2025 5 6 Budget Work Session Website 1

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CITY HISTORY 
 
Pre-Civil War / Civil War 
In 1857, a college, known as East Tennessee Wesleyan College, was established in Athens by the Holston 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The college was forced to suspend operations during the 
Civil War in 1863 but reopened in 1867 under a new name, East Tennessee Wesleyan University governed 
by the northern branch of the Methodist Church. Over time, the college has operated under several different 
names including Grant Memorial University named after President Grant after his death, Athens Scho ol of 
the University of Chattanooga, and since 1925, Tennessee Wesleyan College and then Tennessee Wesleyan 
University in 2016. Today, TWU has a 44 -acre campus located in downtown Athens offering over 80 
undergraduate and seven graduate degree programs with over 1,100 students.  
During the Civil War (1861- 1865), McMinn County and Athens were divided as to loyalties resulting in 
hostilities between family members and friends which lasted for years. In 1861, McMinn County voted 
against secession by a narrow 1,144 – 904 margin. Even though no major Civil War battles were fought in 
the area, Athens was occupied by both Union and Confederate forces. The county sent troops to both the 
Union army and the Confederate army. General William Tecumseh Sherman was briefly headquartered in 
Athens at the Bridges Hotel, now the Robert E. Lee Hotel, while preparing his “March to the Sea.” 
Post-Civil War 
After the C ivil War, the railroad brought business and industry to the Athens area including textile mills, 
flour mills, timber mills, dairy farms, and later furniture and appliance factories. In 1870, T.B. Mayfield Sr. 
started a small family dairy farm raising and selling Jersey cows. Later in 1910, T.B. Mayfield, Jr. continued 
the family business and started selling milk to local residents. In 1922, Mayfield’s opened a new production 
facility capable of pasteurizing milk, in 1923 open ed the Mayfield Creamery, and in 1950 expanded  their 
facility. Over the years, Mayfield Dairy becomes a major industry in Athens and the Southeast U.S. During 
the 1920s, many other businesses and industries expanded resulting in diversification of the local economy.  
Modern Times 
After WWII in 1946, several McMinn County WWII veterans ran for local office in hopes of removing an 
entrenched county government deemed corrupt. On August 1, 1946, local officials locked themselves in the 
county jail with ballot boxes. Suspecting foul play, the veterans armed themselves in revolt, exchanged 
gunfire, and the local officials surrendered many with injuries but no casualties. The ballots were counted 
and the veterans’ ticket was elected ending the brief Battle of Athens that received national attention.  
Today, Athens is a thriving community of 15,000 population, located on the busy I -75 corridor halfway 
between Chattanooga and Knoxville, and operating under a council-manager form of government. The city 
hosts many industrial companies including Denso (auto parts), Heil Trailers, and Mayfield Dairy along with 
significant medical facilities including Starr Regional Medical Center. The city enjoys a vibrant downtown 
area with many annual festivals, a low cost of living, and high levels of citizen engagement.  
 
 
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