Loretto, Tennessee
| Loretto, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Bank of Loretto building
|
|
 Location of Loretto, Tennessee |
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| Coordinates: 35°4′42″N 87°26′20″W / 35.07833°N 87.43889°WCoordinates: 35°4′42″N 87°26′20″W / 35.07833°N 87.43889°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Lawrence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) |
| • Land | 3.8 sq mi (9.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 825 ft (251 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,714 |
| • Density | 442.3/sq mi (170.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 38469 |
| Area code(s) | 931 |
| FIPS code | 47-43700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1292062 |
| Website | cityoflorettotn |
Loretto is a city in Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,714 at the 2010 cenus, up from 1,665 at the 2000 census.
Loretto began as a stagecoach station known as "Glen Rock" in the early 19th century. In 1870, a number of German Catholic immigrants settled in the Loretto area, and a new city was established shortly afterward. Some sources suggest the name "Loretto" was inspired by the Loreto region in Italy, while others say the city was named for a sainted nun. The congregation the immigrants formed, the Sacred Heart Church of Jesus, still exists, and their church (built in 1912) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the arrival of the railroad in the 1880s, Loretto thrived as a lumber town.
Other historic buildings include the Bank of Loretto building, which was built in the 1920s. The Bank of Loretto building was renovated in 2013 and now houses Nana's Pizzeria. This historic building was once a cornerstone to a thriving town. Next door to the old Loretto Bank building was Weathers Store and Myers Store. They sold general merchandise to generations of families. During the early 20th century, these properties had living arrangements above the businesses. The Old Jackson Highway came right through Loretto. Businesses located in this district included a doctor's office, cobbler's shop, cafes, hotels, and a funeral home. There was also a stage coach stop, and then later on a bus depot. The historic downtown area began to decline following the construction of U.S. Route 43 to the east of the district in the 1940s, when its commercial activity shifted to the new highway. Like many Southern towns, Loretto is applying for grants to help revise the older historic district.
Loretto is located at 35°4′42″N 87°26′20″W / 35.07833°N 87.43889°W (35.078401, -87.439023). The city is situated on a relatively broad ridgetop between the Shoal Creek Valley to the west and Bluewater Creek to the east. U.S. Route 43 connects Loretto with Lawrenceburg to the northeast and the Muscle Shoals area in Alabama to the southwest. Tennessee State Route 227 connects Loretto with rural Lawrence County and Lexington, Alabama, to the southeast (the road becomes Alabama State Route 101 at the state line).
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