Tullahoma (Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Jackson: house, best school, college)

[TN Tin Man]

Tullahoma.. Very interesting information on the town and it's history...
Tullahoma, Tennessee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[skinem]

I went through Tullahoma 6 times since last Saturday. Been around Tullahoma off and on for over 30 years, and always wondered about that sign at the city limits pictured in the Wiki article--"Tullahoma--a city as unique as it's name." And, frankly, I never thought it particularly unique, or, to be fair, no more unique than most any other Tennessee town.

That's a pretty fair history of the place in the article.

Thanks for the post, Tinman...you post some interesting articles.

[TN Tin Man]

Originally Posted by skinem

I went through Tullahoma 6 times since last Saturday. Been around Tullahoma off and on for over 30 years, and always wondered about that sign at the city limits pictured in the Wiki article--"Tullahoma--a city as unique as it's name." And, frankly, I never thought it particularly unique, or, to be fair, no more unique than most any other Tennessee town.

That's a pretty fair history of the place in the article.

Thanks for the post, Tinman...you post some interesting articles.

I have been watching the PBS series "Civil War " and that area between Tullahoma ~ Chattanooga just overwhelming in history...

[JoAnn5]

thanks, Tinman! That is neat! Next time i go thru there, i'll finally understand that sign...lol.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by Tinman313

I have been watching the PBS series "Civil War " and that area between Tullahoma ~ Chattanooga just overwhelming in history...

Yeah, it's a pretty neat area for someone interested in history. A spent most of my youth out west in an area that had barely had any white presence for only 90 years. I always loved history, but there it was...well, so recent.
I went to college in Nashville and just found the history fascinating.

I felt fortunate to settle here from that perspective (and others!). When I used to teach history to high schoolers, I always had quite a few choices on places to take them in the area.

Tullahoma was also on the route Andrew Jackson took on his way to New Orleans...one of his camps from when he was on the way there and later to fight Indians in Alabama is close to here as well.

[JMT]

Tullahoma also probably has one of the best school systems in the state. And unlike some other places, Tullahoma doesn't toot its own horn. I've spent many summers in Tullahoma at AEDC and always enjoyed the area. All of my students at U.T. who have come from Tullahoma have always been exceptionally bright and very well prepared for college.

[profess2me]

I spent some time in Tullahoma a few years back and found it to be very friendly. In fact, I left part of me there as well.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by JMT

Tullahoma also probably has one of the best school systems in the state. And unlike some other places, Tullahoma doesn't toot its own horn. I've spent many summers in Tullahoma at AEDC and always enjoyed the area. All of my students at U.T. who have come from Tullahoma have always been exceptionally bright and very well prepared for college.

I knew a good number of kids from Tullahoma at UT. They were among the more popular kids I knew. They always seemed to stick together, which probably made the group seem larger than it really was -- but they were also quick to make friends with everyone around them. Generally good people.

Tullahoma seemed to have a rather large group compared to other towns its size...by representation, you would think the town was as big as Murfreesboro. Of course, there's a strong UT connection with the UT Space Center there, so that could have something to do with it.

[TNJDM]

I have lived here for 14 years moving from Florida. My daughter attended UT....There does seem to be a large contigency that attends UT from here.

It is a great town, but unfortunately it seems like we are shrinking. At least few restaurants and a couple of department stores have closed over the last few years, while our sister city, Manchester seems to be growing with the addition of quite a few restaurants. I think much of that has to do with them, not only being on I-24, but hosting Bonaroo (for those who don't know what that is....See Woodstock).

Anyway, we do have a killer French restaurant in town called emil's which does seperate us a little bit from other small towns. The Chef is a french dude who married someone from Tullahoma. Give it a try if your in town.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by TNJDM

I have lived here for 14 years moving from Florida. My daughter attended UT....There does seem to be a large contigency that attends UT from here.

It is a great town, but unfortunately it seems like we are shrinking. At least few restaurants and a couple of department stores have closed over the last few years, while our sister city, Manchester seems to be growing with the addition of quite a few restaurants. I think much of that has to do with them, not only being on I-24, but hosting Bonaroo (for those who don't know what that is....See Woodstock).

Anyway, we do have a killer French restaurant in town called emil's which does seperate us a little bit from other small towns. The Chef is a french dude who married someone from Tullahoma. Give it a try if your in town.

I don't know about the "feeling" of shrinking, but Tullahoma isn't growing very fast. It probably feels like its shrinking because Manchester is adding a couple thousand people to Tullahoma's a few hundred (census estimates put Tullahoma's growth in the past decade at 539 compared to Manchester's 1,776). Still, Tullahoma is almost twice the size of Manchester. Like you said, Manchester seems to be benefiting from its location on I-24 and its name recognition from Bonnaroo.

As for Emil's, is that the place that's in an old southern house in town? I think I've read about it before. I'd like to try it sometime.

The other city that is really starting to grow in that region is nearby Shelbyville, which is estimated to have surpassed Tullahoma with an estimated growth of 4,044 new residents (+25% growth rate). My only guess with Shelbyville (since it's not on the interstate, either) is its proximity to booming Murfreesboro.

I'm sad to hear that some restaurants and department stores are closing, but Tullahoma is a great town (and anchors the second largest micropolitan area in Tennessee, behind Cookeville). That part of Tennessee is very beautiful, and I wouldn't be surprised if the towns in the area (also including Winchester and Franklin County) started to really grow. I'd like to hear some good news, though...perhaps some new industry or development will decide to locate in the Tullahoma area, giving it the boost it needs.

As for the French restaurant, is that the one located in the old southern style house in town? I think I've read about it before. I'd like to try it next time I'm in the area.