Georgetown, Tennessee facts for kids

Georgetown, Tennessee, is a small community located where three counties meet.

Georgetown is a community in Tennessee, where the borders of Bradley, Hamilton, and Meigs counties all come together. It's found along State Route 60, close to where it crosses State Route 58.

The part of Georgetown in Bradley County is considered part of the larger Cleveland city area. The part in Hamilton County is part of the Chattanooga city area, which also extends into Georgia.

Georgetown has its own U.S. Postal Service zip code, which is 37336. In 2020, about 5,337 people lived in the area covered by this zip code.

A Look Back: History of Georgetown

Georgetown is located along Tennessee State Route 60. This road was once part of the main northern route of the Trail of Tears in 1838. This was a difficult journey when many Native American people were forced to move from their homes.

The community is said to be named after George Fields, a Cherokee trader. In the early 1800s, he owned a two-story log home and ran a trading post. This home was known as the "George House" and was built in 1812. Sadly, the "George House" burned down and was taken apart in 2014. People believe George Fields was buried near where his home once stood.

In the late 1800s, Georgetown was a busy place for trade. It had several mills for grinding grain, places for making leather, and sawmills for cutting wood. Goods would arrive by train in nearby Cleveland and then be brought to Georgetown by wagons. Farmers in the area mainly produced corn, wheat, and bacon to sell.

Georgetown's first post office opened on March 9, 1837, and was first called "Limestone." Its name was changed to "Georgetown" in 1867. Over the years, the post office has been located in four different counties. One of these was James County, sometimes called "The Lost County of Tennessee," which no longer exists since 1919. Today, the post office operates in Meigs County.

Learning and Education

The first known school in Georgetown was the Georgetown Academy. It was started in 1847 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This school was located a short distance southwest of the main intersection in town. It is thought to have operated until around the time of the American Civil War. The second floor of the school building was also home to a local Masonic lodge.

Famous People from Georgetown

• Greg Vital – He is known as an American conservationist and businessman. He also serves as a state representative for Tennessee.
• Wilburn Cartwright – He was a lawyer and educator. He also served as a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma and was an officer in the United States Army during World War II. He was born in Georgetown.

Images for kids

• Pleasant L. Matthews House.jpg

  The Pleasant L. Matthews House, a historic home near Georgetown.

• Bradford Rymer Barn.jpg

  The Bradford Rymer Barn, another historic site in the area.

• Scott Hooper Garage.jpg

  The Scott Hooper Garage, a historic building.

• McKenzie Windmill.jpg

  The McKenzie Windmill, an old windmill.

• G. W. Shiflett Barn.jpg

  The G. W. Shiflett Barn.

• Andy Wood Log House and Willie Wood Blacksmith Shop.jpg

  The Andy Wood Log House and Willie Wood Blacksmith Shop.

• Georgetown Road (Trail of Tears Segment).jpg

  A segment of Georgetown Road, part of the historic Trail of Tears.