Altamont, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Altamont, Tennessee
Town
Grundy County Courthouse in Altamont
Location of Altamont in Grundy County, Tennessee.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Grundy
Established	1848
Incorporated	1854
Named for	Fusion of alto ("altitude") and mont ("mountain")
Area
• Total	19.82 sq mi (51.35 km2)
• Land	19.82 sq mi (51.35 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,854 ft (565 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,117
• Density	56.35/sq mi (21.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	37301
Area code(s)	931
FIPS code	47-00940
GNIS feature ID	1275640

Altamont is a small town in Grundy County, Tennessee, in the United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for Grundy County are located. In 2020, about 1,117 people lived there.

A Look Back: Altamont's Story

Altamont was founded in 1848. It became the county seat for Grundy County, which was created a few years earlier in 1844. A local farmer and military officer, General Adrian Northcutt, was very important in choosing Altamont as the county seat.

How Altamont Got Its Name

The town's name, Altamont, is a mix of two words. "Alto" means "altitude" (or height) and "mont" means "mountain." So, Altamont means "high mountain," which makes sense because of its location.

Growth and Changes Over Time

The American Civil War (1861-1865) slowed down the town's growth for a while. However, by 1870, Altamont's population had grown to 217 people.

The Northcutt House, built in 1885

Altamont is home to one of the oldest Mormon groups in the southeastern United States. This group started in the 1890s. Their first chapel was built in Northcutt Cove in 1909. Later, many members moved to Altamont. A new Mormon chapel was built on Main Street in 1947, and an even newer one was finished in 1981.

Modern Altamont: City Hall and Library

In 1988, the old school building in Altamont got a makeover. Today, it serves as the Altamont City Hall and also houses the Altamont Library and Museum. In 1996, the building was named the "Florence R. Scruggs Municipal Building." This was done to honor Florence R. Scruggs, who was a beloved teacher at the school for many years.

Where is Altamont?

Veterans' Park in Altamont

Altamont is located in the northern part of Grundy County. You can find its exact spot at 35°26′2″N 85°43′57″W / 35.43389°N 85.73250°W / 35.43389; -85.73250. The town sits on top of the southern Cumberland Plateau. This is a high, flat area of land.

Surrounded by Nature

To the west of Altamont is the Highland Rim escarpment, which is a steep slope. To the east is Savage Gulf, a deep gorge. This gorge was carved out by the upper part of the Collins River. The Collins River flows from the plateau down to the Highland Rim. Altamont is surrounded by hills, and the town center itself is on a flattened part of a hillside.

Roads Connecting Altamont

Several important state highways meet in the middle of Altamont.

• Tennessee State Route 56 (Main Street) connects Altamont to towns like Beersheba Springs and McMinnville to the north. It also goes south to Coalmont, Tracy City, and Monteagle.
• Tennessee State Route 108 links Altamont to Viola and McMinnville to the northwest. It also goes southeast to Whitwell.
• Tennessee State Route 50 connects Altamont to Pelham and Interstate 24 to the southwest.

The town covers a total area of about 52.2 square kilometers (about 20.2 square miles). All of this area is land.

Who Lives in Altamont?

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 1,117 people living in Altamont. These people made up 362 households, and 240 of these were families.

Famous Faces from Altamont

• Arlo Gilliam, a talented singer-songwriter.

See Also

In Spanish: Altamont (Tennessee) para niños