COOKEVILLE

city, seat (1854) of Putnam county, on the Highland Rim in north-central Tennessee, U.S., about halfway between Nashville and Knoxville. Founded in 1854, it was named for Major Richard F. Cook, one of the organizers of Putnam county. It developed as an agricultural, timber, and mining community but then acquired diversified industries, including marble and granite works and the manufacture of clothing, filtration equipment, furniture, heating elements, and automotive parts. Cookeville is the seat of Tennessee Technological University (1915). The Center Hill Dam and Lake are nearby. Inc. town, 1903; city, 1962. Pop. (1993 est.) 24,021.