Red Bank, Tennessee

Red Bank is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 11,899 at the 2020 census. Red Bank is an enclave, being entirely surrounded by the city limits of Chattanooga. Red Bank is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area.

Red Bank, Tennessee
City
Flag Seal
Location of Red Bank in Hamilton County, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°6′37″N 85°17′49″W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Hamilton
Incorporated	1955
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• Mayor	Stefanie Dalton (D)
• Vice Mayor	Hollie Berry (D)
Area
• Total	6.56 sq mi (16.99 km2)
• Land	6.56 sq mi (16.99 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	722 ft (220 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,899
• Density	1,814.4/sq mi (700.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	37415 (with some 37405 and 37434)
Area code	423
FIPS code	47-61960
GNIS feature ID	1299035
Website	www.redbanktn.gov

The new city hall in Red Bank was opened in 2019

History

Red Bank was originally known as "Pleasant Hill". When a post office was established in the community in 1881, but it was asked to adopt a new name, since the name "Pleasant Hill" was already taken. The name "Red Bank" was chosen by the wife of the first postmaster, George Hartman. It was inspired by the red clay ridge that was visible from a window in her house. In 1955, the communities of Red Bank and White Oak incorporated as a single town called "Red Bank-White Oak". In 1966, the city voted to drop the "White Oak" for simplification purposes.

Geography

Red Bank is located at 35°6′37″N 85°17′49″W (35.110372, -85.297048). The city lies at the base of the Cumberland Plateau in southwestern Hamilton County. It is bordered on all sides by the city of Chattanooga and is 5 miles (8 km) north of Chattanooga's downtown. Dayton Boulevard is the city's main thoroughfare, though U.S. Route 27 runs along the city's western edge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Bank has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.9 km²), all land. The city center follows the valley of Stringers Branch, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River.

Looking North from White Oak Park

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	10,777		—
1970	12,715		18.0%
1980	13,129		3.3%
1990	12,322		−6.1%
2000	12,418		0.8%
2010	11,651		−6.2%
2020	11,899		2.1%
2025 (est.)	12,405		4.3%
Sources:

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Red Bank had a population of 11,899; the median age was 35.3 years. About 16.2% of residents were under 18, and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

Of the 5,786 households in Red Bank, 21.6% had children under 18 living in them, 33.5% were married-couple households, 24.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

Of the 6,344 housing units, 8.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.

All of residents lived in urban areas, while none lived in rural areas.

Racial composition as of the 2020 census

Race	Number	Percent
White	9,660	81.2%
Black or African American	799	6.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native	43	0.4%
Asian	140	1.2%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	7	0.1%
Some other race	451	3.8%
Two or more races	799	6.7%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	921	7.7%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 12,418 people, 5,897 households, and 3,290 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,927.9 inhabitants per square mile (744.4/km²). The 6,443 housing units had an average density of 1,000.3 per square mile (386.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.61% White, 8.24% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.19% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinosof any race were 2.83% of the population.

Of the 5,897 households, 22.8% had children under 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were not families. About 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10, and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city, the age distribution was 20.0% under 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

Education

Within the Red Bank city limits are Red Bank High School, Red Bank Junior High, and Alpine Crest Elementary School. Red Bank Elementary School, while one of Red Bank's zoned schools, is outside of the city limits in Chattanooga.

Government

Red Bank has a council-manager form of government, with five elected commissioners. Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms, so the entire commission does not turn over all at once. The five commissioners vote on city matters in public meetings and direct the city manager (Martin Granum), who carries out the daily affairs of the city. All subsequent city employees report to the city manager including Public Works (Greg Tate, director), Community Development (Leslie Johnson, director), the Fire Department (Brent Sylar, chief), and the Police Department (Dan Seymour, chief).

As of 2025, the Red Bank Board of Commissioners includes Mayor Stefanie Dalton, Vice Mayor Hollie Berry, Commissioners Jamie Fairbanks-Harvey, Hayes Wilkinson, and Terri Holmes. Public-agenda work sessions are held at 5 pm on the first and third Tuesdays of every month, followed by the board meeting at 6 pm the same days. Public comments for both items on and off the agenda are welcome.

As of 2025, the Red Bank Planning Commission includes Ben Richards, Sonja Millard – vice chair, Robin Parker, Kate Skonberg – secretary, and Brenna Kelly. Public planning commission meeting-agenda work sessions are held the third Tuesday of every month at 12 pm, followed by the planning commission meeting on the third Thursday of every month at 6 pm.

Additional citizen boards, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Floodplain Review, may assist in the zoning processes.

The City has also initiated the use of citizens' advisory boards to allow for public input into issues impacting the community. Current boards include: Cemetery Citizens' Advisory Board, Festival Citizens' Advisory Board, Public Art Citizens' Advisory Board, Urban Transportation Citizens' Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Citizens' Advisory Board, Nonprofit Citizens' Advisory Board, and Transportation Safety Committee.

The Red Bank Commission and the city manager hold an annual strategic planning retreat to set goals for the year.

Mayors of Red Bank

• 1955–1959 Burk S. "Tom" Millard
• 1959–1963 J.E. Brown
• 1963–1965 R. Hayden Landers
• 1965–1971 Joe H. Godsey
• 1971–1973 Joe Glasscock
• 1973–1975 Tom H. Collins
• 1976–1977 Ralph Barger
• 1979–1981 Ralph Barger
• 1981–1985 Thomas R. Dodd
• 1983–1985 Ralph Barger
• 1985–1987 John Ramey
• 1987–1989 Ralph Barger
• 1989–1991 Ronnie E. Moore
• 1991–1993 Lester Barnette
• 1993–1995 Ernest E. Lewis
• 1995–1997 Ralph Barger
• 1997–1999 Pat Brown
• 1999–2003 Howard Daniel Cotter
• 1999–2007 Ronnie E. Moore
• 2007–2010 Joe Glasscock
• 2010–2012 Monty Millard
• 2012–2018 John Roberts
• 2018–2020 Eddie Pierce
• 2020 Ruth Jeno
• 2020–2024 Hollie Berry
• 2024 – Present: Stefanie Dalton

Politics

Red Bank city vote
by party in presidential elections

Year	Democratic	Republican	Third parties
2020	49.85% 2,918	46.75% 2,736	3.40% 199
2016	36.98% 1,690	54.18% 2,476	8.84% 404
2012	39.04% 1,036	56.86% 1,509	4.10% 109
2008	39.40% 1,111	58.48% 1,649	2.12% 60

Natural features

• Stringer's Branch, a stream running from north to south in Red Bank, is a tributary of the Tennessee River and captures drainage from Stringer's Ridge on the east and Godsey Ridge on the west. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) had placed a "contact advisory" due to high levels of water contamination, including E. coli. The City of Red Bank has been actively working to clean up Stringer's Branch and TDEC monitoring does indicate improvement.

• Stringer's Ridge, shared by Red Bank and the City of Chattanooga, is a 92-acre urban wilderness park. Citizen efforts stopped a condominium development on the ridge. With assistance of the Tennessee Trust for Public Land, 7 miles of multiple-use trails are available for both bikers and pedestrians.*Red Bank was home to the Tennessee State Champion Virginia Pine discovered by Don McKenzie (the tree died in 2023).

• Red Bank was home to the Tennessee State Champion Virginia Pine discovered by Don McKenzie (the tree died in 2023).

Red Bank is designated as a "Bird Sanctuary City" by the Red Bank Commission.

Notable people

• Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
• Wendell Rawls, Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
• Kane Brown, singer
• Emma Bell Miles was a writer, poet, and artist. Her works capture the essence of the natural world and the culture of southern Appalachia.
• Tim Benford, former NFL wide receiver
• Keionta Davis, NFL defensive end
• Dorothy Montgomery, former professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• Ronald L. Schlicher, diplomat and foreign service officer

Cemeteries

The two cemeteries in Red Bank are the responsibility of the City of Red Bank.

• The Red Bank Cemetery is located off Morrison Springs Road; it is also known as the James Cemetery. The Red Bank Cemetery Advisory Board has spearheaded an extensive effort to restore the property.
• The other is a paupers' cemetery now referred to as the Field. This burial site was for those who could not afford a proper burial and for deceased prisoners and others. Research is under way that could shape its future. It is located on the White Oak Connector Trail, but is very overgrown.

Memorial Park Cemetery in Red Bank is the final resting place for several notable individuals, particularly those who contributed to the local community and region. It is privately owned and operated. It is still sometimes called White Oak Cemetery, although many simply call it "the duck pond". Among those interned at this cemetery is Emma Bell Miles.

Two women at the cemetery entrance to White Oak Cemetery, circa 1895

External links

• City of Red Bank official website
• City of Red Bank official Facebook page
• "The City of Red Bank" – city history