Smyrna, Tennessee
| Smyrna | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Smyrna, Tennessee | |
Smyrna town hall, July 2014.
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 Location of Smyrna, Tennessee |
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| Coordinates: 35°58′46″N 86°31′16″W / 35.97944°N 86.52111°WCoordinates: 35°58′46″N 86°31′16″W / 35.97944°N 86.52111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Rutherford |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Named for | Ancient Smyrna |
| Area | |
| • Total | 23.0 sq mi (59.5 km2) |
| • Land | 22.8 sq mi (59.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 39,974 |
| • Estimate (2013) | 43,060 |
| • Density | 1,119.8/sq mi (432.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 37167 |
| Area code(s) | 615 |
| FIPS code | 47-69420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1270735 |
| Website | Town of Smyrna |
Smyrna is a town in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Smyrna's population was 39,974 at the 2010 census and 43,063 in 2013. In 2007, U.S. News & World Report listed Smyrna as one of the best places in the United States to retire.
The town of Smyrna has its European-American roots in the early 19th century and began as an agrarian community. It was important during the Civil War because its railroad station lies between Nashville and Chattanooga. One of the major events of the war for the town involved the Confederate States hero Sam Davis, who, after being charged with spying, gave up his life instead of giving any information to the Union Army. He was captured November 20, 1863, and was hanged by Union forces on November 27 of that year. The Sam Davis Plantation, located on 160 acres (0.65 km2) of well-maintained farmland, is the town's most important historical site.
Smyrna was originally incorporated in 1869 but its charter was rescinded by the state several years later. In 1915, the town re-incorporated and adopted a commission-mayor form of government.
In 1941 during World War II, Sewart Air Force Base was established here and served as a B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 advanced training facility. During the 1950s and 1960s, the military personnel and dependents totaled more than 10,000 persons stationed at the base. The base was scheduled for closing in 1971. Most of the property was divided among the State of Tennessee, Rutherford County, and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. On its portion, the state opened and operates a Tennessee Army National Guard base and the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center. Much of the additional land was developed as the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority in 1990.
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