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Morristown, Tennessee

Morristown is a city in and the county seat of Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States.[13] Morristown also extends into Jefferson County on the western and southern ends. The city lies within the Ridge and Valley of the Appalachians. The city's population was recorded to be 30,431 at the 2020 United States census.[14] It is the principal city of the Morristown Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen, and Jefferson counties.[15] The Morristown metropolitan area is also part of the Knoxville-Morristown-Sevierville Combined Statistical Area.[15]

Morristown

United States

ca. 1787

1855[4]

Gideon Morris

Gary Chesney

Tony Cox

Council members

27.72 sq mi (71.79 km2)

27.67 sq mi (71.67 km2)

0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)

1,350 ft (397 m)

30,431

1,099.66/sq mi (424.58/km2)

65,631[9]

142,749[8]

Morristownian

37813-37816

47-50280[11]

Established in 1855, Morristown developed into a thriving community due to its strategic location at the intersection of two major stagecoach routes. It would experience turmoil from battles in its immediate area and its change of control under Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. Following the war, Morristown furthered its industrial growth with companies expanding rail access, making it a prominent logistics hub into the 20th century. Since the mid-20th century, the city has established itself as the regional economic hub and metropolis of the Lakeway Area region following efforts to expand the industrial sector of the city's economy into a market with over 100 companies, providing a workforce of an estimated 30,000 people.[16]

History[edit]

Early years and establishment[edit]

Before its settlement by European-Americans, the area of Morristown was inhabited by Native Americans, predominately members of the Cherokee tribe.[17] During the Cherokee's inhabitance, the area was based around two major pathways, an east-west route that was later developed into the Great Stage Road in the settlement era, and a north-south route known as Buffalo Trail, named for a legend stating the path was formed from herds of buffalo traveling from Asheville, North Carolina to the Powell River near the Cumberland Gap for the river's salt licks.[18]


The settlement of Morristown was established by trans-Appalachian pioneer Gideon Morris, a farmer who arrived with his brothers Daniel and Absalom from the Watauga Settlement, a semi-autonomous government based on land that was leased to European-American settlers from the inhabiting Cherokee tribes.[19] Prior to his settlement, Morris had fought alongside John Sevier in the Cherokee Expedition in 1776, and obtained land grants after serving in the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Kings Mountain.[20][21]


Morris, along with his siblings, petitioned to have the Watauga Settlement annexed in the State of North Carolina.[19] With the petition's success, the settlement was named Morristown, and land grants containing present-day Hamblen and Jefferson counties were assigned to Morris and his brothers in 1787 by North Carolina state officials.[22][16] The Morris household built their first home off of present-day South Cumberland Street in Morristown, which remained occupied by descendants of the Morris family for several generations.[23]


From 1792 to 1793, the community's main street was added onto a major stagecoach route connecting it to Knoxville and Abingdon, Virginia, aiding further early settlement efforts.[24][25] Among these settlers was frontiersman John Crockett, who arrived and settled east of the Morris residence in 1794 with his son, famed pioneer and folk-hero Davy Crockett who was seven years old at the time. John Crockett constructed a log cabin that later served as a tavern, and a hospital treating smallpox during the American Civil War. After the Civil War, the Crockett Tavern was destroyed to prevent further infections of smallpox.[23] The current-day Crockett Tavern Museum sits at the approximate location of the former tavern and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[26] John's son, Davy resided in Morristown until 1809, when he relocated to Middle Tennessee to go into Tennessee state politics.[23]


By 1833, Morristown developed into a small village, consisting of a post office, a general store, a blacksmith and machine shop which was the first major enterprise in the town, and several log cabin residences along the main stagecoach route known as the Great Stage Road that divided the community into two counties, Grainger to the north, and Jefferson to the south.[23][27] Morristown Academy, the community's first documented school, opened to students in 1830.[23] In 1855, Morristown was incorporated into a city to provide new services to the community's growing population.[28][23] Railroad access became available to Morristown when construction completed on the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad in 1858, which was the first railroad line to be operational in the state of Tennessee.[23] Morristown was serviced by its first newspaper, the American Stateman, in 1857 after relocating to Morristown from Dandridge, the seat of Jefferson County.[23] By 1860, Morristown was recorded by the United States Census Bureau to have an initial population of 500 as an incorporated city.[23]


Between 1855 and 1870, Morristown's municipal limits were divided along Main Street into Grainger and Jefferson counties.[28] Many residents brought concerns regarding transportation and communication access in Morristown, and neighboring communities such as Russellville and Panther Springs raised concerns as well regarding accessibility to Morristown.[29] After working with government officials from the neighboring counties and the state government, Hamblen County was formed from portions of Grainger, Jefferson, Hawkins, and Greene counties.[29] Morristown was chosen as the county seat of Hamblen County shortly after its formation in 1870.[28]

Arts and culture[edit]

Festivals[edit]

There are several annual festivals and events held in Morristown,[81] some of the more notable events include:

Sports[edit]

Minor league baseball[edit]

Morristown hosted several Minor League Baseball teams from 1910 to 1961 at Sherwood Park.[87] The Morristown Jobbers became charter members of the Southeastern League in 1910.[88] The Jobbers continued in the Appalachian League in 1911 and played each season through 1914.[89] From 1923 to 1925, the city's entry in the league was called the Morristown Roosters.[88] In 1948, the Morristown Red Sox became charter members of the Mountain States League in which they played through 1954.[88] The team won the league championship in their first season.[90] The Red Sox folded early in the 1954 season and were replaced in the league by the Morristown Reds.[91][92] The Morristown Cubs, the city's final professional baseball team played in the Appalachian League from 1959 to 1961 and won the 1959 pennant.[88][93]

Little League[edit]

Little League softball and baseball in Morristown dates back to the late 20th century. In 1985 and 1987, Morristown had baseball teams qualify for the Little League World Series; the 1985 team finished in third place. The Morristown teams are two of eleven Tennessee teams that have advanced to the series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Morristown would see podium placement by the 2000s, placing fourth in the 2006 Little League Softball World Series,[94] and winning it the following year.[95]

Parks and recreation[edit]

Municipal and county recreation areas include Cherokee Park, Frank Lorino, Fred Miller, and Fulton-Hill. Public access for boating and swimming to Cherokee Reservoir is available in the northern area of the city and county. Morristown is also home to several golf and disc golf courses.[96]

Government[edit]

Morristown uses the mayor-council government system, which was established in 1855 when the city was incorporated. Morristown is governed by a seven-member city council composed of the mayor and six council members, four members are elected from single-member districts and two members are elected at-large for the entire city.[6] The citizens elect the mayor to a four-year term and the six council members to two-year terms.


The City Council meets every first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the City Center building.[6]


Morristown is represented in the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 10th district by Representative Rick Eldridge, a Republican.[97]


In the Tennessee State Senate, Morristown is represented by the 1st district by Senator Steve Southerland, also a Republican.[98]


Morristown is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Republican Diana Harshbarger of the 1st congressional district.[99]

Citizen Tribune, daily news publication for Morristown and its in operation since 1966.[102]

greater area

Infrastructure[edit]

Healthcare[edit]

Morristown is home to the Morristown-Hamblen Hospital. The hospital has a 167-room capacity with 23 designated for emergency use. It is considered the main healthcare center in the Morristown metropolitan area.[103]

Utilities[edit]

Morristown Utilities System (MUS) provides electricity, water, sewer, and fiber broadband internet to the City of Morristown and several eastern Hamblen County residents and businesses. It provides services to approximately 15,000 customers.[104]


Appalachian Electric Cooperative (AEC), a utilities company based out of New Market in neighboring Jefferson County, provides electricity and fiber broadband internet for western and northern portions of Morristown, portions of Hamblen County, Jefferson County (including New Market, Baneberry, Jefferson City, Dandridge, and White Pine), and Grainger County (including Bean Station and Rutledge).[105][106] AEC, as of June 2018, provides services to 46,000 customers.[106]

professional football player and coach[122]

Ermal Allen

professional football player[123]

Darrius Blevins

Kentucky state representative[124]

James E. Bruce

U.S. Air Force four-star general and current commander of Air Force Materiel Command[125]

Arnold W. Bunch Jr.

pioneer; grew up in Morristown, born in nearby Greene County[126]

Davy Crockett

former NASCAR crew chief for Denny Hamlin[127]

Mike Ford

animal rights activist and actress[128]

Elaine Hendrix

professional wrestler, politician[129]

Tim Horner

aviator, Morristown Regional Airport manager[130]

Evelyn Bryan Johnson

American Idol contestant, alternative rock artist[131]

Josiah Leming

professional baseball player[132]

Brett Martin

U.S. congressman, mayor of Morristown[133]

William McFarland

champion boxer[134]

Rickey Parkey

trans-Appalachian pioneer and founder of Morristown[19]

Gideon Morris

world champion boxer[135]

Frankie Randall

former quarterback for Morristown East High School and the Tennessee Volunteers; former head football coach of East Tennessee State University[136]

Randy Sanders

Governor of Tennessee, legislator[137]

Dewitt Clinton Senter

former professional baseball player and head coach of the East Tennessee State University baseball team[138]

Joe Shipley

professional football player[139]

James Stewart

early country and folk music fiddle player[140]

Uncle Am Stuart

playwright and actress[141]

Jane Wagner

soldier, Medal of Honor recipient[143]

Calvin Ward

Theatre World and film book editor, theatre awards producer, actor, and educator[144]

John A. Willis

Baker, Christopher Warren. “The Small Town in the Global Economy: A Case Study of Development and Resistance in a Southern Appalachian Industrial Center” University of Tennessee. 1995

Brooks, Cora Davis. "History of Morristown 1787 - 1936" 1936.

Hill, Howard. "The Morristown-Hamblen Library"

Hobby, Larry. "Morristown" Arcadia Publishing 2013

Official website

Convention and Visitors Bureau