Greene County, Tennessee

History

Greene County developed from the "Nolichucky settlement," established by pioneer Jacob Brown on land leased in the early 1770s from the Cherokee people. The Nolichucky settlement was aligned with the Watauga settlement, centered in modern Elizabethton.

After the United States became independent, Greene County was formed in 1783 from the original Washington County, North Carolina, part of the former Washington District. The county is named for Major General Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), a major general in the Continental Army from Rhode Island. John Crockett, father of Davy Crockett, and his wife settled in the county near Limestone. Davy Crockett was born there in 1786. At the time, the area was part of the extra-legal state Franklin.

Greene County is the home of Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee; the state's oldest Methodist congregation (the Ebenezer Methodist Church, near Chuckey), and the state's second oldest continuously cultivated farm (Elmwood Farm, part of the Earnest Farms Historic District). Revolutionary War veteran, and state legislator, Col. Joseph Hardin made Greene County his home for a period of time, serving as justice of the peace and as one of the original trustees of Tusculum (then Greeneville) College.

As with yeomen farmers in much of East Tennessee, those in Greene County were generally Unionist and opposed to secession on the eve of the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Greene Countians voted against secession by a vote of 2,691 to 744. Following the vote (the call for secession was passed statewide), the second session of the East Tennessee Convention convened in Greeneville. It called for a separate, Union-aligned state to be formed in East Tennessee.

A railroad bridge near Mosheim was among those destroyed by the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy in November 1861. Several of the conspirators who had taken part in the burning of this bridge were later captured and executed by Confederate supporters, including Jacob Hensie, Henry Fry, Jacob and Henry Harmon, and noted local potter Alex Haun.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 624 sqmi, of which 622 sqmi is land and 2.0 sqmi (0.3%) is water. Most of Greene County is located within the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, a range characterized by long, narrow ridges alternating with similarly shaped valleys. Bays Mountain, a prominent ridge in this range, forms much of Greene's northern border with Hawkins County. The extreme southeastern part of Greene County is located within the Blue Ridge Mountains, specifically a subrange of the Blue Ridge known as the Bald Mountains. This range straddles Greene's border with North Carolina, and includes the county's two highest points: Gravel Knob, which rises to over 4840 ft, and 4844 ft Camp Creek Bald (it's uncertain which is higher due to lack of an exact measurement for Gravel Knob's elevation).

Greene County is drained by the Nolichucky River, which traverses the southern half of the county. This river is impounded by Nolichucky Dam south of Greeneville, creating Davy Crockett Lake.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Hawkins County (north)
• Washington County (east)
• Unicoi County (southeast)
• Madison County, North Carolina (south)
• Cocke County (southwest)
• Hamblen County (west)

National protected areas

• Andrew Johnson National Cemetery
• Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
• Appalachian Trail (part)
• Cherokee National Forest (part)

State protected areas

• Bible Covered Bridge State Historic Site
• Joachim Bible Refuge
• David Crockett Birthplace State Park (part)
• Lick Creek Bottoms Wildlife Management Area
• Nolichucky Wildlife Management Area
• Rocky Fork State Park (part)

Other historic sites

• Earnest Farms Historic District
• Greeneville Historic District
• Maden Hall Farm

Government

Elected Officials

County Mayor

Kevin Morrison was elected County Mayor in August 2018 and began as mayor on September 1, 2018.

County Commission

Members of the county commission are elected by geographic district. They are as follows:

• District 1: Baileyton, Ottway, West Pines
  • Charles Tim White
  • Dale Tucker
  • Kathy Crawford
• District 2: Chuckey, Chuckey Doak
  • Brad Peters
  • Kaleb Powell
  • Joshua Arrowood
• District 3: Doak, Tusculum View
  • Robin Quillen
  • Jason Cobble
  • Clifford "Doc" Bryant
• District 4: Camp Creek, Courthouse
  • George Clemmer
  • Bill Dabbs
  • Lyle Parton
• District 5: Debusk, Nolachuckey, Middle School, South Greene
  • Lloyd "Hoot" Bowers
  • Pamela Carpenter
  • Gary Shelton
• District 6: McDonald, Mosheim
  • Jeffrey Bible
  • Josh Kesterson
  • John Waddle
• District 7: Glenwood, Greeneville High School
  • Teddy Lawing
  • Paul Burkey
  • Lisa Anderson

Constables

Constables are elected law enforcement officials pursuant to T.C.A. 8–1–101. Constables, much like County Commissioners are elected by geographic district. They are as follows:

• District 1: Baileyton, Ottway, West Pines
  • Travis Dearstone
• District 2: Chuckey, Chuckey Doak
  • Wayne Wilhoit
• District 3: Doak, Tusculum View
  • Kenneth Bitner
• District 4: Camp Creek, Courthouse
  • William Parton
• District 5: Debusk, Nolachuckey, Middle School, South Greene
  • Freddie Sams
• District 6: McDonald, Mosheim
  • Matthew Brobeck
• District 7: Glenwood, Greeneville High School
  • Timothy Vonglis

Presidential elections

Like all of East Tennessee, Greene County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1790-1990 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 70,152 people, 28,738 households, and 18,481 families residing in the county. The median age was 44.8 years; 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

32.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 67.3% lived in rural areas.

Of the 28,738 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.8% were married-couple households, 18.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 32,154 housing units, of which 10.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.8% were owner-occupied and 27.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,909 people, 25,756 households, and 18,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 101 /mi2. There were 28,116 housing units at an average density of 45 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.42% White, 2.11% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,756 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,382, and the median income for a family was $36,889. Males had a median income of $26,331 versus $20,304 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,746. About 11.20% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are two school districts: Greene County School District and Greeneville City School District. The latter includes the Greeneville city limits, and the former includes all other areas of the county.

Public schools in Greene County school system include the following:

• Baileyton Elementary
• Camp Creek Elementary
• Chuckey Elementary
• Doak Elementary
• McDonald Elementary
• Mosheim Elementary
• Nolachuckey Elementary
• Chuckey-Doak Middle School
• Chuckey-Doak High School
• North Greene Middle School
• North Greene High School
• South Greene Middle School
• South Greene High School
• West Greene Middle School
• West Greene High School

Public schools that are within Greene County but are part of the Greeneville City School System include:

• Eastview Elementary
• Hal Henard Elementary
• Highland Elementary
• Tusculum View Elementary
• Greeneville Middle School
• Greeneville High School
• Greene Technology Center

Hospitals

Two hospitals are located in Greene County, Greeneville Community Hospital West campus and Greeneville Community East campus. These hospitals were formally Takoma Regional Hospital and Laughlin Memorial Hospital, respectively, after Ballad Health formed from the merger between Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System.

Communities

City

• Tusculum

Towns

• Baileyton
• Greeneville (county seat)
• Mosheim

Census-designated place

• Fall Branch (partial)

Unincorporated communities

• Afton
• Camp Creek
• Cedar Creek
• Chuckey
• Cross Anchor
• DeBusk
• Grandview
• Horse Creek
• Jearoldstown
• Liberty Hill
• Limestone
• Midway
• Mohawk
• Newmansville
• Ottway
• Rheatown
• Romeo
• St. James
• South Greene
• Warrensburg

Notable people

• Rachel Belden Brooks (c. 1829–1910), American pioneer

References

References

1. Blythe Semmer, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=572 Greene County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: October 16, 2013.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
5. Oliver Perry Temple, [https://books.google.com/books?id=g8xYAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22The+detailed+vote+of+the+several+counties+was+as+follows%22&pg=PA199 ''East Tennessee and the Civil War''], (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.
6. Temple, ''East Tennessee and Civil War'', pp. 370-406.
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, et al., "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112754/http://www.epa.gov/ttnamti1/files/networkplans/TNPlan2010.pdf Ambient Air Monitoring Plan]," Environmental Protection Agency website, July 1, 2010, p. 6. Accessed: March 18, 2015.
9. Fred Lobdell, "[http://www.cohp.org/tn/Greene_3.html Greene County High Point Trip Report]," COHP.org, 1998. Retrieved: March 18, 2015.
10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates".
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
14. Forstall, Richard L., Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC, 1996.
15. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
16. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
17. "Explore Census Data".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
19. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
20. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
21. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greene County, TN". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
23. [http://www2.gcschools.net/?PN=Schools2 Schools], Greeneville City Schools official website. Retrieved: October 16, 2013.
24. Reporter, Salem. (March 4, 2022). "LOCAL HISTORY: Rachel Brooks, Black Pioneer of 1843".