City of Baxter

History Baxter has borne various names. Before the railroad, a post office there was called “Ai,” a name borrowed from a biblical city of Canaanites. When the Nashville and Knoxville Railroad built a depot there, it was called “Mine Lick.” To avoid confusion, in 1902, the community, post office and depot were named “Baxter” in honor of Jere Baxter, president of the Tennessee Central.

Location 69 miles east of Nashville 109 miles west of Knoxville On Interstate 40

Population 1,619

Elevation 1031’ above sea level

Area 3 square miles

Government Mayor John Martin, (931) 858-4111 

Public Safety Fire Dept.: (931) 858-2621 / Police Dept.: (931) 858-4111 Ext.2

Utilities Water: City of Baxter, (931) 858-4142

Electric: Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corp., (931) 528-5449 / City of Cookeville, (931) 520-5214

Gas: Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District, (931) 836-2825

*Information courtesy of THE CITY OF BAXTER