Greeneville, Tennessee

Greeneville is a small town in and seat of Greene County, in northeastern Tennessee. It covers 14 sq mi (36.4 sq km) and has a population of 15,000 people (2011 estimate). It is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, about 1,519 ft (463 m) above sea level.

Greeneville, Tennessee
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_from_Main_Street,_Greeneville,_Tennessee.jpg
Author: Casey Nicholson


Greeneville was named after American Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. The area has been a hunting and camping ground for Native Americans for thousands of years, going back to the Paleo-Indian period (c. 10,000 BC). A permanent European settlement was established here in 1772. The area drew settlers who were veterans of the American Revolutionary War, leading to it being named in honor of their hero. At that time, Greeneville was part of the state of North Carolina.

In 1784, with its debts mounting, North Carolina attempted to get out of debts by turning over the area west of the Appalachian Mountains, including Greene County, to the Federal Government. Delegates in the area decided to create a state, to be known as Franklin, in honor of Benjamin Franklin, with Greeneville as the state capital. However the state of Franklin did not materialize, and North Carolina reasserted its control over the area.

In 1796, when the state of Tennessee was created, it includes the area of North Carolina known as Washington District. This includes Greene County.

Perhaps the most famous American to live in Greeneville was Andrew Johnson, who served as the 17th President of the United States. Today the sites in Greeneville association with Johnson is designated the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site. Another famous personality was Davy Crockett, a frontiersman born in nearby Limestone.

Visiting Greeneville

If coming from the south, take Interstate 81 to Exit 23 then continue on W Andrew Johnson Highway (US Highway 11E). If coming from the north, turn off Interstate 81 at Exit 36 and continue south on Baileyton Road (Tennessee State Route 172) until you reach Greeneville.

Places of Interest in Greeneville

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