Mountain City, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mountain City
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Buildings along Church Street
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Location of Mountain City in Johnson County, Tennessee.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| County | Johnson |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Incorporated | 1905 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Alderman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.37 sq mi (8.73 km2) |
| • Land | 3.37 sq mi (8.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,418 ft (737 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,415 |
| • Density | 716.62/sq mi (276.66/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37683
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-50400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1328969 |
Mountain City is a town located in Johnson County, Tennessee, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Johnson County. In 2020, about 2,415 people lived there. Mountain City is the county seat farthest northeast in Tennessee. It is also the highest town in the state, sitting at an elevation of about 2,418 feet (737 meters) above sea level.
Contents
History of Mountain City
When the first European explorers arrived in the late 1600s, Native American trails already crossed the Mountain City area. In 1949, workers found a cave with ancient burials from the Mississippian culture (around 1000 A.D.). Explorers like Needham and Arthur in 1673, and later Daniel Boone in 1769, used a nearby mountain pass. Today, part of the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail goes through Mountain City.
The first permanent white settlers came to the area in the late 1700s. These included Leonard Shoun and Alexander Doran, who fought in the American Revolutionary War. At first, the area was part of Carter County. But it was hard to get to the county seat, Elizabethton. So, in 1836, Johnson County was created.
That same year, a town was planned on land bought from William Vaught. It was named Taylorsville after Colonel James P. Taylor. In 1885, the town's name was changed to "Mountain City." This change was likely suggested by Roderick R. Butler, a well-known citizen and a U.S. Congressman. He wanted the name to show that the town was in one of Tennessee's highest valleys. Butler's large house, which is now a historic site, still stands in the town center.
In May 1925, Mountain City hosted the first Mountain City Fiddlers Convention. This event was very important for the history of Appalachian music. It helped shape country music. A similar event is still held every summer in nearby Laurel Bloomery.
Since 1982, Mountain City has been home to a fancy hotel and country club. It is now called the RedTail Mountain Resort. It is the northeasternmost gated community in Tennessee.
Geography and Location
Mountain City is located at 36°28′6″N 81°48′14″W. The town covers about 3.3 square miles (8.6 square kilometers), and all of it is land. At over 2,400 feet (730 meters), Mountain City is in one of the highest valleys in Tennessee.
Mountains surround the town:
- Doe Mountain is to the southwest.
- Forge Mountain is to the east.
- The Iron Mountains are clearly visible to the north.
The border between Tennessee and North Carolina is about 5 miles (8 km) east of Mountain City. The border between Tennessee and Virginia is about 10 miles (16 km) to the north.
Several main roads connect Mountain City to other places:
- U.S. Route 421 (Shady Street) goes to Bristol, Tennessee, in the northwest and Boone, North Carolina, in the southeast.
- Tennessee State Route 67 goes through the Doe Creek Valley. It connects Mountain City to Carter County and the Watauga Lake areas to the west.
- State Route 167 follows the Roan Creek Valley. It joins S.R. 67 in the southern part of Mountain City.
- Tennessee State Route 91 connects Mountain City to Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee, and Damascus, Virginia, to the north.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 118 | — | |
| 1860 | 159 | 34.7% | |
| 1870 | 236 | 48.4% | |
| 1880 | 278 | 17.8% | |
| 1890 | 249 | −10.4% | |
| 1910 | 592 | — | |
| 1920 | 724 | 22.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,058 | 46.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,021 | −3.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,405 | 37.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,379 | −1.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,883 | 36.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,125 | 12.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,169 | 2.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,383 | 9.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,531 | 6.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,415 | −4.6% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 Census Information
The 2020 United States census counted 2,415 people living in Mountain City. There were 873 households and 458 families in the town.
Here is a breakdown of the different groups of people living in Mountain City based on the 2020 census:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 2,170 | 89.86% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 25 | 1.04% |
| Native American | 8 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 12 | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 85 | 3.52% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 113 | 4.68% |
Climate and Weather
Mountain City has a special climate called a subtropical highland climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. The average temperatures range from about 34°F (1°C) in January to 71°F (22°C) in July.
A very interesting fact about Mountain City's weather is its all-time record low temperature. On December 30, 1917, the temperature dropped to -32°F (-36°C). This is tied with Mount Le Conte for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Tennessee!
| Climate data for Mountain City, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) |
79 (26) |
85 (29) |
88 (31) |
89 (32) |
97 (36) |
97 (36) |
95 (35) |
94 (34) |
91 (33) |
83 (28) |
77 (25) |
97 (36) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.6 (18.7) |
67.7 (19.8) |
74.4 (23.6) |
81.4 (27.4) |
84.1 (28.9) |
87.5 (30.8) |
88.0 (31.1) |
87.4 (30.8) |
85.4 (29.7) |
80.7 (27.1) |
74.2 (23.4) |
67.5 (19.7) |
89.6 (32.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.5 (7.5) |
48.8 (9.3) |
56.7 (13.7) |
66.8 (19.3) |
73.9 (23.3) |
79.9 (26.6) |
82.0 (27.8) |
81.4 (27.4) |
76.9 (24.9) |
68.2 (20.1) |
58.0 (14.4) |
48.9 (9.4) |
65.6 (18.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.2 (1.2) |
37.1 (2.8) |
44.0 (6.7) |
53.0 (11.7) |
61.3 (16.3) |
68.1 (20.1) |
71.2 (21.8) |
70.3 (21.3) |
64.7 (18.2) |
54.5 (12.5) |
44.6 (7.0) |
37.6 (3.1) |
53.4 (11.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
39.2 (4.0) |
48.6 (9.2) |
56.4 (13.6) |
60.4 (15.8) |
59.2 (15.1) |
52.5 (11.4) |
40.9 (4.9) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
41.2 (5.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 2.0 (−16.7) |
8.1 (−13.3) |
13.4 (−10.3) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
32.6 (0.3) |
42.8 (6.0) |
49.7 (9.8) |
48.0 (8.9) |
38.0 (3.3) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
15.6 (−9.1) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
−0.8 (−18.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−18 (−28) |
−11 (−24) |
14 (−10) |
22 (−6) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
35 (2) |
28 (−2) |
10 (−12) |
2 (−17) |
−32 (−36) |
−32 (−36) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.74 (95) |
3.36 (85) |
4.09 (104) |
4.33 (110) |
5.15 (131) |
4.48 (114) |
5.03 (128) |
4.13 (105) |
3.26 (83) |
2.81 (71) |
2.89 (73) |
3.89 (99) |
47.19 (1,199) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.4 (8.6) |
5.0 (13) |
1.1 (2.8) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
2.0 (5.1) |
12.0 (30) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.0 | 9.4 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 11.8 | 11.7 | 11.5 | 10.0 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 9.0 | 114.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 5.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Arts and Culture
Mountain City is home to the Johnson County Welcome Center & Museum. Here, you can find information about visiting the county. The museum also shows off the area's history. It has many items from Native American and early pioneer times.
The Johnson County Center for the Arts is a place for art activities. It serves people in Johnson County and nearby areas. "Long Journey Home" is a celebration of Johnson County's traditional arts and music. It happens every Labor Day weekend. The famous Steve Earle song "Copperhead Road" is set near Mountain City.
Notable People from Mountain City
Many interesting people have connections to Mountain City:
- Clarence Ashley (1895–1967), an old-time musician.
- Roderick R. Butler (1827–1902), a U.S. congressman who helped change the town's name.
- Dave Loggins (born 1947), a musician and songwriter, known for his song "Please Come to Boston".
- Jeff Reynolds (born 1956), a college basketball coach.
- Clyde Shoun (1912–1968), a Major League Baseball pitcher.
Gallery
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U.S. Post Office, Mountain City
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Johnson County Welcome Center, Mountain City
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Johnson County High School, Mountain City, home of the Longhorns
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Daniel Boone trail marker on Forge Creek Road (Hwy 167), Mountain City
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Town hall
See also
In Spanish: Mountain City (Tennessee) para niños
