Oliver Springs
| Oliver Springs | |
|---|---|
 Location in Tennessee
|
|
| Basic data | |
| Foundation : | 1821 |
| State : | United States |
| State : | Tennessee |
| Counties : |
Anderson County Morgan County Roane County |
| Coordinates : | 36 ° 2 ′ N , 84 ° 20 ′ W |
| Time zone : | Central ( UTC − 6 / −5 ) |
| Residents : | 3,231 (as of 2010) |
| Population density : | 242.9 inhabitants per km 2 |
| Area : | 13.3 km 2 (approx. 5 mi 2 ) of which 13.3 km 2 (approx. 5 mi 2 ) is land |
| Height : | 243 m |
| Postal code : | 37840 |
| Area code : | +1 865 |
| FIPS : | 47-55800 |
| GNIS ID : | 1296424 |
| Website : | www.oliverspringscity.com |
| Mayor : | Chris Hepler |
Oliver Springs is a city located in Tennessee , United States . The 2010 census showed 3,231 citizens. Oliver Springs is divided between three counties : Anderson County, Tennessee ; Morgan County, Tennessee ; and Roane County, Tennessee .
geography
According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 13.3 km². Oliver Springs lies on the northern border of the Ridge and Valley Zone and at the same time on the edge of the Crab Orchard Mountains portion of the Cumberland Mountains .
history
Oliver Springs was founded in 1830 under the name Winter's Gap . The name comes from the first settler of European descent who stayed there, Major Moses Winter.
Before that time, the area around Oliver Springs was used by the local population as a hunting and residential area. Natural mineral water springs and abundant wild animals on the "Windrock Mountain" helped them decide to settle here. The water from the springs was used for medicinal purposes until the 20th century as it was considered medicinal. The springs were called Tah-hah-lehaha , which means healing waters .
The country remained undiscovered by European settlers until 1761. During this time Elisha Walden explored the Clinch and Powell River Valleys. However, serious settlement in this area did not begin until 1790.
In 1826 Richard Oliver was appointed postmaster. The city was renamed Oliver's Springs in his honor , then shortly afterwards Poplar Springs and shortly thereafter again Oliver Springs. Oliver provided the mail service from his 35-room villa, which also served as a restaurant. He was the first to exploit the commercial potential of mineral water springs by transporting guests between the springs and the restaurant. During the Civil War , the restaurant was used as a hospital by both sides.
Joseph Richards bought Oliver's land in 1873. He built the first hotel, which was replaced in 1894 by a palatial and more modern 150-room hotel. Oliver Springs became a popular vacation spot. The Oliver Springs Hotel has been visited by wealthy guests from across the United States and Europe to drink and bathe in the spring water. In 1888 a railway line was built through Oliver Springs which brought thousands of visitors to the springs. Unfortunately, the hotel burned down in 1905.
At the beginning of the 20th century the area became dependent on the coal industry . According to historian Keith Glass, the "Windrock Coal and Coke Company", a subsidiary of the "Bessemer Coal, Iron and Land Company" from Birmingham (Alabama), began operating a coal mine near Oliver Springs around 1904.
In 1942, during the Second World War , the US government went to the neighboring communities of Robertsville, Edgemoor, East Fork, Elza, Bethel, Scarborough and Wheat to build the secret city of Oak Ridge as part of the Manhattan Project .
In the years that followed the end of the Cold War , Oliver Springs and his neighbors struggled to build a solid base on which to place their economy. Oliver Springs has experimented with many industries. In the late 1990s, the film October Sky was shot near the coal mining area and in the center of town. The local economy is currently interested in taking advantage of the mountains around Oliver Springs, which are particularly popular with all-terrain vehicle drivers.
education
Oliver Springs is divided between three counties. They make their educational facilities available to the city.
Anderson County : Norwood Elementary School (through 5th grade); Norwood Middle School (6th through 8th grades); Clinton High School (9th-12th grade)
Morgan County : Coalfield School (through 12th grade)
Roane County : Oliver Springs Elementary School (through 8th grade); Oliver Springs High School (9th to 12th grade)
The recently restored Oliver Springs Railroad Depot, built in 1896, now serves as the City of Oliver Springs Public Library. The library also contains the city's historical archive, compiled by Snyder E. Roberts. Much of the information mentioned here comes from this archive.
Web links
- Official website of the city of Oliver Springs ( English )