Whitwell, Tennessee Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Whitwell, Tennessee is a small, rural town situated in the Sequatchie Valley of Marion County. It has a population of just over 2,000 people, and is known for its sense of community and small-town charm.

The town was first settled in 1819 by James Whitwell and his family. The area was originally part of the Cherokee Nation, but after the Treaty of New Echota in 1835 most of the tribe was relocated to Oklahoma.

The town’s economy is mainly based around agriculture, with tobacco being one of its main crops. There are also several small businesses that operate within the city limits. The local school system consists of two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, all housed in one building.

Whitwell has many natural attractions such as nearby mountains for hiking and camping and lakes for fishing and boating. There are also several parks throughout town with playgrounds and picnic areas for families to enjoy.

The Whitwell Community Center is located downtown near City Hall and hosts various events throughout the year such as concerts, festivals and craft fairs. The center also serves as a gathering place for members of the community to come together for meetings or special occasions like weddings or anniversaries.

The city holds an annual festival called “Fall Festival” which takes place each October featuring food booths, live music, arts & crafts vendors and other activities such as a carnival rides or hayrides. The festival is attended by locals as well as visitors from surrounding towns who come to take part in the festivities.

Whitwell is known for its friendly atmosphere where everyone knows each other by name; it’s easy to strike up conversations with strangers here! Residents take pride in their city’s traditions which have been passed down through generations; they still celebrate “Old Home Day” every Memorial Day weekend with parades, food vendors and live music performances on Main Street.

Overall Whitwell is an idyllic rural community that offers its residents a peaceful lifestyle away from the hustle bustle of larger cities; it’s an ideal place to raise families or retire due to its low cost living expenses and close-knit.

Population: 1,660. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,604 (-3.4% change)
Males: 759 (45.7%), Females: 901 (54.3%)

Marion County

Zip code: 37397

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.1 years
Median household income: $25,458
Median house value: $65,600

Population by Race

Races in Whitwell:

  • White Non-Hispanic (97.2%)
  • Black (2.2%)
  • Hispanic (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (25.4%), English (22.6%), Irish (8.3%), German (3.3%), Dutch (3.2%), Italian (1.4%).

Elevation: 675 feet

Land area: 3.3 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Whitwell

  • High school or higher: 49.9%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.8%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.1%
  • Unemployed: 10.0%
  • Mean travel time to work: 32.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Whitwell city

  • Never married: 18.1%
  • Now married: 54.4%
  • Separated: 1.7%
  • Widowed: 11.2%
  • Divorced: 14.7%

0.2% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +47 (+2.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Whitwell:

  • GRANDVIEW MEDICAL CENTER (about 12 miles; JASPER, TN)
  • MOCCASSIN BEND MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE (about 16 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN)
  • KINDRED HOSPITAL – CHATTANOOGA (about 18 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Whitwell:

  • LOVELL FIELD (about 25 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN; Abbreviation: CHA)
  • RICHARD B RUSSELL (about 64 miles; ROME, GA; Abbreviation: RMG)
  • SMYRNA (about 89 miles; SMYRNA, TN; Abbreviation: MQY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Whitwell:

  • MARION COUNTY-BROWN FIELD (about 12 miles; JASPER, TN; Abbreviation: APT)
  • DALLAS BAY SKY PARK (about 25 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN; Abbreviation: 1A0)
  • FRANKLIN COUNTY (about 26 miles; SEWANEE, TN; Abbreviation: UOS)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Whitwell:

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA (about 19 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN; Full-time enrollment: 6,914)
  • CHATTANOOGA STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 21 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN; Full-time enrollment: 4,821)
  • LEE UNIVERSITY (about 46 miles; CLEVELAND, TN; Full-time enrollment: 3,171)
  • CLEVELAND STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 46 miles; CLEVELAND, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,022)
  • MOTLOW STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 50 miles; Tullahoma, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,256)
  • TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (about 66 miles; COOKEVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 7,204)
  • ALABAMA A & M UNIVERSITY (about 77 miles; NORMAL, AL; Full-time enrollment: 4,886)

Schools

Public high school in Whitwell:

  • WHITWELL HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 352; Location: 200 TIGER TR; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Whitwell:

  • WHITWELL ELEMENTARY (Students: 552; Location: 150 TIGER TRAIL; Grades: KG – 04)
  • WHITWELL MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 340; Location: 1130 MAIN ST; Grades: 05 – 08)

Libraries

Library in Whitwell:

  • ORENA HUMPHREYS PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $45,991; Location: 900 MAIN ST., SUITE 1; 13,887 books; 152 audio materials; 1,061 video materials; 26 serial subscriptions)