Clairfield, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clairfield, Tennessee
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SR 90 in Clairfield
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 Clairfield, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Clairfield, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Claiborne |
| Elevation | 1,112 ft (339 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37715
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1280581 |
Clairfield is a small community in Claiborne County, Tennessee, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but a place where people live together. You can find it in the beautiful Cumberland Mountains of northeastern Tennessee. Clairfield has its own post office and a special ZIP code, 37715. About 1,000 people lived here in 2000.
Contents
The Story of Clairfield
Early Days in Clearfork Valley
For a long time, not many people lived in the Clearfork Valley. This was because it was hard to farm there. The land wasn't great for crops, and the area was quite isolated. Most families grew just enough food to feed themselves. This is called subsistence farming.
After the American Civil War, farmers started selling rights to cut down trees and dig for minerals. They sold these rights to business people from outside the valley.
Coal Mining Arrives
In the 1880s, a businessman named Alexander Arthur bought a lot of land. He wanted to build a big industrial area near Cumberland Gap. His plans didn't fully work out.
However, a railroad line was finished in 1905. This connected the Clearfork Valley to towns like Jellico and Middlesboro. This railroad made it possible for big coal mining companies to come to the valley.
Many new towns, including Clairfield, grew up around these mines. By 1910, three companies were mining coal in Clairfield. They dug into the side of mountains in what are called drift mines. Together, they produced about 750 tons of coal every day!
After World War II, new machines made mining easier. Also, a different type of mining, called surface mining, became more common. This type of mining needed fewer workers. Because of these changes, coal mining in the Clearfork Valley started to slow down.
Where is Clairfield?
Clairfield is located in the Clearfork Valley. This area is very rugged and remote in northeastern Tennessee. The community sits in a wide hollow next to the Clear Fork river. It's just east of the border between Claiborne and Campbell counties. It's also south of the Tennessee-Kentucky state line.
- Eagan is a community further west in the valley.
- Pruden is located at the state line to the northeast.
The main road in the area is Tennessee State Route 90.
The total area of the place that includes Clairfield is about 79.3 square miles. This area is measured by the United States Census Bureau for its ZIP code.
People of Clairfield
Population and Living
In 2000, there were 1,002 people living in the area that shares Clairfield's ZIP code. This means there were about 14 people for every square mile. Most of the people, about 98.8%, were white. The average age of people living there was about 35 years old.
The average number of people living in one home was 2.6. About 77.4% of homes were family households.
Money and Homes
In 1999, about 39.7% of the people living in Clairfield had an income below the poverty line. This means their income was considered very low.
The average household income in 1999 was about $16,477. This was much lower than the state average of $38,874. The average price for a house or condominium was about $23,400.
