Winchester

History

Winchester was created as the seat of justice for Franklin County by act of the Tennessee Legislature on November 22, 1809, and was laid out the following year. The historic Hundred Oaks Castle is located in Winchester. Mary Sharp College (originally the "Tennessee and Alabama Female Institute", but later renamed in honor of Mary Corn Sharp, a donor) was founded in 1851 by Z. C. Graves and the Baptist Church. Though a women's college, it offered a classical curriculum based upon what was being offered at the time by Amherst College, Brown University, and the University of Virginia. It closed in 1896. The city was occupied first by Confederate and then by Union troops during the Civil War. Winchester, along with the rest of Franklin County, seceded from the Union several months before the rest of Tennessee, unofficially becoming a part of Alabama until the rest of the state seceded. It lay on the line of retreat to Chattanooga followed by the Confederate Army of Tennessee during the campaign of 1863. Recreation in Winchester received a significant boost when the Tennessee Valley Authority started construction of the Tims Ford Dam along the Elk River in 1966. The project was completed in 1972, and Tims Ford Lake is now known for excellent boating and bass fishing opportunities. Tims Ford State Park is located along the lake's shoreline.

Geography

Winchester is situated slightly north of the center of Franklin County in Tennessee. It shares a border to the north with the city of Decherd.The city center is located just south of Boiling Fork Creek, which has become an extension of Tims Ford Lake. On the western boundary of the city, Dry Creek forms another arm of the lake. The city limits of Winchester extend as far as the Elk River arm of the lake, approximately 4 miles (6 km) north of downtown. U.S. Route 41A passes through the center of town, coming in from the southeast as South College Street and leaving to the northeast as Dinah Shore Boulevard. US 41A leads east to Cowan and to Sewanee, as well as north to Estill Springs and to Tullahoma. Tennessee State Route 16 leaves southwest from the center of town as 1st Avenue and leads to the Alabama border. U.S. Route 64 bypasses Winchester to the south and east, leading northeast to Interstate 24 near Pelham and west to Fayetteville. Tennessee State Route 50 leads west and northwest from Winchester to Lynchburg, and Tennessee State Route 130 leads northwest to Winchester Springs and to Tullahoma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 8.47%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,390
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,204
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  2,183
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  1,999
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,925
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,757
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  1,741
• Eastern Bluebird

  Sialia sialis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,483

Most recent

• M 2.58 — 2025-02-25
  8 km N of Menlo, Georgia
• M 2.58 — 2024-03-10
  14 km W of Graysville, Tennessee
• M 2.58 — 2024-02-29
  9 km NNW of Graysville, Tennessee
• M 2.5 — 2023-12-23
  7 km ENE of Stevenson, Alabama
• M 2.52 — 2023-06-21
  6 km SSE of Sewanee, Tennessee
• M 2.66 — 2022-08-13
  6 km NW of Hazel Green, Alabama