Beersheba Springs, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Beersheba Springs is a town in Grundy County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 477 at the 2010 census. A resort town in the 19th century, Beersheba Springs was the summer home of author Mary Noailles Murfree
. It now serves as a major summer meeting center for the Tennessee United Methodist Church
.
, would be incorporated in 1839. Upon its incorporation, Beersheba Springs would serve as a summer resort
with a small hotel and log cabins. The resort would be popular with stagecoach
traffic that would travel between Chattanooga
and McMinnville
. It was notable for its mineral waters
. Eventually Louisiana farmers also moved into the area, leaving behind the notoriously hot summers of their home state. Beersheba Springs served as the summer home for Tennessee Mary Noailles Murfree
.
from Louisiana, acquired the property. Upwards of 100 slaves were brought to Beersheba Springs to work on Armfield's changes to the property: a new luxury hotel, cabins and grounds that would accommodate 400 guests. The resort would feature laundry facilities, ice houses, billard rooms, and bowling alleys. French chefs were brought in to serve guests, as were musical acts from New Orleans
.
A wooden observatory
was built at the front of the hotel. From the observatory, guests could watch Confederate
and Union
army's battle during the American Civil War
. Eventually the threat of war, raids, and plundering would cause a decline in visitation to Beersheba Springs and the resort was handed over to Northern investors.
The resort would re-open in the 1870s but never returned to its former glory. In 1940 the Methodist Church purchased the resort and re-opened it for assembly and summer camps. Architecturally the resort remains unchanged. The camp now serves as the home to the yearly Beersheba Springs Arts and Craft Festival. In 1980 the resort area was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, the town has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 553 people, 232 households, and 168 families residing in the town. The population density
was 112.6 people per square mile (43.5/km²). There were 304 housing units at an average density of 61.9 per square mile (23.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.82% White, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 232 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,045, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,691. About 26.9% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 26.4% of those age 65 or over.
and the Arts and Craft festival. The Old Brown Museum, a former country store
, now serves as a community museum documenting the history of Beersheba Springs. The town, with a population of 477, is the home to seven churches.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 477 at the 2010 census. A resort town in the 19th century, Beersheba Springs was the summer home of author Mary Noailles Murfree
Mary Noailles Murfree
Mary Noailles Murfree was an American fiction writer of novels and short stories who wrote under the pen name Charles Egbert Craddock...
. It now serves as a major summer meeting center for the Tennessee United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
.
History
In 1833 Beersheba Porter Cain discovered a chalybeate spring. The spring and surrounding area, located above Collins River ValleyCollins River
The Collins River is a tributary of the Caney Fork of the Cumberland River in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Via the Cumberland and Ohio rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed....
, would be incorporated in 1839. Upon its incorporation, Beersheba Springs would serve as a summer resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
with a small hotel and log cabins. The resort would be popular with stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
traffic that would travel between Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
and McMinnville
McMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,605 at the 2010 census...
. It was notable for its mineral waters
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
. Eventually Louisiana farmers also moved into the area, leaving behind the notoriously hot summers of their home state. Beersheba Springs served as the summer home for Tennessee Mary Noailles Murfree
Mary Noailles Murfree
Mary Noailles Murfree was an American fiction writer of novels and short stories who wrote under the pen name Charles Egbert Craddock...
.
Beersheba Springs resort
In 1854 Colonel John Armfield, a slave traderHistory of slavery in Louisiana
The history of slavery in Louisiana began before its settlement by Europeans, as Native Americans also captured enemies to use as slaves. The French began to use slaves in the area soon after their first settlement at New Orleans; the Spanish also had slavery, as did the United States, which...
from Louisiana, acquired the property. Upwards of 100 slaves were brought to Beersheba Springs to work on Armfield's changes to the property: a new luxury hotel, cabins and grounds that would accommodate 400 guests. The resort would feature laundry facilities, ice houses, billard rooms, and bowling alleys. French chefs were brought in to serve guests, as were musical acts from New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
A wooden observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
was built at the front of the hotel. From the observatory, guests could watch Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and Union
Union
Union may refer to:* Trade union or labor union, an organization of workers that have banded together, often for the purpose of getting better working conditions or pay...
army's battle during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Eventually the threat of war, raids, and plundering would cause a decline in visitation to Beersheba Springs and the resort was handed over to Northern investors.
The resort would re-open in the 1870s but never returned to its former glory. In 1940 the Methodist Church purchased the resort and re-opened it for assembly and summer camps. Architecturally the resort remains unchanged. The camp now serves as the home to the yearly Beersheba Springs Arts and Craft Festival. In 1980 the resort area was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
Beersheba Springs is located at 35°28′2"N 85°40′18"W (35.467209, -85.671700). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 553 people, 232 households, and 168 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 112.6 people per square mile (43.5/km²). There were 304 housing units at an average density of 61.9 per square mile (23.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.82% White, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 232 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,045, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $13,691. About 26.9% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 26.4% of those age 65 or over.
Beersheba Springs today
The former resort serves as a retreat for the Tennessee branch of the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
and the Arts and Craft festival. The Old Brown Museum, a former country store
Country store
Country store may refer to:* A general store in a rural setting such as a village* Country Store , a muesli-based breakfast cereal...
, now serves as a community museum documenting the history of Beersheba Springs. The town, with a population of 477, is the home to seven churches.
External links
- Tennessee Conference United Methodist Camps in Beersheba Springs