Shady Valley, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shady Valley
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A church sits among the mountains of Shady Valley.
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 Shady Valley, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Shady Valley, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| County | Johnson County |
| Elevation | 849 m (2,785 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37688
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-67460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1301197 |
Shady Valley is a small place in Johnson County, Tennessee. It is called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. This community is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee.
Shady Valley sits right next to the Cherokee National Forest. The community is also named after the valley it's in. This valley is surrounded by mountains: Holston Mountain to the northwest and the Iron Mountains to the southeast. At 2,785 feet (849 meters) above sea level, Shady Valley is the second-highest community in all of Tennessee.
Nature and Unique Ecosystems
Shady Valley is home to some very special natural areas. After the last Pleistocene ice ages, which ended thousands of years ago, many plants and animals moved south to find warmer places. Some of these cold-loving species found safe spots, called refugia, where they could survive.
Because of this, you can still find unique ecosystems in Shady Valley. For example, there are cranberry bogs here. These bogs are usually found much farther north. Shady Valley once had about 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers) of these cool, wet cranberry bogs. They are a rare sight so far south!
Fun for Motorcyclists
The roads around Shady Valley are very popular with motorcyclists. The nearby mountains create many exciting curves and turns. There are nearly 500 "pigtail curves" for riders to enjoy. The most famous road for motorcyclists is US-421. It offers many challenging twists and turns.
Local Life and Economy
Shady Valley is a small community with a few local businesses. You can find one small general store there. There is also a local restaurant called the 'Raceway Grill'. The community has its own U.S. Post Office. Shady Valley Elementary School used to be open here, but it closed in 2020.
Every year, Shady Valley hosts its annual Cranberry Festival. This fun event takes place on the second weekend in October. The festival includes food, a parade, and auctions. It's a great way for the community to celebrate its unique cranberry bogs.
