Joe Rich was elected Mayor 2017 and resigned 2019. Vice Mayor Tonya Spears was sworn in April 9, 2019 and is currently filling out the unexpired term.[3]
Celina was founded in the 19th century and named after the daughter of local pioneer entrepreneur and educator, Moses Fisk. In the late 19th century, Celina prospered as a logging town, receiving logs that had been cut in the forests to the east and floated down the Obey River.[10] In 1878, African Americans were violently driven out of Celina.[11]
Geography
Celina is located near the center of Clay County at 36°32′54″N85°30′7″W / 36.54833°N 85.50194°W / 36.54833; -85.50194 (36.548379, -85.501980).[12] The city is situated in a relatively broad valley surrounded by rugged hills characteristic of the eastern Highland Rim. This valley is created by the confluence of the Cumberland River, which approaches from the north, and the Obey River, which approaches from the east. This section of both rivers is part of Cordell Hull Lake, a reservoir created by Cordell Hull Dam near Carthage several miles to the southwest. Dale Hollow Dam, which creates the vast Dale Hollow Lake, lies along the Obey River just east of Celina.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Celina has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[14]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,422 people, 728 households, and 405 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,379 people, 645 households, and 383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,144.0 inhabitants per square mile (441.7/km2). There were 709 housing units at an average density of 588.2 per square mile (227.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.01% White, 1.38% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.
Businesses along Lake Avenue
There were 645 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,435, and the median income for a family was $29,732. Males had a median income of $21,494 versus $15,096 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,328. About 20.5% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.5% of those under age 18 and 28.1% of those age 65 or over.
^The Federal Writers' Project, The WPA Guide to Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, 1986), 508.
^"Tennessee Negroes Driven from their Homes". The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. November 4, 1878. p. 1 – via Chronicling America. A report comes from reliable sources of an exodus of negroes living in the neighborhood of Celina, on the Upper Cumberland. It is stated that they have received a notice to leave the state within a certain time from some persons whose names they refuse to give for fear of harm. Numbers of them have crossed the river on their way to some distant place. What the trouble is none will say. Last July their church was burned by incendiaries, and about the first of September their school-house was fired, and some of them going to save it, met a volley of shots from concealed persons and were compelled to flee. The attorney-general had a number of witnesses before the grand jury, but elicited nothing more than the general facts as above, and could fix the responsibility on no one. It is probable that the present movement was caused by these and other acts, somewhat similar. Many of the negroes will leave farms.
