Mount Pleasant, Tennessee

Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
City
	Mount Pleasant Main Street, October 2016
	Seal
	Nickname: The Phosphate Capital of the World
	Location of Mount Pleasant in Maury County, Tennessee.
	Coordinates: 35°32′42″N 87°11′55″W / 35.54500°N 87.19861°W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Maury
Government
• Type	City Manager-Commission
• City Manager	Kate Collier
• Mayor	Bill White
Area
• Total	12.60 sq mi (32.64 km2)
• Land	12.58 sq mi (32.57 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	676 ft (206 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	4,784
• Density	380.38/sq mi (146.87/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	38474
Area code	931
FIPS code	47-51080
GNIS feature ID	1306783
Website	www.mtpleasant-tn.gov

Mount Pleasant is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. Mount Pleasant was the birthplace of 19th-century writer and humorist Samuel R. Watkins and formerly titled "The Phosphate Capital of the World." The population was 4,561 at the 2010 census, and 4,784 in 2020.

History

Settlement of Mount Pleasant began in the early 19th century, and increased following the construction of the Military Road connecting Nashville and Madisonville, Louisiana, in 1817. By the time Mount Pleasant incorporated as a city in 1824, it was home to a store, tavern, and several churches.^[5]

In 1895, brown phosphate rock was discovered in Mount Pleasant, leading to a mining boom, and giving the city its nickname. Within a few years, ten phosphate mining companies were operating in Mount Pleasant, producing over 25,000 tons per year. The city's population grew from 466 in 1890 to 2,007 in 1900. Phosphate mining remained a major part of the city's economy into the latter half of the 20th century.^[5]

Geography

Mount Pleasant is located at 35°32′42″N 87°11′55″W / 35.54500°N 87.19861°W / 35.54500; -87.19861 (35.544977, -87.198683).^[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (29 km²), of which 11.1 square miles (29 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (0.18%) is water. Mount Pleasant is situated in a relatively broad plain surrounded by low hills to the east, south, and west. U.S. Route 43 connects the city with Columbia to the northeast and Lawrenceburg to the south.

Climate

Climate data for Mount Pleasant 1N, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1953–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	76 (24)	84 (29)	87 (31)	93 (34)	99 (37)	107 (42)	105 (41)	106 (41)	105 (41)	97 (36)	85 (29)	76 (24)	107 (42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	47.3 (8.5)	52.3 (11.3)	61.3 (16.3)	71.6 (22.0)	79.9 (26.6)	87.6 (30.9)	90.5 (32.5)	89.6 (32.0)	83.7 (28.7)	72.5 (22.5)	61.2 (16.2)	50.9 (10.5)	70.7 (21.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)	37.2 (2.9)	41.8 (5.4)	49.8 (9.9)	59.5 (15.3)	69.1 (20.6)	77.2 (25.1)	79.9 (26.6)	78.0 (25.6)	71.4 (21.9)	59.5 (15.3)	48.7 (9.3)	40.6 (4.8)	59.4 (15.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	27.1 (−2.7)	31.3 (−0.4)	38.4 (3.6)	47.4 (8.6)	58.4 (14.7)	66.7 (19.3)	69.2 (20.7)	66.4 (19.1)	59.2 (15.1)	46.6 (8.1)	36.3 (2.4)	30.3 (−0.9)	48.1 (8.9)
Record low °F (°C)	−17 (−27)	−8 (−22)	5 (−15)	20 (−7)	31 (−1)	38 (3)	47 (8)	44 (7)	33 (1)	23 (−5)	9 (−13)	−10 (−23)	−17 (−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.25 (133)	5.14 (131)	6.00 (152)	5.42 (138)	6.27 (159)	5.40 (137)	4.78 (121)	3.96 (101)	5.34 (136)	3.89 (99)	4.26 (108)	6.52 (166)	62.23 (1,581)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	10.0	10.1	10.9	9.2	10.6	9.5	9.6	8.5	7.0	8.3	9.2	10.0	112.9
Source: NOAA^[7]^[8]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	466	—
1900	2,007	330.7%
1910	1,973	−1.7%
1920	2,093	6.1%
1930	2,010	−4.0%
1940	3,089	53.7%
1950	2,931	−5.1%
1960	2,921	−0.3%
1970	3,530	20.8%
1980	3,375	−4.4%
1990	4,278	26.8%
2000	4,491	5.0%
2010	4,561	1.6%
2020	4,784	4.9%
Sources:^[9]^[10]^[2]

2020 census

Mount Pleasant racial composition^[11]
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	3,440	71.91%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	894	18.69%
Native American	15	0.31%
Asian	31	0.65%
Pacific Islander	2	0.04%
Other/Mixed	267	5.58%
Hispanic or Latino	135	2.82%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,784 people, 1,935 households, and 1,318 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 4,491 people, 1,815 households, and 1,232 families residing in the city. The population density was 406.5 inhabitants per square mile (157.0/km²). There were 2,008 housing units at an average density of 181.8 per square mile (70.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.02% White, 23.45% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 1,815 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,004, and the median income for a family was $36,949. Males had a median income of $31,285 versus $22,599 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,345. About 14.9% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The City of Mount Pleasant government consists of five elected commissioners, elected every four years. After each election, at the next scheduled commission meeting, the five commissioners vote on which commissioners will server as mayor and vice mayor. In case of tie or disagreement, the commission will continue nominating and voting until a majority vote is achieved for each position.

Current Mount Pleasant, Tennessee Commissioners

Bill White (Mayor)
Jacqueline Grandberry (Vice Mayor)
Willie Alderson^[12]
Mike Davis
Eric Harvey^[12]

The City Manager is selected, by the commission, and is hired on a variable year contract. The city managers is responsible for day to day operations of the city. Additionally, the city manager is the supervisor of all other city departments heads and staff.

City Managers of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
City Manager	Notes	Start Date	End Date
William C. Dunnebacke		Feb 19, 1963	October 2, 1964
Elizabeth Searson	(interim)	August 2, 1964	January 4, 1964
W.C. Loden		January 4, 1964	January 7, 1966
Elizabeth Searson	(interim)	May 24, 1966	Jun 30, 1966
Jay N. Sullivan		January 7, 1966	Oct 14, 1968
Elizabeth Searson	(interim)	Oct 15, 1968	January 3, 1969
O.W. Thomas		February 3, 1969	Jul 14, 1975
Mike Brown		Jul 15, 1975	November 9, 1976
William Burgess Ralston	(interim)	November 9, 1976	April 10, 1976
Carl Holder		April 10, 1976	Oct 17, 1978
Larry Holden	(interim)	December 11, 1978	August 1, 1979
James R. Johnson		August 1, 1979	January 9, 1981
Larry Holden	(interim)	November 9, 1981	January 10, 1981
Robert Murray		Oct 16, 1981	Jun 30, 2007
Debbie McMullin	(interim)	January 7, 2007	January 5, 2008
Richard Goode		January 5, 2008	Jun 30, 2009
Debbie McMullin	(interim)	Jun 30, 2009	Jun 18, 2010
Steve Huffer		Jun 18, 2010	November 8, 2011
Tommy G. Goetz	(interim)	November 8, 2011	January 1, 2012
Michelle Williams		January 1, 2012	Jul 21, 2015
Mark Henderson	(interim)	Jul 22, 2015	March 11, 2015
Michael Hay	(interim)	March 11, 2015	May 2, 2016
Kate Collier		May 2, 2016	Present

Mayors of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
Mayor	Start Date	End Date
Dr. G. C. English	November 7, 1940	November 7, 1957
John W. Petty	Jul 23, 1957	August 7, 1963
Webb Williams	Jul 22, 1963	Jun 20, 1967
Dr. J. O. Williams, Jr	Jul 18, 1967	Jun 30, 1970
Jack Lightfoot	Jul 19, 1970	Jul 15, 1975
James L. (Jim) Bailey, Jr.	Jul 15, 1975	Jul 19, 1977
Ronald (Ronnie) Lankford	Jul 19, 1977	Jan 26, 1979
William H. Boyd	Feb 16, 1979	Jul 19, 1983
G. Ray Wilson	Jul 19, 1983	Dec 31, 1985
Willie B. Baker ^[13]^[14]^[15]	Dec 31, 1985	Jul 18, 1989
Willie Boyd ^[16]	Jul 18, 1989	Mar 30, 2006
Willie B. Baker	Mar 30, 2006	Jul 17, 2007
Richard A. Hendrix	Jul 17, 2007	Jul 19, 2011
Maury Colvett	November 8, 2011	Nov 18, 2014
Robert R. (Bob) Shackelford	Nov 18, 2014	Nov 22, 2016
James L. (Jim) Bailey, Jr.^[17]	Nov 22, 2016	Dec 18, 2018
Bill White	Dec 18, 2018	Present

Police Department

The Mount Pleasant Police Department was established in 1824.

2014–Present — Michael Hay^[18]

Fire Department

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department is a career fire department consisting of full-time and part time firefighters. The fire department was established in 1899.

1988—2001 - M. H. "Cotton" Massey
2001—2017 - Tim Smith
2017—Present - Phillip Grooms^[19]

Transportation

Mount Pleasant is located on U.S. Route 43, as well as State Routes 243 and 166.

Mount Pleasant is also home to the Maury County Regional Airport.

Public transportation is provided by the Mule Town Trolley Service. The Mule Town Trolley connects people all across Maury County. The routes extend from Mount Pleasant to Columbia and on to Spring Hill. The fare is $1.00 each way and riders can request a stop anywhere along the trolley route. The trolley service is managed by the South Central Tennessee Development District.