The Shelby Reinhart Bridge, connecting the communities of New Hope and South Pittsburg, is reflected in the water of the Tennessee River on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, near New Hope, Tenn. SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn.
Location: South Pittsburg is on the Alabama/Tennessee border in southwest Marion County.
Size: 5.92 square miles
Founded: 1886 and 1899 (separate dates of incorporation)
Population: 3,110 (2014 estimate)
Mayor: Jane Dawkins
Commissioners: Paul Don King, Ronnie Lancaster, Jeff Powers and Jimmy Wigfall
Attractions: In April, the town hosts the two-day National Cornbread Festival on the streets of downtown South Pittsburg with contests, music and food featuring cornbread of all kinds. The South Pittsburg Heritage Museum is now open at 316 South Cedar Ave. The Princess Theatre is a renovated multipurpose facility that has stood on the town's main drag for more than eight decades.
Schools: South Pittsburg High, South Pittsburg Elementary, Richard Hardy Memorial School
Place in history: A notable war event here was the bombing of the Union army's earthen redoubt, Fort McCook, in August 1862. Fort McCook, which was located at the mouth of Battle Creek near the present-day site of the Sonic Drive-In restaurant, was bombarded by heavy artillery for 12 hours on the night of Aug. 27, 1862.
Famous residents: South Pittsburg's most famous native resident is Jobyna Lancaster Ralston, South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society records show. Ralston was born in South Pittsburg on Nov. 21, 1899. After giving her first stage performance as the princess in "Cinderella" at the Wilson Theatre/Opera House in town, she went on to acting school in New York and later danced and sang on Broadway. She also co-starred in the first Marx Brothers' film, "Humor Risk," and continued acting until 1931.
"It's just a good hometown with lots of friendly people."
- Shelia Higgins, store clerk at Hammer's Department Store and a South Pittsburg resident since 1988