Atoka, Tennessee

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Atoka, Tennessee
Town
250px
Location in Tipton County and the state of Tennessee.
Location in Tipton County and the state of Tennessee.
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  United States
State  Tennessee
County Tipton
Incorporated 1838[1]
Government
 • Mayor W. Daryl Walker
Area
 • Total 11.65 sq mi (17.3 km2)
 • Land 11.64 sq mi (17.3 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 433 ft (132 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 8,387[2]
 • Density 485.0/sq mi (187.3/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 38004
Area code(s) 901
FIPS code 47-02340[3]
GNIS feature ID 1275973[4]
Website www.townofatoka.com

Atoka /ə.ˈtoʊ.kə/ is a town in Tipton County, Tennessee.[5] Historians and genealogists can trace Atoka's origins back to the 1838 charter of Portersville. Atoka adopted Portersville's charter as its own. World War I Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Joseph B. Adkison lived in the city limits of Atoka. His final resting place is not in Atoka, but is close to the area.

Atoka is an incorporated municipality. Five public parks exist in the city limits of Atoka. As of the 2010 census, Atoka has the second largest population in Tipton County. Between 1990 and 2010, Atoka experienced a large increase in population. In 1990 the population was 659. By 2010 the population was 8,387.[6] Covington, the county seat, has the largest population.

Atoka, Tennessee is the mailing address[7] of many more people than census figures show. The United States Postal Service Rural Free Deliver extended the Atoka Post Office delivery. Because of this, many people outside of the city limits call Atoka home. Atoka Elementary School, part of Tipton County Public Schools, is located in Atoka.

History

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Origins

From the fiftieth anniversary of the Covington Leader, 1886 to 1936:

The trading center for the Atoka area before the rise of the town was Portersville...
With the coming of the railroad in 1872 and opening of stores in Atoka, there grew up an intense rivalry between the two towns, but Atoka's advantage of the railroad proved to be too much, and Portersville gradually died out. Today not a store or store building remains in Portersville and it passes into history...[8]

A peek into the life of John McLaughlin, a citizen of both towns, gives us some idea of what Portersville and Atoka were like:

Our subject received a collegiate education at Bellenyna College, Ireland and in 1852 came to America, landing at Charleston, S. C.; then immediately went to Chester, S. C., and spent three years learning the carriage-maker's trade, when he moved to Aberdeen, Miss., and established a factory of his own, and three years later moved to Portersville, Tipton County, and continued the business five years, then went into merchandising and farming, selling goods at Portersville two years, then moved to Atoka and continued the mercantile business over ten years, and since that time has given his attention exclusively to farming and running a steam cotton-gin, which he owns.[9]

Portersville remains relevant today because it appears in United States census data, United States Postal records, Tennessee government records, Tipton County land records, vital records, ancestral records, church records, family histories and anything that relates to the people that lived there and the businesses that existed there.

Town of Atoka Charter

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See also: Charter and Territorial evolution of the United States

Town of Atoka, Tennessee, current charter information

August 17, 2012 - AN ACT to amend Chapter 373, of the Private Acts of 1911[10]
1911 Charter with amendments from 2006, 1977, 1973, and 1969[11]

Private Acts of the State of Tennessee Passed by the General Assembly, 1911[12]

June 24, 1911 - Atoka reincorporated

Acts of the State of Tennessee Passed at the General Assembly, 1883[13]

March 19, 1883 - corporation of the town of Atoka repealed
United States 1876-1884
United States 1876-1884
March 24, 1875 - name of Portersville changed to Atoka
United States 1868-1876
United States 1868-1876
January 17, 1838 - Portersville incorporated
Map of the states and territories of the United States as it was from March 1837 to 1838.
Map of the states and territories of the United States as it was from March 1837 to 1838.
June 1, 1796 - The Southwest Territory was admitted as the 16th state, Tennessee.

Joseph B. Adkison, World War I Hero

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Main article: Joseph B. Adkison

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See also: List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I

Seargent Joseph B. Adkison of Atoka was a member of Company C. 199th Infantry. 30 Division. during World War I. In 1919, he was presented the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the Presbyterian Church in Atoka. In addition to this honor, he also received The Great War of Civilization Medal, the Italian War Cross, and the Republic of Portugal Medal.[14] A close inspection of his grave stone shows he was also awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.[15] The town of Atoka, Tennessee placed a monument honoring Joseph Adkison on the front lawn of the Presbyterian Church. Between the years 1986, when Atoka celebrated Tennessee Homeocming '86,[16] and 2011, when Atoka had a Centennial Celebration, land for Adkison Park was donated, the monument was moved to the park, a concrete walkway from the street to the monument was placed, a flagpole was erected, lights were added around the flagpole, a paved walking path was installed, trees, plants, and flowers were added, money was raised to place memorial and honorary brick pavers around the area and a brick sitting wall behind the monument. Adkison Park, located in front of Boy Scout Troop 60's scout hut, became the permanent home of the monument honoring Joseph Adkison. The town had named the street to the west of the park Adkison Circle. In 2013, the town of Atoka placed a commemorative plaque over the face of the monument. The inscription on the plaque, quoting the medal citation, reads :

"When murderous machinegun fire at a range of 50 yards had made it impossible for his platoon to advance, and had caused the platoon to take cover Sergeant. Adkison alone, with the greatest intrepidity, rushed across the 50 yards of open ground directly into the face of the hostile machinegun kicked the gun from the parapet into the enemy trench, and at the point of the bayonet captured the 3 men manning the gun. The gallantry and quick decision of this soldier enabled the platoon to resume its advance."[17]

Parks, greenway, and recreational facilities

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See also: Park, Greenway (landscape), and Recreation

Atoka has five city parks: Adkison Park, Atoka Greenway Trail, Nancy Lane Park, Pioneer Park, and Walker Park. Each park has its own history and distinctive recreational facilities.

Adkison Park

Atoka's first park, Adkison Park, was established as a project for the Tennessee Homecoming '86[18] celebration. It is just over an acre in size. It has a 1/8th mile asphalt lighted walking track, a playground feature shaped like a train, picnic tables, benches, and a memorial plaza area. The memorial plaza area is a memorial area dedicated to the memory of Seargent Joseph B. Adkison. The Bobby McDill Scout Hut, home base of Boy Scouts of America Troop 60 of Atoka, is located within Adkison Park.[17]

Atoka Greenway Trail

The Atoka Greenway Trail is a planned connection between Walker Park and Pioneer Park. "On June 25, 2013, Governor Bill Haslam announced that Atoka had received a $400,000 Transportation Alternatives grant to fund Phase I of the Atoka Greenway Trail project."[19]

Nancy Lane Park

Nancy Lane Park is nearly 42 acres in size. It is named in honor of long-time Atoka resident, Alderman, and dedicated park supporter Nancy Lane. It has a full size caboose, a wooded nature trail, a large playground, pavilions, picnic tables, an 18 hole disc golf course, a 4 diamond softball complex with a concession stand, and restrooms. Nancy Lane Park is the home of the Atoka Dixie Youth Softball[20] program and served as host for the 2014 Dixie Youth Softball World Series.

Pioneer Park

Pioneer park is more than 6.5 acres. It has a 1/3 mile lighted walking track, a playground, picnic tables, and a fishing pond with a fountain. "A nearly 2 acre pond with fountain feature is the central focus of the park, with the walking trail ringing the pond."[21]

Walker Park

Walker Park is more than 60 acres. It is named in honor of long-time Mayor Charles Walker. It has restrooms, a 1.15 mile walking track, a playground, pavilions, picnic tables, concession stand, splash pad, lighted athletic field, and sand volleyball courts.[22]

Geography

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See also: List of states and territories of the United States, U.S. state, Grand Divisions of Tennessee, and Geography of the United States

The town of Atoka is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (35.424740, -89.782652).[23] According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2010[24] the municipality had a total area of 12.36 square miles (32.0 km2). The total area of land was 12.33 square miles (31.9 km2) and the total of water was .03 square miles (0.078 km2).

File:Tipton County Tennessee incorporated and unincorporated areas Atoka highlighted.svg
Atoka, Tennessee within Tipton County

Atoka, Tennessee is located in Tipton County, Tennessee. The County south of Tipton County is Shelby County where the city of Memphis, Tennessee is located. Tipton County is located in the Tennessee Grand Division of West Tennessee. The map of the United States gives a view of where Tennessee is located within the contiguous United States.

Map of West Tennessee counties
Map of West Tennessee counties
Location of Tennessee within contiguous United States
Location of Tennessee within contiguous United States

The Mississippi River defines the western border of the state of Tennessee. The Tennessee counties that have the Mississippi River as their western boundary are Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale, Dyer, and Lake Counties. Atoka is located just east of the Mississippi River

Mississippi River Watershed Map
Mississippi River Watershed Map

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1920 245 —
1930 222 −9.4%
1940 255 14.9%
1950 334 31.0%
1960 357 6.9%
1970 446 24.9%
1980 691 54.9%
1990 659 −4.6%
2000 3,235 390.9%
2010 8,387 159.3%
Est. 2014 8,935 [25] 6.5%
Sources:[26][27]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 3,235 people, 1,075 households, and 935 families residing in the town. The population density was 485.0 people per square mile (187.3/km²). There were 1,145 housing units at an average density of 171.7 per square mile (66.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.88% White, 9.30% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.

There were 1,075 households out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.6% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.0% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the town the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,583, and the median income for a family was $61,643. Males had a median income of $38,721 versus $24,487 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,644. About 3.0% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

United States Postal Service, Rural Free Delivery in Atoka

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Main article: Rural Free Delivery

The official stance of the United States Postal Service, according to an article published by the Historian of the United States Postal Service in April 2008, is that Atoka was the first post office with rural free delivery in Tennessee starting on January 11, 1897.[28] But according to an article in Tipton County's local newspaper, published in 1936:

ATOKA ROUTE ONE IS THIRD IN UNITED STATES[8]

The first rural route established in the South and the third established in the United States was set up at Atoka in 1895.
At that time the United States Post Office Department was experimenting with rural routes. They established one in the North, one in the East, and one in the South at Atoka...
The first route, which was Atoka Route 1, was 16½ miles long...

Route 1 was later combined with route 2, which covers the territory from Atoka to the Mississippi River.

Another article from 1936 describes more about the post office:

Atoka's first postmaster was D. Bowden. With the development of the United States' splendid rural delivery system in her postoffice department, the Atoka postoffice grew in importance. Today there are two rural routes reaching out from the town, serving that section from the Mississippi river on the west to Salem on the east. All mail for Munford, Drummonds, Richardson's Landing, Randolph and other communities passes through the postoffice at Atoka, whose postmaster is E. M. Quisenberry and whose rural carriers are J. E. McQuiston and R. S. McDill.[8]

Education

Atoka Public Schools are part of Tipton County Schools. The Tipton County School District has eight elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools.[29]

Atoka Elementary School is located in Atoka.

Dr. William E. Bibb is the Director of Schools.[30]

References

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  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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