Apison, Tennessee
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
Unit prefImperial
Area total41.93 km²
Area land41.91 km²
Area water0.01 km²
Area total16.19 sq mi
Area land16.18 sq mi
Area water0.01 sq mi
Population as of2020
Population total4428
Population density105.65 km²
Population density273.64 sq mi
Time zoneEastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Time zone (DST)EDT (UTC-4)
Elevation860 ft
Coordinates35°01′26″N 85°01′26″W
ZIP code37302
Area code423
GNIS feature ID1275817[1]

Apison is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It is a rural area east of the city of Chattanooga, and it is near Ooltewah, Collegedale, and north Georgia to the south. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,428.[2]

Apison is 15 miles (24 km) from Enterprise South Industrial Park,[3] the location of Volkswagen North America.

History

In 1881, the railroad came through a small settlement, now known as Apison, that had previously had its mail delivered by horse and buggy. The town then was known as O'Brian that was assigned by the railroad officials. The name was later changed because of another Tennessee town already having the same name. Due to the large deposits of Apison shale rock found along the railroad tracks, the town was renamed to its current name.[4]

In 2001, the old Apison Elementary School was turned into a Tres Dias retreat center.[5]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Apison had a population of 4,428.[6] The median age was 42.2 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.[7]

6.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 93.4% lived in rural areas.[8]

There were 1,539 households in Apison, of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 70.8% were married-couple households, 11.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 15.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7]

There were 1,648 housing units, of which 6.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.[7]

Apison racial composition[9]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)3,71783.94%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)992.24%
Native American90.2%
Asian841.9%
Pacific Islander40.09%
Other/Mixed2285.15%
Hispanic or Latino2876.48%

Apison was depicted in the X-Files episode "The Field Where I Died."[10]

Education

Apison Elementary School[11] is located at 10433 East Brainerd Road. Middle school and high school students may attend either East Hamilton Middle School/High School, or Ooltewah Middle School/High School.

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  3. ^ "Enterprise South Industrial Park Homepage". Archived from the original on August 2, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  4. ^ Apison - Our Community Past and Present
  5. ^ "Southeast Tennessee Tres Dias Directions". www.tdsetn.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2004.
  6. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  9. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "X-Files Episode Locations in Tennessee". The X-Files Mapping Project. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  11. ^ Apison Elementary School web site