Campbell
County
Campbell
County was created in 1806 from Anderson and Claiborne Counties. Campbell
County was named in honor of Col. Arthur Campbell (1743-1811). Col.
Campbell was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and an Officer
during the Revolutionary War.
Native Americans first lived in this area and several settlements have
been excavated. The largest known site was located at present day Cove
Lake State Park. The natural beauty and abundant resources attracted
settlers as early as 1740. Elk, deer, and buffalo were common both in
the richly timbered mountains and wide well-watered valleys. Resources
such as timber and later iron and coal were exploited. While such resources
formed the basis of early industry, agriculture was the primary commercial
activity until the 20th century.
Campbell
County has been marked by steady growth as settlements grew along the
rivers and other routes of travel. This growth was briefly interrupted
during the American Civil War. Staunchly Unionist, Campbell County is
credited with providing the first three (3) companies of Union volunteers
from the state of Tennessee. Campbell County was also the home of Joseph
A. Cooper, who rose to the rank of Maj. General in the Union Army. Major
troop movements by both northern and southern armies passed through
Campbell County but fortunately most ante-bellum homes were spared destruction
and many may still be seen today.
After
the Civil War, life slowly returned to normal. Then in 1936, the
completion of Norris Dam on Campbell County’s southern border
changed Campbell County forever. While many communities were flooded
and farms lost, a beautiful lake with over eight hundred (800)
miles of shoreline was formed. Today Norris Lake is a major tourist
attraction with many modern resorts and fine homes located near
the lake. Due to the creation of Norris Lake, tourism became a
major industry and remains so today. With the construction of
Norris Dam, as part of the WA project, affordable abundant electricity
became available. Today WA is still one of the least expensive
and most reliable suppliers of electricity in the country. |
Campbell
County has produced many notable leaders such as Congressman John Jennings
and J. Will Taylor, Educator Burgin Dossett, Movie star Grace Moore,
Maj. General Joseph A. Cooper, and Four Star General Carl Wade Stiner.
The story of these and many others may be viewed daily free of charge
at the Campbell County Museum and Archives located in LaFollette, Tennessee.
Modern Campbell County offers superb roads such as I-75, abundant inexpensive
electricity, modern schools, two state-of-the-art hospitals, and low
taxes coupled with unspoiled mountain wilderness and eight hundred (800)
miles of pristine shoreline. While Campbell County embraces its Appalachian
heritage, progress leadership is charting a course towards a bright
future.
Caryville
In
1806 the area was known as Wheeler’s Gap and was named so in honor
of the Wheeler family who once owned over three thousand (3,000) acres
in the area. With the construction of a railroad through the area about
1867, the area was called Wheeler’s Station.
A
prominent Wheeler daughter married William Carey. As time passed the
Carey family grew in both numbers and influence. Eventually a vote was
held to choose a new name for the growing town. Caryville beat out Wheelerville
by two votes. Since about 1880, the town has been known as Caryville.
Modern
Caryville is dominated by two features, I-75 and Cove Lake State Park.
I-75 was completed through Caryville in the late 1960’s. This
additional traffic created many new business opportunities. From the
original small town nestled next to the mountain, Caryville today spans
two interstate exits. New homes are being built almost daily as new
business opportunities abound.
Cove
Lake State Park is manmade lake that was constructed in the mid-1930’s
as part of the Norris Basin Project. Although Cove Lake is located next
to I-75, it is still one of the area’s best kept secrets. Cove
Lake State Park is rarely overcrowded and has a charm reminiscent of
a quieter, less hurried time. The crown jewel of the park is the Cove
Lake Restaurant which is a popular destination for locals and visitors
alike. Nestled among the mountains and along a pristine lake, Caryville
is quickly becoming a major tourist destination.
Jacksboro
Jacksboro
is the county seat of Campbell County. In 1808 Col. Hugh Montgomery
deeded sixty (60) acres of land in what was then known as Walnut Cove.
The new town was named Jacksborough in honor of Judge John Jack of Rutledge.
The first school house in Jacksboro was built by John Queener at a cost
of $309.80. Completed about 1860, a later school, known as the Franklin
Academy, was considered one of the best educational institutions in
the area. Jacksboro was occupied by both the North and South during
the Civil War and changed hands on several different occasions. Jacksboro
was briefly the headquarters of General Felix Zollicoffer CSA and also
served as the site of a Civil War hospital.
Numerous
courthouses have occupied the current site with the present courthouse
being a replacement for the one destroyed by fire in 1926. Later additions
and renovations have occurred over the years and today the courthouse
is a modern-up-to-date facility. The courthouse grounds also contain
a monument to WWII veterans as well as a new veterans memorial with
plans to begin construction on a rotunda as part of the veterans memorial
complex.
While
the old part of the City retains its original charm, the City of Jacksboro
is experiencing an ongoing construction boom as new businesses and homes
spring up almost daily. Thus, the Jacksboro of today well represents
the blending of tradition with progress as befits the county seat.
Jellico
Jellico
is named for Angelica root which grows in the area and may be
made into an intoxicating beverage. Until 1883 the area was
called Smithburg because of the number of people named Smith
who lived there. Jellico was first incorporated in 1885. Jellico
has always been a progressive community and once boasted an
opera house and possibly the first commercial airport in Tennessee.
Jellico was the childhood home of Grace Moore, a famous movie
star and opera singer. So fine was her voice that she was called
the Tennessee Nightingale. Jellico sits astride the Tennessee
and Kentucky border with I-75 and US 25W passing through the
City. Jellico has many modern amenities including an excellent
hospital and is near a lovely state park. Today Jellico is a
thriving town poised for continued economic growth.
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LaFollette
Campbell
County’s largest town is also its most recent. LaFollette was
originally built on rolling farm land that had belonged to Laban Sharp,
John Myers, and John Douglas. Formerly the area was known as Big Creek
Gap. Big Creek Gap was a natural pass through the mountains carved by
Big Creek, which passes through the center of old LaFollette. During
the American Civil War both sides fought for and occupied the gap and
some of the trench works are still visible today.
LaFollette
is a rarity in that the City was planned and built from scratch. LaFollette
was named in honor of Harvey M. LaFollette of Indiana who conceived
a bold business venture that included the construction of a City to
support his planned business activities. Iron deposits along with abundant
coal resources attracted Harvey LaFollette to this area where he purchased
over thirty thousand (30,000) acres of land. The LaFollette Coal, Iron
and Railway Company was organized and by 1897 was a growing concern
as part of a thriving city. The LaFollette operation included coke ovens
(some of which are currently being restored by the Campbell County Historical
Society), blast furnace, numerous coal mines, iron mines, railroads,
and of course a thriving city.
Harvey
LaFollette and his family presided over this commercial empire from
their home, Glen Oaks. This lovely Victorian home is still LaFollette’s
largest home with twenty seven (27) rooms. Listed with the National
Register of Historic Properties, the home was designed by the famous
Knoxville architect, George Barber. Although later additions were made,
the original house was shipped by railroad and assembled on site as
a kit home. The house is located on Indiana Avenue near the Campbell
County Museum and Archives.
Economic
boom of the roaring ‘20s and most operations ceased around 1926.
LaFollette
absorbed the loss of its primary business and continued to thrive, in
part due to US 25W, also knows as the Dixie Highway, which passes through
LaFollette. Over the year’s of progressive leadership and planning
have kept LaFollette a thriving community with all the modern amenities
expected of a progressive city. These amenities include a modern water
treatment system, recently renovated hospital, and modern schools. LaFollette
is located only minutes from mountains or Norris Lake and explains why
today LaFollette is a major tourist destination.
