Economic Development

Murfreesboro is set to become Tennessee's new business address. It is home to MTSU, one of Tennessee's fastest growing universities, which offers a diverse education for today and tomorrow's highly-skilled workforce. It is home to a wide array of residential and commercial development options, along with some of the finest schools in Tennessee. It is home to public and private sectors committed to working together to stimulate and encourage new business development and growth.

Statistics

The City of Murfreesboro, the county seat of Rutherford County, is located at the geographic center of the State of Tennessee approximately 35 miles southeast of the state's capitol in Nashville. Murfreesboro is located in Rutherford County, an adjacent county to Metropolitan Davidson County. It is included in the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

In 2000, the population of Murfreesboro was 68,816, which represented an increase of 53.2 percent over the 1990 census figure of 44,922. A special census was conducted in 2007 which revealed the city's population had topped six figures at 100,575 to become among Tennessee's largest municipalities.

Encompassing approximately 35 square miles, Murfreesboro is now the sixth largest city in the state, ahead of Jackson for the first time.

By the same token, Rutherford County's 2000 population was 182,023, which is a 53.5 percent increase over the 1990 census figure of 118,570.

In addition to residential growth, the city has experienced considerable commercial and industrial development during the 1990s. This non-residential development is expected to continue for the next several years, particularly commercial growth, to serve the needs of a growing population.

The economic outlook for the city is excellent as employment opportunity continues to expand. Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce reported the unemployment rate for Rutherford County dropped to 2.2 percent in December of 1999 when compared to the state's unemployment rate of 3.8 percent and a 4.1 percent rate nationally. The largest employer in the county, Nissan Motor Manufacturing, one of the few major automobile manufacturers expected to post economic gains this year, employs approximately 6,200. Nissan has had its lease extended and plans to expand its operation and add as many as 2,000 jobs. Ingram Book Company employs about 2,300 workers and Whirlpool about 2,000. The mean household income was $63,416 in 1998 and is expected to be $86,158 by 2005.

Alvin C. York Veteran's Administration Hospital is adjacent to Murfreesboro's city limits and provides patient care to veterans from Tennessee, northern Georgia and northern Alabama. In a memorandum of understanding negotiated this year, Murfreesboro plans to take over at least the fire service portion of the VA's activities, In return, Murfreesboro will sign a 70-year lease on the nine-hole VA golf course and make much-needed improvements in the area.

Middle Tennessee Medical Center is located in Murfreesboro and provides hospital care for patients from Rutherford, Cannon, Coffee, Bedford, Warren, and DeKalb counties.

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), with an enrollment of over 19,000, offers an excellent education along with extensive opportunity for art, sporting events, drama and musical performances. It offers doctoral degrees in Health/Physical Education, Chemistry, History, English and Economics.

For more information, please visit the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce website: www.rutherfordchamber.org.

If you would like additional information about the City of Murfreesboro, please call the City Manager at 615-849-2629.