Munford, Tennessee

Beginning as a small village which grew around the Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church in the early 1850s, it was officially named "Mt. Zion" after the opening of a post office there in 1856.[5] This office closed in 1874, and in 1886 when Mt. Zion applied to the United States Post Office Department to have it reopened, the application was approved on the condition that it do so with a new name, to avoid confusion with Mt. Zion, Pennsylvania. At that time Pennsylvania was commonly abbreviated as "Penn" and Tennessee was commonly abbreviated "Tenn." The newly appointed Post Master G. B. Sale asked his daughter Lola to choose a name, and they agreed to name it after Colonel Richard Henry Munford (1807–1884) of Covington, Tennessee. The town was officially incorporated as "Munford" by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly in 1905, and Sterling Hicks Bass, Sr. was elected as its first mayor.

Munford is located at 35°26′41″N 89°48′38″W.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²), of which 8.0 square miles (21 km²) is land and 0.12% is water.

Munford Public Schools are part of Tipton County Schools. The Tipton County School District has eight elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools.

Schools located in Munford include:

• Munford Elementary School
• Munford Middle School
• Munford High School

John Combs is the Director of Schools.[11]

The Munford Police Department has several programs including: Neighborhood/Community Watch Program, Home Security Checks, Children's Fingerprint Identification and Photo, Traffic Safety Program, and School Career Day.[12]

The Munford Police Department also has a S.W.A.T. team that is used in high risk situations including: hostage situations, dangerous drug situations, and blocked or "barricaded" subjects.[13]

The fire department serves around 15,000 residents of the Munford and Atoka communities; however, "the department also serves county residents outside the corporate limits, which brings the population base up to an estimated 30,000."

The fire department not only responds to fires, but also respond to a wide range of other emergency situations including motorcycle accidents, medical emergencies, and several others. Every six months, the fire "department also remains up to date with safety inspections of all businesses." The city contains 1,300 fire hydrants, which are provided by the Munford Fire Department.

"The priorities of the department are clear: Life Safety, Emergency Incident Stabilization, and Property Conservation."[14]

Celebrate Munford is a "non-profit group of citizens" in the Munford community, as well as areas surrounding Munford. The group is always looking for new members to lead the events.

Celebrate Munford has been hosting an annual event in downtown Munford for the past 29 years, The Munford Arts and Crafts Fair. The fair is the third Saturday of September every year. The fair lasts all day and is packed full with booths and vendors. Vendors are welcomed to reserve a booth spot. Fair food is also available at several booths. Stages that are booked with entertainers are also at the fair. There are various music styles played and dances performed.

Every Fourth of July, the Celebrate Munford group sponsors the Celebrate Independence. The event is located at the Munford City Park, across from the skate park. The United States Navy band plays for everyone as they picnic and socialize. As the band plays their finale, a firework show begins.[15]

• City website