Jefferson City, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson City
Mossy Creek
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Old A.J. Highway in downtown Jefferson City
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| Motto(s):
"A Great Place to Live, Work, and Play."
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Location of Jefferson City in Jefferson County, Tennessee
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Jefferson |
| Settled | 1788 |
| Incorporated | 1901 |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.02 sq mi (18.18 km2) |
| • Land | 6.98 sq mi (18.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,161 ft (354 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,419 |
| • Density | 1,206.85/sq mi (465.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37760
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| Area code(s) | 865 |
| FIPS code | 47-37960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404796 |
Jefferson City is a city in Jefferson County, Tennessee, in the United States. It was first called Mossy Creek. It is part of the larger Morristown Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, about 8,419 people lived there.
Contents
History of Jefferson City
Early Settlement and Name
In 1788, Adam and Elizabeth Peck traveled southwest from Virginia along the Holston River. They settled near Mossy Creek. Soon, more settlers joined them. They built a fort, a church, and a gristmill (a mill for grinding grain).
The city's first name, Mossy Creek, likely came from the "vivid" green moss that grew around a creek nearby. By 1797, about 75 to 100 families lived within four miles of Mossy Creek.
The Civil War Era
During the American Civil War, in September 1861, Union Army General Ambrose Burnside took control of the city from the Confederacy. However, Confederate General James Longstreet tried to attack the city, but he was not successful.
Many small battles, called skirmishes, happened around Mossy Creek. The most important one was the Battle of Mossy Creek on December 19, 1863.
Becoming Jefferson City
In the late 1800s, two new communities grew near Mossy Creek: Frame Addition and Carsonville. In 1890, Nelson Merry College, a school for African American students, was started in Mossy Creek. In 1901, Mossy Creek joined with Frame Addition and Carsonville. Together, they officially became Jefferson City. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson.
Cherokee Dam and Lake
In 1940, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began buying land in Jefferson City. They planned to build Cherokee Dam and create Cherokee Lake by holding back the Holston River. Many people had to leave their farms and homes. They did this because the TVA promised to help with flood control and provide electricity.
Building the dam brought many new people to the city. Cherokee Lake also made Jefferson City a popular place for fun activities for both locals and tourists.
Zinc Mining and Modern Efforts
Later in the 20th century, Jefferson City became known for zinc mining. Geologists had found valuable zinc ore deposits around the city earlier.
Since 2010, people have been working to improve and update the downtown area of Jefferson City. The Mossy Creek Foundation, a non-profit group, was started in 2012 to help with these efforts. They have received money to build a public park with a train station-like building. They also help improve the look of existing buildings downtown.
Geography of Jefferson City
Jefferson City is located in the northern part of Jefferson County. Its exact location is 36°6′59″N 83°29′11″W / 36.11639°N 83.48639°W. It shares borders with New Market to the west, Dandridge to the south, and Morristown to the northeast.
Roads and Waterways
U.S. Route 11E, also known as the Andrew Johnson Highway, goes through the southern part of the city. This road leads northeast about 13 miles (21 km) to Morristown. It goes west about 3 miles (5 km) to New Market. Knoxville is about 28 miles (45 km) southwest via Route 11E.
Tennessee State Route 92 runs through the western side of Jefferson City. It goes north about 14 miles (23 km) to Rutledge. It also goes south about 9 miles (14 km) to Dandridge.
The United States Census Bureau says that Jefferson City covers a total area of about 7.02 square miles (18.18 km²). Most of this area, about 6.98 square miles (18.07 km²), is land. The rest, about 0.04 square miles (0.11 km²), is water. The northwestern edge of the city touches the southernmost part of Cherokee Lake. This lake is a reservoir on the Holston River.
Climate
| Climate data for Jefferson City, Tennessee, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
79 (26) |
84 (29) |
89 (32) |
103 (39) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
102 (39) |
95 (35) |
89 (32) |
81 (27) |
79 (26) |
103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47.4 (8.6) |
51.4 (10.8) |
60.5 (15.8) |
69.6 (20.9) |
77.9 (25.5) |
84.2 (29.0) |
87.0 (30.6) |
86.5 (30.3) |
81.6 (27.6) |
71.4 (21.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
50.3 (10.2) |
69.0 (20.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.9 (2.2) |
39.1 (3.9) |
46.2 (7.9) |
55.1 (12.8) |
64.2 (17.9) |
71.8 (22.1) |
75.0 (23.9) |
74.2 (23.4) |
68.2 (20.1) |
56.6 (13.7) |
45.9 (7.7) |
38.6 (3.7) |
55.9 (13.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.5 (−4.2) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
40.5 (4.7) |
50.4 (10.2) |
59.3 (15.2) |
62.9 (17.2) |
61.9 (16.6) |
54.9 (12.7) |
41.8 (5.4) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
42.8 (6.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−14 (−26) |
1 (−17) |
15 (−9) |
20 (−7) |
35 (2) |
40 (4) |
47 (8) |
32 (0) |
13 (−11) |
11 (−12) |
−6 (−21) |
−26 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.12 (105) |
4.46 (113) |
4.64 (118) |
4.64 (118) |
4.10 (104) |
3.75 (95) |
5.05 (128) |
3.84 (98) |
3.33 (85) |
2.69 (68) |
3.36 (85) |
4.55 (116) |
48.53 (1,233) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.3 (3.3) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.1 (0.25) |
3.0 (7.6) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.8 | 9.7 | 11.1 | 9.8 | 10.3 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 8.4 | 10.4 | 113.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 | |||||||||||||
Population and People
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,328 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,414 | 6.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,898 | 34.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,576 | 35.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,633 | 41.0% | |
| 1960 | 4,550 | 25.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,124 | 12.6% | |
| 1980 | 5,612 | 9.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,494 | −2.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,760 | 41.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,047 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 8,419 | 4.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,761 | 8.9% | |
| Sources: | |||
People in 2020
In the 2020 United States census, there were 8,419 people living in Jefferson City. These people made up 2,846 households and 1,703 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,955 | 82.61% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 304 | 3.61% |
| Native American | 28 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 86 | 1.02% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 352 | 4.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 692 | 8.22% |
Education in Jefferson City
Public Schools
The public schools in Jefferson City are managed by the Jefferson County Department of Education.
- Younger students go to Jefferson Elementary School.
- Middle school students attend Jefferson Middle School.
- High school students go to Jefferson County High School. This high school is in nearby Dandridge. Students from other parts of the Jefferson County Schools District also attend this high school.
Carson-Newman University
Carson-Newman University is a private liberal arts university in Jefferson City. It is connected with the Southern Baptist Convention. The university is located right next to the city's downtown area. It was started in 1851 and has more than 2,500 students.
Notable People from Jefferson City
Many interesting people have come from Jefferson City, including:
- Dana X. Bible: A famous college football coach for teams like Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Texas.
- Mark Dean: An inventor and computer scientist.
- Phil Garner: A former Major League Baseball player and manager.
- Jim Henry: He was a leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1981 to 1986.
- Kenneth Massey: An American statistician.
- Robert Edward Lee Mountcastle: A member of the Republican National Committee.
- Carolyn Peck: A former women's basketball coach who now works as a basketball analyst for ESPN.
- Herbert S. Walters: A U.S. senator.
- Clyde Wright: A former Major League Baseball pitcher.
See also
In Spanish: Jefferson City (Tennessee) para niños
