Henderson, Tennessee, USA, Earth
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
<p><b>General Information</b></p>
<p>Henderson is a small town located in West Tennessee, in the Southern United States; as such, it is part of the Bible Belt. Its zipcode is 38340.</p>
<p><b>Population</b></p>
<p>The population of Henderson is around 5,000, not counting the students at Freed-Hardeman University, roughly another 5,000.</p>
<p>Henderson has but one stop light, which really gives you an idea of how small this town really is.</p>
<p>Most of the town's citizens are members of the Republican party. There are known to be at least five Democrats residing in this town, and it is speculated that there may even be another one lurking somewhere.</p>
<p>Most of said Republicans are members of the Church of Christ.</p>
<p><b>Socialogical Aspects</b></p>
<p>Henderson is largely dominated by religion and politics. The Church of Christ is the most powerful church in the area, along with the Republicans which are intertwined with it. Also, another aspect that makes them particularly powerful is the presence of Freed-Hardeman University, which sits smack in the middle of the small town, as though it were surgically fitted there. It is also important to note that Henderson is the worldwide papel magnet, or Mecca, if you will, of the Church of Christ/Freed Hardeman population. Young Republicans come from all over the world to study here. Ken Starr's father went to school in Henderson, and, this particular college, being at the very heart of this regime, is known for having very well-known, Republican speakers regularly. Such guests include James Earl Jones, Elizabeth Dole, and Sam Donaldson, to name a few.</p>
<p>As with most places within the Bible Belt, the strong religious/political influence is not without its radical counterculture in Henderson. There are goths, stoners, hippies, skate punks, metal heads, you name it, any hybrid combination of any or all of those categories, and then some. Most of these people, sadly, though liberal in philosophy, are not highly useful to help turn the Right Wing-dominated town into a less biased, more politically thoughtful place to live, because of the fact that most of them are far too stoned or drunk or busy otherwise having a good time and pissing the Conservatives off to vote or take part in debates.</p>
<p>Other aspects of the culture include your usual teenage cliques, the role-playing computer nerds, the preps, cheerleaders, football players, band geeks, etc. These people generally fit the "grotesque" mold and could easily be characters in a low-brow, stereotypical 1980's comedy about puberty and trying to get laid.</p>
<p>Speaking of getting laid, a visitor to this place who posesses a skull and a brain to carry it in will effortlessly notice the local obsession-- sex! Yes, everyone's life seems to revolve around sex here, even those people whose lives revolve around religion and politics, or writing entries for the Guide, or anything else, really.</p>
<p>There are also tons of rednecks. You must be careful when dealing with them, because they tend to make sudden, jerky movements and are very loud and obnoxious. If you come across a redneck, the best thing you can do is to just walk away slowly, not calling attention to yourself. If you get too close to a redneck, you will probably end up slapping him silly out of sheer disgust, which will get you descended upon by him and his buddies, and trust me, even without the firearms and trucks, they are bothersome enough that you should avoid such confrontations.</p>
<p><b>Places to Eat</b></p>
<p>On Main Street, past the stop light, over the bridge, and before you get to the four-way (facing East), you will notice a tiny little set up with a sign that reads "Chow Wagon." Don't be frightened, their food is actually quite tasty, and the family who owns and runs the place is quite friendly and helpful. They have items such as hot dogs, corn dogs, pizza, hamburgers, and fries-- but by far the best things to eat there are the deep-fried mushrooms. They are simply exquisite, and they will give you a packet of ranch dressing to dip them in, which offers a nice contrast to the mushrooms. Some people find the slimy mushrooms inside the breading to be an acquired taste, but if you dive into it optimistically, with a gung ho spirit about you, then you will most likely enjoy these tasty morsels.
<p>Let's say you decide to pass up the illustrious Chow Wagon. Keep going until you reach that four-way stop, then turn left. Soon, to your right, you will notice a small diner called "Bell's Drive-In." They have good diner food, if you like that sort of thing. They know how to mix fountain drinks properly, and will never short you on syrup. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are good, and they serve the usual things like hamburgers and fries and such, but the real treat with this place is their desserts. The most highly recommended is the bananna split. They are always made properly, with the bananna halves being perfectly symmetrical, even artistic. Another great thing about this restaurant is that it is not a chain-- it has a personal, warm feel and friendly service to it which any weary vagabond can appreciate. On a side note, this used to be a popular teen hangout back in the 1950s-1960s, and you can really feel that when you walk up to the place.</p>
<p>There are plenty of fast food joints in Henderson; Taco Bell, MacDonald's, Burger King, and Jack's to name a few. They, however, are just like any that you have seen in any other place in the world, and, therefore, it is recommended that a traveller eat at one of the charming restaurants above instead, in order to make the most of his/her/its visit to Henderson. However, if these restaurants are not to your liking, be comforted by the fact that you have these fast food "staples" to fall back on if need be.</p>
<p>Remember that four-way stop I talked about? For an interesting experience after midnight, go past it, then cross the highway until you see, to your right, an Exxon on the hill. This is a favourite place for insomniacs, usually people who play lots of role-playing games, to hang out, get foodstuffs, and generally act wild. The condom/novelty machines in the men's bathroom are a real hoot if you have lots of quarters that you're willing to spend and you don't mind the worried looks on the faces of other patrons as you exit the bathroom with pockets full of oddly-shaped rubber objects (they knew you were getting them out of the machine-- the walls are thin and the loud *THUNK* can be heard all throughout the store as you retrieve your prize-- try to make it fun...shout "I won! I won!" at the top of your lungs to make them jealous).</p>
<p>There are two grocery stores in Henderson, Miller's Big Star and Piggly Wiggly. Piggly Wiggly has more interesting employees, but Big Star has better prices. It's your call.</p>
<p><b>Travel</b></p>
<p>Travelling within Henderson can be quite amusing. There are lots of interesting inhabitants in the various housing developments in town, plus there are many long, winding backroads in the general area which are great for those of you who like that sort of thing. Henderson can also be a great place to go for a walk either in the afternoon or after midnight.</p>
<p>When leaving Henderson, it is good to know where you are going to end up next. If you take Highway 100 to the East, you will eventually end up in Memphis, TN, home of the famous Elvis Presly, which is roughly 100 miles in that direction. If you take Highway 45, to the North, you will end up in Jackson, TN, home of the Legendary Carl Perkins, the rockabilly star, which is roughly 10 miles in that direction. If you take Highway 45 to the South, you will end up in Finger, TN, which is <i><b>far smaller</b></i> and more peaceful and quaint that even Henderson.<p>
<p><b>Nice Places to Be</b></p>
<p>Mitchel Lane. It's outside city limits, and connects to Willams Road; if you don't know how to get there, ask directions-- someone will be glad to help you. One particular house, 65 Mitchel Lane, has a particularly breathtaking view of that special time of day called twilight, if you stand on top of it on a clear morning. Simply go and ask the kind fellow who owns the house permission and he will happily join you on the roof, most likely bringing along refreshments, which he will generously share with you, and a guitar.</p>
<p>Malone's Henderson Chainsaw. Owned by Burl Malone, all-around badass and great guy, this is a nice place to go if you are looking for some friendly chit chat with someone who knows the town. He is involved politically with the town, and generally knows what's up at any given time. He is a middle-aged man with a beard and a warm smile. You can't miss him.</p>
<p><b>Other Interesting Tidbits</b></p>
<p><i>Walking Tall</i>, the story of Buford Pusser, was filmed in Henderson.</p>
<p>Henderson is a small town located in West Tennessee, in the Southern United States; as such, it is part of the Bible Belt. Its zipcode is 38340.</p>
<p><b>Population</b></p>
<p>The population of Henderson is around 5,000, not counting the students at Freed-Hardeman University, roughly another 5,000.</p>
<p>Henderson has but one stop light, which really gives you an idea of how small this town really is.</p>
<p>Most of the town's citizens are members of the Republican party. There are known to be at least five Democrats residing in this town, and it is speculated that there may even be another one lurking somewhere.</p>
<p>Most of said Republicans are members of the Church of Christ.</p>
<p><b>Socialogical Aspects</b></p>
<p>Henderson is largely dominated by religion and politics. The Church of Christ is the most powerful church in the area, along with the Republicans which are intertwined with it. Also, another aspect that makes them particularly powerful is the presence of Freed-Hardeman University, which sits smack in the middle of the small town, as though it were surgically fitted there. It is also important to note that Henderson is the worldwide papel magnet, or Mecca, if you will, of the Church of Christ/Freed Hardeman population. Young Republicans come from all over the world to study here. Ken Starr's father went to school in Henderson, and, this particular college, being at the very heart of this regime, is known for having very well-known, Republican speakers regularly. Such guests include James Earl Jones, Elizabeth Dole, and Sam Donaldson, to name a few.</p>
<p>As with most places within the Bible Belt, the strong religious/political influence is not without its radical counterculture in Henderson. There are goths, stoners, hippies, skate punks, metal heads, you name it, any hybrid combination of any or all of those categories, and then some. Most of these people, sadly, though liberal in philosophy, are not highly useful to help turn the Right Wing-dominated town into a less biased, more politically thoughtful place to live, because of the fact that most of them are far too stoned or drunk or busy otherwise having a good time and pissing the Conservatives off to vote or take part in debates.</p>
<p>Other aspects of the culture include your usual teenage cliques, the role-playing computer nerds, the preps, cheerleaders, football players, band geeks, etc. These people generally fit the "grotesque" mold and could easily be characters in a low-brow, stereotypical 1980's comedy about puberty and trying to get laid.</p>
<p>Speaking of getting laid, a visitor to this place who posesses a skull and a brain to carry it in will effortlessly notice the local obsession-- sex! Yes, everyone's life seems to revolve around sex here, even those people whose lives revolve around religion and politics, or writing entries for the Guide, or anything else, really.</p>
<p>There are also tons of rednecks. You must be careful when dealing with them, because they tend to make sudden, jerky movements and are very loud and obnoxious. If you come across a redneck, the best thing you can do is to just walk away slowly, not calling attention to yourself. If you get too close to a redneck, you will probably end up slapping him silly out of sheer disgust, which will get you descended upon by him and his buddies, and trust me, even without the firearms and trucks, they are bothersome enough that you should avoid such confrontations.</p>
<p><b>Places to Eat</b></p>
<p>On Main Street, past the stop light, over the bridge, and before you get to the four-way (facing East), you will notice a tiny little set up with a sign that reads "Chow Wagon." Don't be frightened, their food is actually quite tasty, and the family who owns and runs the place is quite friendly and helpful. They have items such as hot dogs, corn dogs, pizza, hamburgers, and fries-- but by far the best things to eat there are the deep-fried mushrooms. They are simply exquisite, and they will give you a packet of ranch dressing to dip them in, which offers a nice contrast to the mushrooms. Some people find the slimy mushrooms inside the breading to be an acquired taste, but if you dive into it optimistically, with a gung ho spirit about you, then you will most likely enjoy these tasty morsels.
<p>Let's say you decide to pass up the illustrious Chow Wagon. Keep going until you reach that four-way stop, then turn left. Soon, to your right, you will notice a small diner called "Bell's Drive-In." They have good diner food, if you like that sort of thing. They know how to mix fountain drinks properly, and will never short you on syrup. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are good, and they serve the usual things like hamburgers and fries and such, but the real treat with this place is their desserts. The most highly recommended is the bananna split. They are always made properly, with the bananna halves being perfectly symmetrical, even artistic. Another great thing about this restaurant is that it is not a chain-- it has a personal, warm feel and friendly service to it which any weary vagabond can appreciate. On a side note, this used to be a popular teen hangout back in the 1950s-1960s, and you can really feel that when you walk up to the place.</p>
<p>There are plenty of fast food joints in Henderson; Taco Bell, MacDonald's, Burger King, and Jack's to name a few. They, however, are just like any that you have seen in any other place in the world, and, therefore, it is recommended that a traveller eat at one of the charming restaurants above instead, in order to make the most of his/her/its visit to Henderson. However, if these restaurants are not to your liking, be comforted by the fact that you have these fast food "staples" to fall back on if need be.</p>
<p>Remember that four-way stop I talked about? For an interesting experience after midnight, go past it, then cross the highway until you see, to your right, an Exxon on the hill. This is a favourite place for insomniacs, usually people who play lots of role-playing games, to hang out, get foodstuffs, and generally act wild. The condom/novelty machines in the men's bathroom are a real hoot if you have lots of quarters that you're willing to spend and you don't mind the worried looks on the faces of other patrons as you exit the bathroom with pockets full of oddly-shaped rubber objects (they knew you were getting them out of the machine-- the walls are thin and the loud *THUNK* can be heard all throughout the store as you retrieve your prize-- try to make it fun...shout "I won! I won!" at the top of your lungs to make them jealous).</p>
<p>There are two grocery stores in Henderson, Miller's Big Star and Piggly Wiggly. Piggly Wiggly has more interesting employees, but Big Star has better prices. It's your call.</p>
<p><b>Travel</b></p>
<p>Travelling within Henderson can be quite amusing. There are lots of interesting inhabitants in the various housing developments in town, plus there are many long, winding backroads in the general area which are great for those of you who like that sort of thing. Henderson can also be a great place to go for a walk either in the afternoon or after midnight.</p>
<p>When leaving Henderson, it is good to know where you are going to end up next. If you take Highway 100 to the East, you will eventually end up in Memphis, TN, home of the famous Elvis Presly, which is roughly 100 miles in that direction. If you take Highway 45, to the North, you will end up in Jackson, TN, home of the Legendary Carl Perkins, the rockabilly star, which is roughly 10 miles in that direction. If you take Highway 45 to the South, you will end up in Finger, TN, which is <i><b>far smaller</b></i> and more peaceful and quaint that even Henderson.<p>
<p><b>Nice Places to Be</b></p>
<p>Mitchel Lane. It's outside city limits, and connects to Willams Road; if you don't know how to get there, ask directions-- someone will be glad to help you. One particular house, 65 Mitchel Lane, has a particularly breathtaking view of that special time of day called twilight, if you stand on top of it on a clear morning. Simply go and ask the kind fellow who owns the house permission and he will happily join you on the roof, most likely bringing along refreshments, which he will generously share with you, and a guitar.</p>
<p>Malone's Henderson Chainsaw. Owned by Burl Malone, all-around badass and great guy, this is a nice place to go if you are looking for some friendly chit chat with someone who knows the town. He is involved politically with the town, and generally knows what's up at any given time. He is a middle-aged man with a beard and a warm smile. You can't miss him.</p>
<p><b>Other Interesting Tidbits</b></p>
<p><i>Walking Tall</i>, the story of Buford Pusser, was filmed in Henderson.</p>
