Bear Spring, Tennessee Explained

Official Name:Bear Spring
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Tennessee#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Tennessee
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Stewart
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2020
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:404
Coordinates:36.4753°N -87.7547°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Area Code:931
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1305021

Bear Spring is an unincorporated community in Stewart County, Tennessee, in the United States.

History

In 1830, the Bear Spring Iron Furnace was constructed, serving as the first charcoal cold-blast furnace in the area. At its peak work rate in 1850, the furnace could produce over 2000 tons of metal. The furnace closed down in 1854 and was destroyed by Union Troops in 1864. It was reconstructed at its current location in 1873, where it has remained ever since.[1] [2]

A post office called Bear Spring was established in 1893, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1948.[3] According to local history, the community was so named when a pioneer settler shot a bear in a nearby spring.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bear Spring Furnace . 2024-02-01 . Atlas Obscura . en.
  2. Web site: Bear Spring Iron Furnace Tennessee River Valley . 2024-02-01 . tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org . en.
  3. Web site: Stewart County . Jim Forte Postal History . 7 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208035857/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=TN&county=Stewart . 8 February 2015 .
  4. Book: Miller, Larry L.. Tennessee Place-names. 2001. Indiana University Press. 0-253-21478-5. 15.