Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in and the county seat of Greene County, Tennessee, United States.[13] The population as of the 2020 census was 15,479.[14] The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene,[5] and it is the second oldest town in Tennessee. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there are numerous U.S. towns named Greenville.[5] The town was the capital of the short-lived State of Franklin in the 18th-century history of East Tennessee.[15]
For other places with the same name, see Greeneville (disambiguation).
Greeneville
1780[2]
1783[3]
1795[4]
Cal Doty
Todd Smith
Lora Young
Timothy A. Ward
17.00 sq mi (44.02 km2)
17.00 sq mi (44.02 km2)
0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
1,595 ft (486 m)
15,479
910.69/sq mi (351.63/km2)
23,664[9]
UTC-4 (EDT)
47-30980[12]
2406613[10]
Greeneville is known as the town where United States President Andrew Johnson began his political career when elected from his trade as a tailor. He and his family lived there for most of his adult years. It was an area of strong abolitionist and Unionist views and yeoman farmers, an environment that influenced Johnson's outlook.[16]
The Greeneville Historic District was established in 1974.[17]
The U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class submarine USS Greeneville was named in honor of the town.[18]
Greeneville is part of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
Manufacturing remained as the top employing industry in Greeneville until the 1990s, after Magnavox, once the town's largest employer, shuttered its facilities in the town.[62]
Retail is a major employer in Greeneville. The largest shopping center in Greeneville is Greeneville Commons which contains several national retailers. As of 2017, grocery stores in Greeneville include three Food City Supermarkets, two Ingles Markets, Dollar General Market, Sav-Mor Foods (a grocery store owned by Ingles Markets), Publix and Save-A-Lot. Walmart and Lowe's also have stores in Greeneville.[62]
Arts and culture[edit]
Festivals and fairs[edit]
There has been a fair in some form in Greene County since 1870 when the Farmers and Mechanics Association held its first exposition. The present Greene County Fair Association was incorporated in 1949. The Greene County Fair is recognized statewide as one of the best fairs of its size. In 2021, the Fair received the First Runner-Up Award in the AAA Division. In 2015, the Fair was recognized as the AAA Division Champion Fair in the state of Tennessee by the Tennessee Association of Fairs. In 2005, we were honored to receive the Tennessee Association of Fairs highest award, the “Champion of Champions” fair trophy, and in 2006, the Fair received the “Champion of Champions Premier Fair” award.
The town is home to the Street Dance on Davis celebration, which is held annually on the weekend before Aug. 8, in remembrance of Aug. 8, 1863, the date when Andrew Johnson freed his personal slaves at his home in Greeneville. This street dance is a celebration that includes live music, dancing in the streets, kids zones, and most importantly open dialogue that supports black history. In recent years, The George Clem Multicultural Alliance has been the host of this celebration. Although the celebration started as primarily involving the local African-American community, the event has expanded to celebrate the African-American community of East Tennessee.[63]
The fair was also an inspiration for The Band Perry's song "Walk Me Down The Middle", which was featured on their eponymous debut album.[64]
Sports[edit]
Greeneville is home to the Greeneville Flyboys, a collegiate summer baseball team of the Appalachian League, which was started in 2021.[65] The team's home stadium is Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College.[65]
Professional baseball was first played in Greeneville by the Greeneville Burley Cubs in the Appalachian League in 1921.[66] They remained in the league through 1925 and returned for a second stretch from 1938 to 1942.[66] The Burley Cubs won the league championship in 1925 and 1938.[67] They were followed in the same league by the Greeneville Astros, who played in the city from 2004 to 2017.[66] They won the Appalachian League championship in 2004 and 2015.[67] The Houston Astros, parent club of Greeneville, withdrew their affiliate from the Appalachian League after the 2017 season.[68] The circuit's vacancy was filled by the Cincinnati Reds, who placed a Rookie-level affiliate in Greeneville known as the Greeneville Reds.[66] In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Reds were replaced by the Flyboys, a new franchise in the revamped league designed for rising college freshmen and sophomores.[69]
The Town of Greeneville Parks and Recreation Department maintains:
Greeneville is home to Walters State Niswonger Campus, which is currently being expanded.[77][78]
Tusculum University is located in nearby Tusculum.
The Town of Greeneville City Schools operates:
Media[edit]
Television[edit]
Greeneville is part of both the Knoxville DMA and the Tri-Cities DMA. One station has Greeneville listed as its city of license (WEMT-Fox Tri-Cities). WGRV (AM) also has a television station on Comcast Cable channel 18. The channel simulcasts WGRV's live newscasts and other live programs and shows local events.
Newspaper[edit]
The Greeneville and Greene County area are served by The Greeneville Sun, a daily newspaper published Monday through Saturday.[79] The Greeneville Sun also publishes a free newspaper, The Greeneville Neighbor News, which spotlights arts and entertainment.
Greeneville also has many nursing facilities, including Life Care Center of Greeneville, Laughlin Healthcare Center, Signature HEALTHCARE of Greeneville, Morning Pointe, Wellington Place owned by Brookdale Senior Living, Maxim Healthcare Services and Comcare.
Andrew Johnson House on Main Street
Susong House, built c. 1795 by Valentine Sevier
Hotel Brumley, now General Morgan Inn & Conference Center, 111 North Main Street
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 201 North Main Street
St. James Episcopal Church, 105 North Church Street
Valentine Sevier House, 214 North Main Street
Doughty House, 309 North Main Street
Antrium-log-cabin, 307 North Main Street
Clawson Home, 204 South Main Street
Lowry Snapp House, 216 West Irish Street
Armitage-McKee Law Office, Corner of McKee and Irish Streets
Dickson Williams Mansion, 106 North Irish Street
