Carter County, Tennessee facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Carter County

U.S. county

Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee

Tennessee's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Tennessee

Founded

1796

Named for

Landon Carter

Seat

Elizabethton

Largest city

Elizabethton

Area

• Total

348 sq mi (900 km²)

• Land

341 sq mi (880 km²)

• Water

6.4 sq mi (17 km²) 1.8%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

56,356

• Estimate

(2022)

56,410

• Density

161.94/sq mi (62.53/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

1st

Carter County is a place in Tennessee, a state in the United States. It's called a county. In 2020, about 56,356 people lived here. The main town, or "county seat," is Elizabethton.

The county is named after a person named Landon Carter. He lived from 1760 to 1800. He was an early settler who helped create the "Lost State of Franklin." This was a group that tried to break away from North Carolina between 1784 and 1788. Carter County is also part of a larger area around Johnson City.

History of Carter County

A map of the Province of Carolina

Long ago, the land that is now Carter County was claimed by Britain. It was part of the Province of Carolina. But at that time, the Cherokee people were the ones living there.

Watauga Association: Early Self-Rule

The county is named after General Landon Carter. His father was John Carter from Virginia. John Carter was a leader of the Watauga Association in 1772. This group was important because it was one of the first times Americans created their own government based on what most people wanted.

The Watauga Association was the first permanent settlement outside the original thirteen American colonies. It included the area that is now Carter County. In 1775, the group joined North Carolina. It then became known as the Washington District.

The State of Franklin

Later, there was a short-lived "State of Franklin." This state was formed from parts of North Carolina. A historian named J. G. M. Ramsey wrote in 1853 that the State of Franklin created a county called Wayne County. This Wayne County covered the same land that is now Carter and Johnson counties.

The main town, Elizabethton, got its name from Landon Carter's wife, Elizabeth MacLin Carter.

Carter County During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, most people in East Tennessee, including Carter County, did not want to leave the United States. In 1861, when Tennessee voted to decide if it should break away, Carter County voted against it. The vote was 1,343 against leaving and only 86 for leaving.

A railroad bridge in Carter's Depot (now Watauga) was part of a plan to burn bridges in East Tennessee in November 1861. This was done by people who supported the Union.

Early Railroads in Carter County

Carter County used to have a special narrow gauge train called the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad. People nicknamed it "Tweetsie." This train line ran until 1950.

Geography of Carter County

Carter County covers about 348 square miles. Most of it is land (341 square miles), and a small part is water (6.4 square miles).

The county is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These mountains are part of the Unaka Range and the Iron Mountains. Roan Mountain is a very tall peak on the border with North Carolina. It is 6,285 feet high, making it one of the highest points in Tennessee outside the Great Smoky Mountains.

Lakes in Carter County

Watauga Lake
Wilbur Reservoir (below the Watauga Dam)
Ripshin Lake

Rivers in Carter County

Waterfalls in Carter County

The main waterfall at Blue Hole Falls, located northeast of Elizabethton on Holston Mountain.

Carter County is home to many beautiful waterfalls, especially in the Cherokee National Forest. Some of them include:

Blue Hole Falls
Coon Den Falls
Dennis Cove Falls
Jones Falls
Laurel Falls
Twisting Falls

Neighboring Counties

Carter County shares borders with these other counties:

Sullivan County (north)
Johnson County (northeast)
Avery County, North Carolina (southeast)
Mitchell County, North Carolina (south)
Unicoi County (southwest)
Washington County (west)

Protected Natural Areas

Parts of Carter County are protected natural areas, like:

Appalachian Trail (a famous hiking trail)
Cherokee National Forest

There are also state-protected areas:

Main Roads

Many important roads run through Carter County, connecting its towns and neighboring areas. These include:

US 19E
US 321
SR 37
SR 67

Law Enforcement

The Carter County Sheriff's Office helps keep the county safe. It is located in Elizabethton. The Sheriff is Mike Fraley, who started his term in September 2022. Their jobs include patrolling the county and managing the jail.

The Elizabethton Police Department takes care of safety within the city of Elizabethton.

Climate

Carter County has a varied climate throughout the year.

In January, the average temperature is about 34 degrees Fahrenheit.
In July, the average temperature is about 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
The county gets about 40 inches of rain each year.
It also gets about 15 inches of snow each year, mostly in winter.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	4,813	—
1810	4,190	−12.9%
1820	4,835	15.4%
1830	6,414	32.7%
1840	5,372	−16.2%
1850	6,296	17.2%
1860	7,124	13.2%
1870	7,909	11.0%
1880	10,019	26.7%
1890	13,389	33.6%
1900	16,688	24.6%
1910	19,838	18.9%
1920	21,488	8.3%
1930	29,223	36.0%
1940	35,127	20.2%
1950	42,432	20.8%
1960	41,578	−2.0%
1970	42,575	2.4%
1980	50,205	17.9%
1990	51,505	2.6%
2000	56,742	10.2%
2010	57,424	1.2%
2020	56,356	−1.9%
2022 (est.)	56,410	−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

Age pyramid Carter County

The number of people living in Carter County has changed over time. In 1800, there were about 4,813 people. By 2020, the population grew to 56,356.

Most people in Carter County are White. There are also smaller groups of Black or African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 2.1% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Education in Carter County

Most schools in Carter County are part of the Carter County School District. However, schools within the city of Elizabethton are part of the Elizabethton City School District.