Red Bank was originally known as "Pleasant Hill". When a post office was established in the community in 1881, however, it was asked to adopt a new name, since the name "Pleasant Hill" was already taken. The name "Red Bank" was chosen by the wife of the first postmaster, George Hartman. It was inspired by the red clay ridge that was visible from a window in her house. In 1955, the communities of Red Bank and White Oak incorporated as a single town called "Red Bank-White Oak". In 1966, the city voted to drop the "White Oak" for simplification purposes.
Geography
Red Bank is located at . The city lies at the base of the Cumberland Plateau in southwestern Hamilton County. It is bordered on all sides by the city of Chattanooga and is north of Chattanooga's downtown. Dayton Boulevard is the city's main thoroughfare, though U.S. Route 27 runs along the city's western edge. According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Bank has a total area of, all of it recorded as land. The city center follows the valley of Stringers Branch, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,418 people, 5,897 households, and 3,290 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,927.9 people per square mile. There were 6,443 housing units at an average density of 1,000.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 87.61% White, 8.24% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.19% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.83% of the population. There were 5,897 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couplesliving together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77. In the city, the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $33,848, and the median income for a family was $41,696. Males had a median income of $30,832 versus $24,708 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,877. About 5.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Red Bank is the site of Red Bank High School, Red Bank Middle School, and three elementary schools: Red Bank Elementary, White Oak Elementary, and Alpine Crest Elementary.
Government
As of 2016, the Board of Commissioners includes Mayor John Roberts, Vice Mayor Floy Pierce, and district Commissioners Rick Causer, Ed LeCompte, and Terry Pope. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at Red Bank City Hall on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.
Mayors of Red Bank
1955–1959 Burk S. "Tom" Millard
1959–1963 J.E. Brown
1963–1965 R. Hayden Landers
1965–1971 Joe H. Godsey
1971–1973 Joe Glascock
1973–1975 Tom H. Collins
1976–1977 Ralph Barger
1979–1981 Ralph Barger
1981–1985 Thomas R. Dodd
1983–1985 Ralph Barger
1985–1987 John Ramey
1987–1989 Ralph Barger
1989–1991 Ronnie E. Moore
1991–1993 Lester Barnette
1993–1995 Ernest E. Lewis
1995–1997 Ralph Barger
1997–1999 Pat Brown
1999-2003 Howard Daniel Cotter
1999–2007 Ronnie E. Moore
2007–2010 Joe Glascock
2010–2012 Monty Millard
2012– John Roberts
Notable people
Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, raised in Red Bank
Wendell Rawls, Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, raised in Red Bank
