Sharps Chapel, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharps Chapel, Tennessee
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| Sharps Chapel | |
 Sharps Chapel, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Sharps Chapel, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Union |
| Settled | 1770s |
| Elevation | 1,043 ft (318 m) |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 1,500 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37866
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| Area code | 865 |
| FIPS code | 47-47173 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1647534 |
Sharps Chapel is a small community in Union County, Tennessee. It sits right on the northern shore of Norris Lake. It's a quiet place, not officially a city, but a community where people live and work.
Contents
History of Sharps Chapel
Early Settlers and the Sharp Family
The area where Sharps Chapel is today was first settled by Henry Sharp. He was a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He received a large piece of land, about 700 acres (280 hectares), as a "land grant." This was like a gift of land from the government for his service. Some people think the community might actually be named after Peter Sharp, who was Henry's son.
Post Office and Community Name
A post office, where people send and receive mail, opened in this area in 1866. At first, it was called "Clinch River." But in 1869, the name was changed to Sharps Chapel. The community's ZIP code is 37866.
Norris Dam and Civilian Conservation Corps
In the 1930s, a big project called the Norris Dam was being built nearby. Sharps Chapel became the home for a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program that helped young men find work during the Great Depression. These workers helped build the dam and develop the nearby Norris Dam State Park.
The Historic Bait Ousley House
The Bait Ousley house in Sharps Chapel is a very old and important building. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. This brick house was built in 1835 by Jacob Sharp, another son of Henry Sharp.
The house was sold to Jacob Ousley in 1874 and stayed in his family for 132 years. For almost 30 years, starting in the 1970s, no one lived in the house. Because it was empty for so long, some people thought it might be a bit spooky or have strange stories. In 2006, new owners bought the house and started a big project to fix it up and bring it back to life.
Geography of Sharps Chapel
Sharps Chapel is located on a piece of land that is almost completely surrounded by water. This type of land is called a peninsula. The water around it comes from Norris Lake, which is formed by the Clinch River and Powell River. The community is in the northern part of Union County. It is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of the city of Knoxville.
Chuck Swan State Forest
Sharps Chapel is also home to the office for the Chuck Swan State Forest. This is a large forest area, over 24,000 acres (9,800 hectares), located between the Clinch River and Powell River parts of Norris Lake. It is managed by two groups: the Tennessee Forestry Division and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. They work together to protect wildlife habitat and improve the health of the forest.
Population and Community Life
In 2018, a report for Union County estimated that about 1,500 people lived in Sharps Chapel. This report was made to help bring better internet services, like fiber broadband, to the community.
Economy and Recreation
Because Sharps Chapel is right on the shores of Norris Lake, it has many neighborhoods and areas with homes right on the water. It is also home to a marina, which is a place where boats can dock, and a campground, where people can stay in tents or RVs. These features make it a popular spot for outdoor activities and lake fun.
Education in Sharps Chapel
Sharps Chapel has its own school called Sharps Chapel Elementary School. It is part of the Union County Schools District. In the 2009–2010 school year, the school had 141 students from kindergarten through grade 5.
Notable People
- Florence Reece - a famous songwriter
