James County, Tennessee facts for kids
James County was a county in Tennessee that existed for a short time. It was created on January 30, 1871, by a special law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly. This new county was formed using land taken from parts of Bradley County and Hamilton County.
The county was named after the Reverend Jesse J. James. His son, Elbert Abdiel James, was a politician who helped create the law to form the county. The town of Ooltewah was chosen to be the county seat, which is like the main town where the government offices are located.
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What Was James County?
James County was a small county in eastern Tennessee. It was created to serve the people living in that area more closely. Counties are important for local government, helping with things like roads, schools, and local laws.
How James County Was Formed
In 1871, politicians in Tennessee decided to create James County. This happened because people in the area felt they were too far from the main county seats of Bradley and Hamilton counties. They wanted their own local government closer to home. The process involved a special law, which is how new counties are usually formed.
The End of James County
James County did not last very long. In April 1919, the county ran into serious financial trouble and went bankrupt. This means it could no longer pay its bills or manage its money.
Why Did James County Disappear?
Because of its financial problems, the citizens of James County voted on December 11, 1919, to join back with Hamilton County. This vote officially ended James County's existence.
Another reason why we don't know much about James County today is because of fires. The county's courthouse, where important records were kept, burned down twice. One fire happened in 1890 and another in 1913. These fires destroyed many of the county's historical documents and records.
What Remains Today?
Even though James County no longer exists, some things remind us of it. The few records that survived the fires are now kept in Hamilton County. The third and final courthouse building of James County is still standing in Ooltewah. It serves as an important landmark, showing where the county's government once operated.
