History comes to life in this 18th-centurytown.Its well-preserved Main Street will take you on a beautiful journey through the past. Jonesboroughis proud of its diverse history and the people who’ve made Tennessee’s Oldest Town so special. Today, we continue to celebrateculture, heritage and history through education, events, and preserved architecture.
Warner Institute Students
Jonesborough’s past has crafted the beautiful, diverse, and vibrant patchwork for who we are today. Below is a sneak peek into what you’ll uncover through the rich history of Tennessee’s Oldest Town.
One of our favorite stories of Jonesborough’s welcoming nature dates back to 1843. Merchants Herman Cone and his brother-in-law Jacob Adler arrived in Jonesborough with a small, covered wagon. Cone and Adler, two Jewish immigrants from Bavaria (Germany), tried to set up shop in Virginia but were met with discrimination. They moved their families with what little they had to Jonesborough and started a new chapter. The Town welcomed them and the merchants established a very successful business across the street from the Chester Inn on Main Street. Warm welcomes remain ever-present in modern-day Jonesborough.
The McKinney legend lives on today, but do you know how it began? In 1968, on the same day that Martin Luther King, Jr.wasassassinated in Memphis, Ernest McKinney was electedas analderman in Jonesborough. Mr. McKinney was the first African American to be elected to the Board of Mayor and Alderman. His wife, Marion McKinney,was instrumental in the fight to desegregate Washington County Schools. In 1988, their son, Kevin McKinney,was the first African American to be elected as Jonesborough’s Mayor.
In 1973, a local teacher, Jimmy Neil Smith, pulled a hay wagon into the shadow of the courthouse and invited Appalachian storytellers to share their stories. No one knew it at the time, but a renaissance was about to ignite. From these humble beginnings, the International Storytelling Festival was born. The Festival takes place on the first full weekend of October. During those three days of storytelling, over 15,000 visit Jonesborough to listen and share.
We invite you to dive deep into the rich stories from our past and the people who shaped Jonesborough today. You’ll discover stories of a courageous buffalo solider, the autonomous Lost State of Franklin, and Jonesborough’s first female Mayor.
FAQs
The oldest town in Tennessee, Jonesborough was chartered by the State of North Carolina in 1779 and laid out in 1780. Named for Willie Jones, a resident of Halifax, North Carolina, who supported the western settlements, the town served as capital of the State of Franklin in 1784-85.
What is the first oldest town in Tennessee? ›
1779 Jonesborough is Established
Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee, is established seventeen years before Tennessee was granted statehood.
What is the oldest house in Jonesborough Tennessee? ›
Rees' court duties, Mr. Rees constructed the heart of the Hawley House commencing in May 1790. Construction dates were confirmed by the Department of the Interior using carbon dating techniques. Thus, the Hawley House is the oldest standing structure in Jonesborough.
What is the elevation in Jonesborough Tennessee? ›
Who were the first white settlers in Tennessee? ›
William Bean, a longhunter who settled in a log cabin near present-day Johnson City in 1769, is traditionally accepted as the first permanent European American settler in Tennessee.
What's the second oldest town in Tennessee? ›
Visit Dandridge, Tennessee's second oldest town, and stroll down the sidewalks through history! Historic Dandridge bears the distinction of being the only town in the United States name after Martha Dandridge Washington, wife of our first President, George Washington.
What is the top secret town in Tennessee? ›
That's because this secret WAS an entire city. A city that didn't exist when Pearl Harbor was bombed and was built entirely by the government in 1942: Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Before 1942, Oak Ridge looked like the landscape often seen in East Tennessee: large plots of land with many hills and valleys.
Is there a ghost town in Tennessee? ›
For all of its charms and beauty, though, Elmont is probably best known as the abandoned town of the Smokies, a place that was once a booming logging camp and resort town for wealthy vacationers that slowly became a ghost town.
Who is Jonesborough TN named after? ›
The northeast town of Jonesborough was founded in 1779, seventeen years before Tennessee became a state in 1796. It was named after Willie Jones, a North Carolina legislator who supported westward expansion over the Appalachian Mountains.
When was Jonesborough established? ›
History. Located in the far northeast corner of the state, Jonesborough was founded by European Americans in 1779, 17 years before Tennessee became a state and while the area was under the jurisdiction of North Carolina.
Jonesborough is a suburb of with a population of 5,891. Jonesborough is in Washington County and is one of the best places to live in Tennessee. Living in Jonesborough offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes.
What are the demographics of Jonesborough Tennessee? ›
Jonesborough Demographics
White: 86.59% Asian: 5.09% Two or more races: 3.96% Black or African American: 3.87%
What city in Tennessee has the highest elevation? ›
It is the northeasternmost county seat in Tennessee. In addition, at an elevation of 2,418 feet (737 m), it has the distinction of being the highest incorporated city in the state. Location of Mountain City in Johnson County, Tennessee.
Which town in Tennessee is known as the birthplace of? ›
In 1998 the United States Congress recognized Bristol as the “Birthplace of Country Music”.
What were the first four settlements in Tennessee? ›
By the early 1770s, four different communities had been established in northeastern Tennessee—on the Watauga River, the North Holston, the Nolichucky, and in Carter's Valley. The settlers claimed that they were living on land that was part of Virginia, but a land survey showed that claim to be false.
