.J.N. Ervin, who had donated 15 acres (61,000 m2) of land for the county seat. A typo made by post office officials caused the name to be recorded as Erwin. The mistake was never corrected.[ citation needed ]

Erwin earned some notoriety in 1916 when the only known public execution of an elephant in Tennessee occurred in the community. [10] [11] Mary, an elephant in 'Sparks World Famous Shows' traveling circus, had killed her handler, Walter Eldridge, in nearby Kingsport after the inexperienced trainer allegedly struck Mary on the head with a hook. News of a killer elephant spread via rumors and sensationalist news stories, and calls for Mary's execution began. Some towns announced they would turn the circus away if it showed up with the elephant. So Mary's owner, Charlie Sparks, decided to execute Mary by hanging in order to appease the crowds. Erwin was a little more than 35 miles south of Kingsport, and as home to the region's largest railway yard they happened to have a 100-ton crane car that could lift the five-ton elephant. [12] An estimated 2,500 people turned out at the local railway yard to see Mary hoisted by a crane to meet her demise. Playwright George Brant won the 2008 Keene Prize for Literature for his a one-act play titled “Elephant’s Graveyard”, depicting this story. [12] [13] The town recently implemented a yearly festival and Elephant Art Auction; whereby, artists paint small elephant sculptures displayed around town that are then auctioned, with all proceeds donated exclusively to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald. [14] [15]

Between 1916 and 1957, the Southern Potteries plant operated in Erwin along Ohio Avenue. The plant produced a hand-painted dishware known as Blue Ridge that became popular nationwide in the late 1930s and 1940s.[ citation needed ] Blue Ridge pieces are still popular items with collectors of antique dishware.[ citation needed ]

In 1918, a group of its white citizens committed an inhumane “banishment," a violent incident that involved the murder of a black man and the violent, forcible eviction of all other black citizens from the town by a white mob. [16] In the 20th century, the town was considered a sundown town. [17]

Geography

Erwin is located at 36°8′42″N82°24′39″W / 36.14500°N 82.41083°W / 36.14500; -82.41083 (36.145036, -82.410796), [18] The town is situated in a valley at the confluence of North Indian Creek, which approaches from the northeast, and the Nolichucky River, which enters the valley from the mountains to the southeast. Just before reaching Erwin, the Nolichucky passes through a narrow gorge popular with whitewater rafters.

The Nolichucky River, approaching Erwin from the east, as seen from the Appalachian Trail 2010-Nov-07-Nolichucky-River-Valley-East-Of-Erwin-TN.jpg
The Nolichucky River, approaching Erwin from the east, as seen from the Appalachian Trail

Erwin is surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest, and mountains dominate the view in all directions. Buffalo Mountain rises to the north, Rich Mountain rises to the west, and the Unaka Mountains rise to the south and east.

The Appalachian Trail passes east of Erwin. The trail crosses the Nolichucky near the western end of the Nolichucky Gorge, at a place known as Unaka Springs. Nearby is "Moaning Rock", a large boulder near the trail that is supposed to be the site of a long ago murder of a stranger. According to local lore, the murdered man's spirit is still around, and if anyone stands on or even touches the rock, "...it moans as if under a heavy burden." [19]

Interstate 26 passes through western and southern Erwin. Tennessee State Route 107 (North Main Avenue) connects Erwin to Unicoi to the north and the Embreeville area and Washington County to the west. Tennessee State Route 395 connects Erwin with the rural parts of Mitchell and Yancey counties to the east in North Carolina, crossing the Unakas at the 3,100-foot (940 m) Indian Grave Gap (the road becomes North Carolina Highway 197 at the state line).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), of which 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) is land and 0.28% is water.

Climate

Climate data for Erwin 1 W, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1979–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)75
(24)		82
(28)		85
(29)		90
(32)		91
(33)		101
(38)		102
(39)		101
(38)		98
(37)		92
(33)		84
(29)		78
(26)		102
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)47.3
(8.5)		50.8
(10.4)		58.7
(14.8)		68.4
(20.2)		76.2
(24.6)		82.8
(28.2)		85.4
(29.7)		84.9
(29.4)		80.2
(26.8)		69.9
(21.1)		58.9
(14.9)		50.3
(10.2)		67.8
(19.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)35.9
(2.2)		38.9
(3.8)		45.8
(7.7)		54.5
(12.5)		63.0
(17.2)		70.5
(21.4)		73.8
(23.2)		73.0
(22.8)		67.6
(19.8)		56.6
(13.7)		45.7
(7.6)		39.1
(3.9)		55.4
(13.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)24.5
(−4.2)		26.9
(−2.8)		33.0
(0.6)		40.7
(4.8)		49.8
(9.9)		58.1
(14.5)		62.2
(16.8)		61.1
(16.2)		55.0
(12.8)		43.3
(6.3)		32.5
(0.3)		28.0
(−2.2)		42.9
(6.1)
Record low °F (°C)−20
(−29)		−11
(−24)		−5
(−21)		19
(−7)		24
(−4)		37
(3)		45
(7)		45
(7)		31
(−1)		22
(−6)		12
(−11)		−5
(−21)		−20
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.46
(88)		3.27
(83)		3.82
(97)		3.99
(101)		4.83
(123)		5.07
(129)		5.51
(140)		4.76
(121)		3.28
(83)		2.54
(65)		2.83
(72)		3.64
(92)		47.00
(1,194)
Average snowfall inches (cm)3.4
(8.6)		2.5
(6.4)		0.9
(2.3)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.1
(0.25)		2.4
(6.1)		9.3
(24)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)12.011.011.910.913.413.313.812.39.68.49.311.6137.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)2.31.40.90.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.11.26.0
Source: NOAA [20] [21]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910 1,149—
1920 2,965158.1%
1930 3,62322.2%
1940 3,350−7.5%
1950 3,3871.1%
1960 3,210−5.2%
1970 4,71546.9%
1980 4,7390.5%
1990 5,0155.8%
2000 5,61011.9%
2010 6,0978.7%
2020 6,083−0.2%
Sources: [22] [23] [6]

2020 census

Erwin racial composition [24]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)5,41789.05%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)190.31%
Native American 100.16%
Asian 110.18%
Other/Mixed 1853.04%
Hispanic or Latino 4417.25%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,083 people, 2,657 households, and 1,632 families residing in the town.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,610 people in 2,470 households, including 1,588 families, in the city. The population density was 1,582.8 inhabitants per square mile (611.1/km2). There were 2,645 housing units at an average density of 746.2 per square mile (288.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.77% White, 0.05% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00%. [7]

Of the 2,470 households 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 33.6% of households were one person and 18.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.80.

The age distribution was 19.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. [25]

The median household income was $29,644 and the median family income was $37,813. Males had a median income of $31,894 versus $20,118 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,868. About 7.5% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy and culture

Nuclear Fuel Services has a major facility in Erwin. It began operation in 1957 as the Davison Chemical Division of the W.R. Grace Company. [26] Production activities at the Erwin facility include preparing enriched uranium to be processed into nuclear reactor fuel, processing uranium hexafluoride into other uranium compounds, and downblending high-enriched uranium to convert it to a low-enriched form for use in commercial nuclear reactors. Historically the facility also worked with thorium compounds. [26]

Erwin was host to a CSX rail yard, diesel shop, and car repair facility, which closed in 2015.

Sports

In 1940, the city hosted a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League called the Erwin Mountaineers. [27] The same league's Erwin Aces played there in 1943 as did the Erwin Cubs in 1944, both as farm clubs of the Chicago Cubs. [27] The Aces won the 1943 Appalachian League playoff championship. [28]

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References

  1. ↑ "Homepage". Town of Erwin. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  2. 1 2 James A. Goforth, Erwin, Tennessee: A Pictorial History 1891–1929 (Overmountain Press, 2004), pp. 1-3.
  3. ↑ Tennessee Blue Book , 2005-2006, pp. 618-625.
  4. ↑ A. Christine Tipton, "Town of Erwin, Erwin official website, 2011. Retrieved: April 19, 2013.
  5. ↑ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  10. ↑ "From the Archive: The Day They Hanged an Elephant in East Tennessee". June 17, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Murderous Mary, the elephant that was hanged for murder, 1916 - Rare Historical Photos". August 16, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Emma Schkloven (November 13, 2019). "E.C. Glass brings bizarre true story to the stage in 'Elephant's Graveyard'". The News & Advance.
  13. ↑ "Elephant's Graveyard (full length version)". Samuel French.
  14. ↑ Cory Turner & Clare Lombardo (May 15, 2019). "The Town That Hanged An Elephant Is Now Working To Save Them" (Audio with transcript and photos). All Things Considered / NPR.
  15. ↑ "Big Mary the Elephant". Roadside America. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ Russell, Carrie Archie (August 5, 2010). "Reckoning with a Violent and Lawless Past: A Study of Race, Violence and Reconciliation in Tennessee" (PDF).
  17. ↑ Loewen, James. "Showing Erwin in TN". Sundown Towns in the United States. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  18. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  19. ↑ Perry, Tristan. Ghostly Legends of the Appalachian Trail. Wever, Iowa: Quixote Press, 2008. Pages 19-30.
  20. ↑ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Station: Erwin 1 W, TN". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  23. ↑ "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 June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000". American FactFinder. U.S. Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  26. 1 2 Public Health Assessment, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Erwin, Unicoi County, Tennessee; EPA FACILITY ID: TND003095635, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, May 29, 2007
  27. 1 2 "Erwin, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  28. ↑ "1943 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
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