| Jefferson City | |
| Other Name: | Mossy Creek |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "A Great Place to Live, Work, and Play." |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Coordinates: | 36.1164°N -83.4864°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tennessee |
| Subdivision Name2: | Jefferson |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1788[1] |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1901[2] |
| Named For: | Thomas Jefferson |
| Government Footnotes: | [3] |
| Government Type: | Council-manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Mitch Cain |
| Leader Title1: | City Manager |
| Leader Name1: | James Gallup |
| Leader Title2: | City Council |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [4] |
| Area Total Km2: | 18.18 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 7.02 |
| Area Land Km2: | 18.07 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 6.98 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.11 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.04 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1161 |
| Elevation M: | 354 |
| Population Total: | 8419 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | 465.99 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1206.85 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 37760 |
| Area Code: | 865 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 47-37960[5] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2404796[6] |
Jefferson City (originally named Mossy Creek) is a city in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States.[7] It is part of the Morristown Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census the population was 8,419.[8]
Heading southwest along the Holston River from Virginia, Adam and Elizabeth Peck arrived on the banks of Mossy Creek in 1788, soon settling the area with a fort, a house of worship, and a gristmill.[9] It is suggested that the original name of the city, Mossy Creek, originated due to the first settlers' description of the 'vivid' green moss developed around a creek near the settlement.[10] By 1797, Mossy Creek had around 75 to 100 families with a four-mile-radius of the city.
Around the beginnings of the American Civil War in September 1861, Union Army General Ambrose Burnside liberated the city from the Confederacy, but was attacked in an unsuccessful siege by Confederate General James Longstreet. Several skirmishes took place around Mossy Creek, most notably the Battle of Mossy Creek on December 19, 1863.[9]
In the later 19th century, two communities formed around Mossy Creek, Frame Addition and Carsonville. In 1890, the historically segregated African American school of Nelson Merry College was founded in Mossy Creek.[11] [12] In 1901, Mossy Creek merged with the two communities, incorporating as Jefferson City.[9]
In 1940, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began purchasing property in Jefferson City for the construction of Cherokee Dam and the impounding of the Holston River for Cherokee Lake. Many residents reluctantly gave up their farms and homes for the promise of flood control and electricity offered by the TVA. Construction brought many new residents to the city, and Cherokee Lake made Jefferson City a popular recreational hub for locals and tourists alike.[9]
In the late 20th century, Jefferson City became industrialized with the zinc mining industry after geologists discovered valuable zinc ore deposits around the city earlier in the century.[13] [9]
Since 2010, redevelopment and revitalization efforts have been underway in the downtown district of Jefferson City. The Mossy Creek Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2012 to advance these efforts, receiving funding a for a public park with a mock train depot pavilion on the original site of the Mossy Creek station, and facade grants for existing structures downtown.[14]
Jefferson City is located in northern Jefferson County at 36.1164°N -83.4864°W (36.116389, -83.486500).[15] It is bordered to the west by New Market, to the south by Dandridge, and to the northeast by Morristown.
U.S. Route 11E, the Andrew Johnson Highway, passes through the south side of the city. It leads northeast to the center of Morristown and west 3miles to New Market. Knoxville is to the southwest via Route 11E. Tennessee State Route 92 passes through the west side of Jefferson City, leading north to Rutledge and south 9miles to the center of Dandridge.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson City has a total area of 16.6km2, of which 16.5km2 are land and 0.1km2, or 0.72%, are water.[8] The northwestern boundary of the city touches the southernmost arm of Cherokee Lake, a reservoir on the Holston River.
| Number | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,955 | 82.61% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 304 | 3.61% | |
| Native American | 28 | 0.33% | |
| Asian | 86 | 1.02% | |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.02% | |
| Other/Mixed | 352 | 4.18% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 692 | 8.22% |
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,760 people, 2,821 households, and 1,692 families residing in the city. The population density was 1464sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,155 housing units at an average density of 595.2/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 89.99% White, 6.29% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 2,821 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 25.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,911, and the median income for a family was $33,964. Males had a median income of $28,306 versus $18,739 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,770. About 19.7% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
Jefferson City uses the council-manager government system, which was established in 1901 when the city was incorporated. It is governed by a five-member city council composed of the mayor and four council members.[16]
Jefferson City is represented in the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 17th and 11th districts by Representatives Andrew Farmer and Jeremy Faison respectively, both Republican.[17] [18]
In the Tennessee State Senate, Jefferson City is represented by the 8th district by Republican Frank Niceley.[19]
Jefferson City is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Republican Tim Burchett of the 2nd congressional district.[20]
Public schools in Jefferson City are operated by the Jefferson County Department of Education. Elementary students attend Jefferson Elementary, middle school students attend Jefferson Middle, and high school students attend Jefferson County High School in neighboring Dandridge along with other students in the Jefferson County Schools District.[21]
Carson-Newman University, a private Southern Baptist liberal arts university, is located in Jefferson City adjacent to its downtown district. It was founded in 1851, and has a student enrollment of over 2,500.[22]