Wasp, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wasp, Tennessee
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 Wasp, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Cocke |
| Elevation | 2,828 ft (862 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1327317 |
Wasp was a small community in Cocke County, Tennessee, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was located in a rough, mountainous area. Wasp was a farming community in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
In the 1930s, the United States Forest Service bought Wasp and the farms around it. This was part of a plan to help the Wolf Creek area recover after trees had been cut down. Because of this, the community was abandoned. Today, the old site of Wasp is called a "Historically Significant" area. It is looked after by the Cherokee National Forest. The remains of Wasp are important because they show what a complete Appalachian community looked like in the early 20th century.
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Where Was Wasp Located?
The area where Wasp used to be is about 2,500 feet (762 meters) above sea level. It is in the western Bald Mountains, a few miles east of Del Rio, Tennessee. A stream called Wolf Creek flows north through the former community. It then joins the French Broad River near the community of Wolf Creek.
Some rough forest service roads go through Wasp. These roads connect it to U.S. Route 70 in Tennessee in the French Broad valley to the north. They also connect it to the Round Mountain campground to the south. The Appalachian Trail crosses Walnut Mountain, which is south of Wasp. A smaller trail connects the Appalachian Trail's Walnut Mountain shelter to the Wolf Creek Valley.
The Story of Wasp
Even though Wasp was close to the French Broad Valley, which was a popular travel route in the 1700s, the Wolf Creek area probably wasn't settled until the mid-1800s.
After the U.S. Civil War, railroad companies tried to build a train line. This line would connect Newport, Tennessee and Hot Springs, North Carolina through the French Broad Valley. However, they faced many money and building problems. By 1870, the Tennessee part of the line only reached the community of Wolf Creek. From there, people had to take a stagecoach to Hot Springs.
Life in Wasp
Over the next few years, railroad workers moved into the Wolf Creek Valley. Wasp was likely started around 1890. By the early 1900s, it had its own important buildings. These included a post office, a school, a mission house (a place for religious activities), and a gristmill (a mill for grinding grain).
Why Wasp Disappeared
The U.S. Forest Service started buying land in the upper Wolf Creek Valley in 1935. This led to the community of Wasp being abandoned.
What's Left Today?
Today, some parts of the old community are still there, but they are very worn down. You might find the remains of the schoolhouse and mission house. There is also a cemetery and the ruins of several old farmsteads. However, it's important to know that much of the area has been heavily logged. Because of this, it can be very hard to find clear traces of the old buildings. Many foundations, buildings, and chimneys are no longer visible.
