COFFEE COUNTY
County Offices
1329 McArthur St.
Manchester 931-723-5100
www.coffeecountytn.org
Chamber of Commerce
135 West Lincoln Street
Tullahoma 931-455-5497
www.tullahoma.org
Coffee County is located in south-central portion of the State. It is one of the counties of the Middle Tennessee region. It is home to more than 53,000 residents. Its county seat is Manchester. Coffee County was formed on January 8, 1836 from parts of Franklin, Bedford, and Warren Counties. Coffee County was named after General John Coffee, a close friend of Andrew Jackson. Gen. Coffee was also a hero of the War of 1812.
Lifestyle
The county is bounded to the north by Cannon County and to the south by Franklin County. To the east, the county is bordered by Warren and Grundy County and bordered to the west by Bedford County. Manchester is a little more than 60 miles southeast of Nashville and 70 miles northwest of Chattanooga. With a unique blend of Southern hospitality and big city sophistication Coffee County is a great place to live and work.
Recreational opportunities abound in this land-rich area. Golfers have the advantage of nearly year-round play on verdant and well-maintained courses. Tennis fans will find first-rate courts while organized sports are available for all age groups through local cities. Soccer, softball, baseball, and volleyball are just a few of the competitive sports that bring friends and neighbors together. Swimming, bicycling, hiking, picnicking, or just enjoying lush parks are all popular leisure activities.
Although the world-class attractions of Nashville are less than an hour from home, the county has developed cultural amenities and special events. Tullahoma offers musical concerts, performing arts, county festivals and galleries. Antique districts blend with modern malls and shopping plazas throughout the county for an abundance of retail options. The annual Bonnaroo Music Festival has become an annual event in Coffee County. In addition to making Manchester Tennessee’s largest city during this four day event, the music and arts festival creates a staggering economic impact on Coffee County and the surrounding counties. And for a bit of historic charm, the Coffee County Fair has showcased local heritage through exhibits of livestock, agricultural products and domestic arts, that draws visitors from all over the state.
The good life in Coffee County blends easy access to metropolitan amenities with homespun delights and local attractions. Recreational facilities and opportunities include lush regional parks, golf courses, swimming pools, a country club, a skating rink, ball fields, tennis courts, soccer fields and recreational fishing. Regional parks invite every imaginable outdoor adventure. The lack of traffic and urban bustle, the friendly people, and a slower living pace combine with low property taxes and high property values for a superb quality of life. Historic sites, museums, restaurants, and libraries add to the quality of life.
Services
The regional economy of Coffee County is reliant on a diverse mix of businesses from small service companies to larger employers of all types. Coffee County is home to the United States Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center which is one of the leading employers in Coffee County and the surrounding areas. The growth of the Arnold Engineering Development Center, a 41,000 acre facility (with portions located in Franklin County) has served as a significant influence on the growth in the county. A.E.D.C. provides testing for the development of turbojets, ramjets, turboprop engines, aircraft, missiles, rockets, and related components. This combined with the supporting businesses for the facility make Coffee County a hub for aviation, aeronautics and avionics activities and industries. The University of Tennessee Space Institute is a one-of-a kind educational and applied science facility. William Northern Field at the Tullahoma Regional Airport is the state’s sixth largest general aviation airport and the nearby Beechcraft Heritage Museum houses a large collection of Beechcraft and related aircraft. The Goodrich Landing Gear Division in Tullahoma supports commercial, military, regional, and business customers throughout the world.
Education is very important in the area, represented by nearby institutions of higher education and a network of public, private and parochial elementary and secondary schools. These schools offer educational programs to fit the needs of all students in all disciplines, including business, the arts and education. Local schools stress basic skills in reading, writing and math. The citizens of the county are proud of the educational opportunities provided by its regional schools. Tullahoma High School was recently named one of the “Ten Great Schools in Tennessee,” one of four schools so named across the state. A varied curriculum meets the needs of students’ at all educational levels. Student’s ACT and SAT scores for college entrance consistently exceed the state and national averages. The Coffee County School District serves the entire county and consists of a high school, middle school and six elementary schools. For higher educational opportunities within the county Motlow Community College brings more than 5000 students to Coffee County, offering multiple programs in more than 50 areas of study.
Health care is a priority in the county and is well represented by an excellent full-service hospital, healthcare facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. There are more than 100 physicians practicing in the area. Nursing care and assisted living for long and short-term patients, as well as postoperative, elderly, ambulatory/bedfast and chronically ill patients, and Alzheimer’s care is available. The county is home to a variety of medical specialty facilities as well.
Coffee County offers a relaxed quality of life, driven by a strong economy and residents dedicated to keeping their communities strong.
Manchester
Town Hall
931-728-4652
www.cityofmanchestertn.com
Chamber of Commerce
931-723-1486
https://www.manchestertnchamber.org/
Manchester is a small town of just over 9,500 residents. It is located halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga on Interstate 24. Manchester is a vibrant, progressive community that still retains traditional southern charm and hospitality. It offers its residents an unmatched quality of life. The history of Manchester can be traced back over 2,000 years to the ancient Native American tribes who lived near the present-day Old Stone Fort, but the actual town dates back to 1836, when Coffee County was formed and Manchester was designated as its seat. It was named after the industrial city of Manchester in England.
Since 2002, Manchester has been the host city for the annual Bonnaroo Music Festival. The city’s population grows to over 100,000 people for the four day event, which draws people from across the country and around the world, to camp and enjoy continuous and varied music from leading artists.
During the rest of the year residents can enjoy a more quiet and laid back lifestyle. Recreation is available in many formats in the area, the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department contains 85 acres of park land in three major parks, Fred Deadman Park, Dave King Park and Rotary Park located along the Little Duck River. These parks contain multi-use ball fields, tennis courts, a skate park, the Little Duck River Greenway, picnic pavilions, Ada Wright Community Center, horseshoes, and playgrounds. Manchester also offers its residents use of some of the finest recreational facilities for a town its size anywhere in the country at the Manchester Recreation Complex. Equipped with two indoor pools, one outdoor play pool, basketball courts, an indoor track, racketball courts, weight machines, cardiovascular exercise equipment and dance/fitness rooms, this complex draws people from not only Coffee County, but the surrounding counties and stands as one of the best facilities in the region.
The city offers its residents a historic downtown, with its courthouse in the center. Giving the community a feel of the old days, when a town square was the center of community activities. Residents have access to good regional shopping, with nearby Tullahoma offering a variety of options, including the only indoor shopping mall in the entire region. Education is a hallmark of the region and the Coffee County School District offers an exceptionally high quality of education for its residents and their families. Schools within the district continually exceed national scores on standardized testing.
Manchester is a great place to call home, whether settling into a historic home on a river or moving into a new home on the edge of town. Families will find neighbors who are friendly in a small community with a lot to offer.
Tullahoma
Town Hall
931-455-2648
https://www.tullahomatn.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
931-455-5497
www.tullahoma.org
Tullahoma is a progressive, well-educated community located in the heart of southern middle Tennessee 65 miles from the 3 major metropolitan areas of Nashville, Chattanooga and Huntsville, Alabama. The town is home to more than 17,000 residents who enjoy an outstanding quality of life. The town has a strong economy thanks in part to the presence of Arnold Air Force Base, Arnold Engineering Development Center, University of Tennessee Space Institute and a variety of other local businesses. In addition to a healthy economy, Tullahoma is home to an outstanding educational system, growing medical and aerospace technology businesses, a variety of retail businesses, lively arts and cultural attractions and a number of recreational amenities. As the center for information and community development, Tullahoma has earned the distinction of being one of the top ranked small cities in Tennessee, making it an ideal choice for those looking to settle in the area.
Education is very important in this community and in the county as a whole. Tullahoma has four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. The student to teacher ratio is very low compared to many other cities. The local schools consistently exceed all national benchmarks for education and standardized testing, making them some of the best in the state as well. Kindergarten is provided in the public school system along with an extended school program known as “Kool Kids” that provides before and after school for children K through 7 grades. Tullahoma also has a parochial school, for grades K through 8. The school district also offers an Adult Education program with extended hours.
For residents looking for a little retail recreation, Tullahoma serves as the center of retail traffic to eight surrounding counties, Tullahoma offers an eclectic blend of individually owned businesses, national retailers and restaurants. Everything from specialty children’s clothing, fine jewelry, gifts and shoes to home furnishings, farm and garden supplies can be found in the community. The city also has the only enclosed mall in southern middle Tennessee, The Northgate Mall. Tullahoma also has several smaller outdoor malls and a historic downtown with locally owned businesses. A former Coca-Cola bottling factory, which now houses a café and specialty shops, has been recognized in Southern Living and other regional magazines and on television shows for its unique character and feel. For a different kind of adventure the city is located only a few miles from Jack Daniels and George Dickel Distilleries and the Tennessee walking horse capital of the world. The Beechcraft Heritage Museum, Regional Fine Arts Center, Community Playhouse and South Jackson Civic Center give locals a taste of big city culture. Tullahoma’s proximity to Nashville, Chattanooga and Huntsville, Alabama, make it a short drive from home to all of the urban amenities that these areas offer as well.
Tullahoma is the hometown that people from other parts of the country only dream about. Offering residents everything they need, practically out their front door.
Arnold Air Force Base
AEDC Public Affairs
931-454-4204
https://www.arnold.af.mil/
Arnold air force base and the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) is the most advanced and largest complex of flight simulation and test facilities in the world, AEDC operates 58 aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental chambers, arc heaters, ballistic rooms and other specialized units, of which 27 are unique to the United States and 14 are unique in the world. It operates as part of the United State Air Force Materiel Command and has been the test and evaluation facility for aerospace and aviation through the Cold War, the Space Race, and the War on Terror. It is the largest employer in the county.
