Morrison City, Tennessee facts for kids

Morrison City is a small community located in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather a group of homes and businesses that share a name and history.

This area was named after an early settler named Peter Morison. He and his family were pioneers who received land here in 1780. This land grant was a reward for their important service during a big historical event called the Battle of King's Mountain. Morrison City really started to grow in the 1930s, especially as the nearby city of Kingsport, Tennessee became more industrial.

Exploring Morrison City's Past

Morrison City has changed a lot over the years. What was once a busy center of activity has seen new roads and developments.

Roads and Landmarks

Today, two main roads, Lynn Garden Drive (Tennessee State Route 36) and U.S. Route 23, cross paths where the community's business area used to be. These roads run north and south. Another important road, Carter's Valley Road, goes east and west through the community.

A school called Bell Ridge School is located south of West Carter's Valley Road, right behind State Line Baptist Church. This school was once the only place for kids in the community to learn. It was part of the Sullivan County School system for many years before it closed and was bought by a private school.

Old Businesses and Changes

Before the new US 23 highway was built in the 1980s, Tenneva Street and Echo Drive were the main north-south streets. When the new highway came through, many buildings had to be moved or removed. This included two churches, several businesses, and many homes.

Some of the old businesses that used to be there were Basset's Dairy Bar, W. D. Sensabaugh's Store, and Lee's Barber Shop. There was also a Monument Company and several fruit stands. Parker's Grill was a restaurant that later became a shop where animals were preserved (a taxidermy shop).

The State Line Connection

Morrison City is very close to the Virginia state line. For many years, utility companies even grouped citizens just north of the state line into a category called "Morrison City, Virginia." Even though these people lived in Virginia, they often received their phone and mail services from Tennessee.

Because of its location right on the state line, some businesses opened in the Virginia part of Morrison City. These businesses took advantage of different state and county laws to offer goods that might have been harder to find or more expensive in Tennessee.

Natural Features

A small stream, which is a branch of the North Fork of the Holston River, starts in the Tennessee part of Morrison City. This stream flows across the state line, runs alongside the state highway, and eventually empties into the Holston River in Virginia. There's also a natural gap in the hills that divide the two states, which makes it easy for roads to pass through.