Charleston, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charleston, Tennessee
City
Buildings along US-11
Location of Charleston in Bradley County, Tennessee.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Bradley
Incorporated	November 11, 1956
Area
• Total	1.07 sq mi (2.78 km2)
• Land	1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation	725 ft (221 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	664
• Density	639.69/sq mi (247.04/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	37310
Area code	423
FIPS code	47-13020
GNIS feature ID	1305866

Charleston is a small city in Bradley County, Tennessee, in the United States. In 2020, about 664 people lived there. It is part of the larger Cleveland area.

History of Charleston

The land where Charleston is today was once home to the Cherokee people. Around 1808, a man named Major John Walker Sr., who was part Cherokee, started a ferry service across the Hiwassee River. Because of this, the area was first known as "Walker's Ferry."

In 1819, the U.S. government acquired land from the Cherokee. The Hiwassee River then became the border between the Cherokee Nation and the United States. This lasted until the Cherokee were forced to move in 1838.

In 1821, the Cherokee Agency moved to Charleston. This agency was the official link between the U.S. government and the Cherokee Nation. Important people like Colonel Return J. Meigs Sr. and Joseph McMinn, a former Governor of Tennessee, worked there. Lewis Ross, the brother of Cherokee Chief John Ross, also built a home and opened a store in Charleston around this time.

Between 1832 and 1838, the Red Clay Council Grounds, which is now a state park, served as the final capital of the Cherokee Nation in the eastern United States. It is located nearby in southern Bradley County.

The Trail of Tears

In the 1820s and 1830s, many white settlers moved into the area. They expected the Cherokee to be forced to leave their lands. Sometimes, this caused conflicts between the settlers and the Cherokee.

After the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was passed, Fort Cass was built in Charleston. This fort became the main center for the forced removal of the Cherokee people. This removal began after the Treaty of New Echota in December 1835.

During the summer of 1838, thousands of Cherokee people were held in temporary camps at Fort Cass. They were supervised by U.S. soldiers before they began their long journey westward. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. Other temporary camps were also located between Charleston and Cleveland, Tennessee.

Civil War and Modern Times

During the American Civil War, the Henegar House in Bradley County was used as a headquarters by both Union and Confederate generals. These included famous generals like William T. Sherman. The Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church building was even used as a hospital in 1863.

Charleston officially became a city on November 11, 1956. In 1960, parts of Charleston were used to film the movie Wild River. The city's business area was shown as the fictional town of Garthville in the film.

Charleston made history by being the first city in Tennessee to elect a black mayor. It was also the first city to appoint a black police chief.

Geography of Charleston

Charleston is located on the south side of the Hiwassee River. This river flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and eventually joins the Tennessee River to the west. The Hiwassee River forms the border between Bradley County and McMinn County. Calhoun, a nearby town, is on the north side of the Hiwassee River in McMinn County.

U.S. Route 11 goes through Charleston. Interstate 75 is about two miles west of Charleston and connects to the city by State Route 308.

The city covers about 1.0 square mile (2.6 square kilometers). A small part of this area, about 0.1 square mile, is water.

Climate

Charleston has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.

Population of Charleston

In 2020, the population of Charleston was 664 people. There were 307 households and 199 families living in the city.

Most of the people living in Charleston are White. In 2020, about 64.69% of the population was White (not Hispanic). About 23.5% were Black or African American. Other groups, including Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races, made up smaller parts of the population. About 4.37% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Economy of Charleston

Charleston's economy is connected to several businesses in the area. A large paper mill operated by Resolute Forest Products is located across the Hiwassee River in Calhoun. This mill is a major employer for people in the area. Trucks and trains carrying materials for this plant often travel through Charleston.

The international headquarters for a Christian church called The Church of God has a Charleston postal address. However, their main offices are actually in Cleveland.

Other companies in Charleston include Olin Chemical and Lonza. These companies make pool chemicals and other products, employing hundreds of people.

GE Lighting (DHL Supply Chain) opened a distribution center in 2007. It employs many people who help distribute General Electric light bulbs. An Amazon Fulfillment Center is also located near the interstate in Charleston, providing many jobs.

In 2011, a German chemical company called Wacker Chemie started building a large factory in Charleston. This factory makes polysilicon, which is used in solar panels. This big project cost $2 billion and created 650 new jobs.

Fun Things to Do

Charleston hosts the International Cowpea Festival and Cook-off every year. It's often called the Cowpea Festival and takes place on the second Saturday in September.

The Hiwassee River Heritage Center opened in Charleston in 2013. It teaches visitors about the history of the Cherokee Nation and the forced removal of the Cherokee people from the area. In 2019, the center expanded to include a part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

See also

In Spanish: Charleston (Tennessee) para niños