Rocky Top, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rocky Top
(formerly Coal Creek and Lake City)
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Rocky Top City Hall
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Location of Rocky Top in Anderson and Campbell counties, Tennessee.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| Counties | Anderson, Campbell |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Incorporated | 1939 |
| Named for | "Rocky Top" |
| Government | |
| • Type | council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Land | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 869 ft (265 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,628 |
| • Density | 1,005.56/sq mi (388.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37769
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| Area code(s) | 865 |
| FIPS code | 47-40240 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1290479 |
Rocky Top is a city in Tennessee, a state in the United States. It is located in Anderson and Campbell counties, northwest of Knoxville. In 2020, about 1,628 people lived there. Most of Rocky Top is in Anderson County. It is part of the larger Knoxville area.
The city has changed its name twice. It was first called Coal Creek, then Lake City. On June 26, 2014, the city officially changed its name to Rocky Top. This new name comes from the famous song "Rocky Top".
Contents
History of Rocky Top
Early Beginnings as Coal Creek
The town started in the early 1800s and was first named Coal Creek. This name came from the stream that flows through the town. The area became open for settlement after the 1798 Treaty of Tellico.
Coal Creek and nearby Briceville were important for coal mining. In 1891, there was a big conflict called the Coal Creek War. Coal miners went on strike because mine owners were using unpaid prison workers. The state militia (a group like a local army) stayed in Coal Creek for over a year. The miners eventually won, and Tennessee stopped using prison labor in mines. A sad event, the Fraterville Mine disaster, happened nearby in 1902.
Becoming Lake City
In 1936, the town changed its name to "Lake City." This happened after the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built Norris Dam nearby. The dam created a large artificial lake called Norris Lake. Some people wanted to go back to the old name, Coal Creek, to remember the town's history.
The Rocky Top Name Change
In 2013, a business group suggested building a water park in the city. They said they would do this if the city changed its name to "Rocky Top." This was to use the fame of the "Rocky Top" song. On November 7, 2013, the city council voted to ask the state to change the city's name.
The company that owns the song's copyright (the legal right to control its use) did not like this idea. They thought it would break their intellectual property rights. However, a judge decided that renaming a town was not the same as using the song for business. So, the name change was allowed.
On June 26, 2014, the name officially became Rocky Top. The water park plans were still being developed as of 2018. Since 2014, the city has seen some new shops and restaurants open.
The original Rocky Top is actually a mountain peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is about 14 miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The song "Rocky Top" was written in Gatlinburg in 1967 by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant. There is no record that they knew about the mountain peak when they wrote the song.
Geography of Rocky Top
Most of Rocky Top is in northern Anderson County. A small part is in Campbell County. The city is the northern end of U.S. Route 441. Interstate 75 also goes through the city, with two exits. I-75 leads south to Knoxville and north to Lexington, Kentucky. U.S. Route 25W also passes through the city.
The United States Census Bureau says that Rocky Top covers about 4.1 square kilometers (1.6 square miles) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 800 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,865 | 133.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,102 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,204 | 9.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,116 | −7.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,520 | 36.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,827 | 20.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,914 | 4.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,923 | 0.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,335 | 21.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,166 | −7.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,888 | −12.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,781 | −5.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,628 | −8.6% | |
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In 2000, there were 1,888 people living in Rocky Top. There were 815 households and 485 families. The population density was about 1,186 people per square mile. Most of the people living in the town were White (98.78%).
About 27.9% of households had children under 18. About 38.7% were married couples. The average household had 2.17 people. The average family had 2.84 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 21.9% were under 18
- 5.9% were 18 to 24
- 24.8% were 25 to 44
- 23.8% were 45 to 64
- 23.5% were 65 or older
The average age in the town was 43 years.
Parks and Recreation
Norris Dam State Park is a state park located close to Rocky Top. It offers outdoor activities and beautiful scenery.
Notable People from Rocky Top
- Dean Dillon is a songwriter from Rocky Top. He has written many hit songs for famous country singers like George Strait and Kenny Chesney.
- Catherine Wiley (1879–1958) was an artist born in Coal Creek (now Rocky Top) in the early 1900s.
See also
In Spanish: Lake City (Tennessee) para niños
