MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — With an estimated influx of 20,000 people over the past four years, Murfreesboro city leaders are rolling out a special census.
They hope that the special census will allow them to get more money from the state. Murfreesboro has continued to position itself as one of the fastest growing cities in Tennessee and in the country.
Brett Yarrington and Tess Thompson work at Costco and relocated to Murfreesboro with the company in 2021.
"They're just opening up new businesses left and right," Thompson said.
Nathan Weems moved to Murfreesboro in September.
"[It’s] a reasonable way to kind of stay close to home, stay close to family in Smyrna, and then also have my own place — live on my own close to my friends,” Weems told News 2.
One student also pointed out that the city also has much to offer when it comes to education.
“[I like] the fact that they had a forensic science program, which is my major," MTSU student Desiree Westry, who relocated from Alabama, said. "Not a lot of colleges, well public colleges, have that degree and it was also very affordable."
City leaders hope to gauge that growth through a special census. Entrepreneur Evan Miller decided to bring his clothing line to the heart of downtown last year at The Laboratory due to that growth.
"Typically, whenever people come in, I always ask where they're from, especially if they have an out-of-state ID, and if they live here or if they don't live here,” Miller said. “Most of the time, with the out-of-state IDs, they always live here.”
Miller said that it's paved the way for new clients and a new culture.
"We just want to add something new to the area. We want to make it more diverse,” Miller said. “We want to make it more community-based. We want something that can grow and something that could live past us.”
City leaders said that the special census could mean an extra $3.7 million from the state each year. Every resident who spoke to News 2 said they would like to see those funds go towards improving roadways and reducing traffic.
“There's times when you'll sit at a light for a couple of light cycles just because it's backing up on the main road,” Thompson added.
"It takes you like 45 minutes to get down Medical Center [Parkway] when it's only, like, two miles long,” Yarrington added.
You can participate in the census by calling (615) 893-5210, emailing census@murfreesborotn.com or by following this link.
