On September 24, 1904, two passenger trains collided head-on near New Market, killing a large, unknown number of passengers. Different sources give different values for the number of deaths, ranging from 54 to 113.[8][9][10]
In 2009, Norfolk Southern Railway released plans of a proposed 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) intermodal freight transport truck-and-train facility in New Market as a part of the US$2.5 billionCrescent Corridor project in a US$133 millionprivate-public partnership with state and Jefferson County officials.[13][14] The proposed facility if completed would have generated 77 on-site jobs, 1,700 related-industry jobs in Jefferson and surrounding counties, and the potential of an annual income of US$60 million dollars a year.[13] The project received extensive NIMBY backlash from an organized group of affected property owners and farmers, citing the massive loss of land as a negative impact on Jefferson County's agricultural industry.[15]
The project would also have required the funding of at least US$23 million dollars in off-site costs, such as transportation and utility infrastructure upgrades.[16] Those in opposition to the project spread misinformation suggesting that Jefferson County would have pay the total amount in infrastructure upgrades for the project from tax increases. Norfolk Southern officials corrected this falsehood, saying that the company would fund the infrastructure upgrades rather than any government entity.[13]
In 2011, Norfolk Southern acquired several parcels of land in New Market and proposals for an on-site logistics park were dropped after a developer pulled out of its deal with Norfolk Southern.[16]
The project status has remained stagnant since 2015, as Norfolk had no plans of constructing the facility in the short-term future, but plans on having the site property as a "long-term investment" according to a press release by the company's public relations director.[17]
U.S. Route 11E (Andrew Johnson Highway) passes through the town, leading northeast 3 miles (5 km) to Jefferson City and 19 miles (31 km) to Morristown, and southwest 24 miles (39 km) to Knoxville.
According to the United States Census Bureau, New Market has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.7 km2), all land.[7] The town sits in the valley of Lost Creek, a west-flowing tributary of the Holston River.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,349 people, 568 households, and 410 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,234 people, 473 households, and 366 families residing in the town. The population density was 479.2 inhabitants per square mile (185.0/km2). There were 521 housing units at an average density of 202.3 per square mile (78.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.38% White, 3.89% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 2.11% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.
There were 473 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,583, and the median income for a family was $45,298. Males had a median income of $29,828 versus $19,900 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,439. About 4.3% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
