Jellico, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Jellico is a city in Campbell County
, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.
in the Elk Creek Valley, which runs perpendicular to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Jellico spans the western bases and slopes of three steep hills that split the Elk Creek Valley from the larger Clear Fork Valley to the east. A prominent knob known as Indian Mountain rises nearly 1000 feet (304.8 m) above Jellico to the west, and is visible from most anywhere in the city. The larger Jellico Mountain dominates the area beyond Indian Mountain to the west, and Pine Mountain dominates the area beyond the Clear Fork Valley to the east.
Jellico is centered around the junction of U.S. Route 25W (North Main Street and 5th Street), which connects Jellico to Interstate 75
to the southeast and Corbin, Kentucky
to the north, and Tennessee State Route 97 (South Main Street), which connects Jellico with Huntsville, Tennessee
to the southwest. The Tennessee-Kentucky state line forms Jellico's official northern boundary, although houses and businesses associated with the city are on both sides of the border.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.58%) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,448 people, 1,022 households, and 657 families residing in the city. The population density
was 561.7 people per square mile (216.8/km²). There were 1,105 housing units at an average density of 253.5 per square mile (97.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.24% White, 1.96% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 1,022 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% 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 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,303, and the median income for a family was $25,709. Males had a median income of $27,619 versus $16,953 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,587. About 28.8% of families and 31.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.3% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.
The name "Jellico" is a regional corruption of "Angelica", an herb that grows in abundance in the surrounding mountains. The name was first applied to the mountains to the west and to the mountains' main drainage, Jellico Creek, which empties into the Cumberland River
near Williamsburg, Kentucky
. In the early 1880s, a high quality bituminous coal
was discovered in the Jellico Mountains, and with the completion of railroad tracks to the area in 1883, coal mines quickly sprang up throughout the area. The city of Jellico was initially founded as Smithburg in 1878, but changed its name to "Jellico" in 1883 to capitalize on the growing popularity of Jellico coal. The city was incorporated on March 7, 1883.
Throughout the 1890s and early 1900s, Jellico was one of the most productive coal fields in Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1906, a railroad car packed with dynamite exploded in Jellico, killing eight and destroying part of the town. The town quickly recovered, however, and many of the buildings in the Main Street area date from this recovery period. In 1999, much of North and South Main Street was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
as the Jellico Commercial Historic District.
, a holiness Pentecostal Christian denomination.
, soprano star of opera, musical theatre, and film.
Campbell County, Tennessee
Campbell County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 40,716. Its county seat is Jacksboro. The Census Bureau has identified the county as a Micropolitan Statistical Area, designated the LaFollette Micropolitan Statistical Area for the largest...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Jellico is located at 36°34′57"N 84°7′50"W (36.582627, -84.130608). The city is situated amidst the Cumberland MountainsCumberland Mountains
The Cumberland Mountains are a mountain range in the southeastern section of the Appalachian Mountains. They are located in southern West Virginia, western Virginia, eastern edges of Kentucky, and eastern middle Tennessee, including the Crab Orchard Mountains...
in the Elk Creek Valley, which runs perpendicular to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Jellico spans the western bases and slopes of three steep hills that split the Elk Creek Valley from the larger Clear Fork Valley to the east. A prominent knob known as Indian Mountain rises nearly 1000 feet (304.8 m) above Jellico to the west, and is visible from most anywhere in the city. The larger Jellico Mountain dominates the area beyond Indian Mountain to the west, and Pine Mountain dominates the area beyond the Clear Fork Valley to the east.
Jellico is centered around the junction of U.S. Route 25W (North Main Street and 5th Street), which connects Jellico to Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
to the southeast and Corbin, Kentucky
Corbin, Kentucky
- Economy :Originally formed by L&N Railroad, rail transport was the backbone of the local economy in the first half of the twentieth century. While the railroad continues to play an important role, the decline of the rail industry in the latter half of the twentieth century, as well as the loss...
to the north, and Tennessee State Route 97 (South Main Street), which connects Jellico with Huntsville, Tennessee
Huntsville, Tennessee
Huntsville is a town in Scott County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Scott County.-Geography:...
to the southwest. The Tennessee-Kentucky state line forms Jellico's official northern boundary, although houses and businesses associated with the city are on both sides of the border.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.58%) is water.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,448 people, 1,022 households, and 657 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 561.7 people per square mile (216.8/km²). There were 1,105 housing units at an average density of 253.5 per square mile (97.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.24% White, 1.96% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 1,022 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% 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 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,303, and the median income for a family was $25,709. Males had a median income of $27,619 versus $16,953 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,587. About 28.8% of families and 31.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.3% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
near Williamsburg, Kentucky
Williamsburg, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,143 people, 1,928 households, and 1,127 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,102.5 people per square mile . There were 2,118 housing units at an average density of 454.0 per square mile...
. In the early 1880s, a high quality bituminous coal
Bituminous coal
Bituminous coal or black coal is a relatively soft coal containing a tarlike substance called bitumen. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than Anthracite...
was discovered in the Jellico Mountains, and with the completion of railroad tracks to the area in 1883, coal mines quickly sprang up throughout the area. The city of Jellico was initially founded as Smithburg in 1878, but changed its name to "Jellico" in 1883 to capitalize on the growing popularity of Jellico coal. The city was incorporated on March 7, 1883.
Throughout the 1890s and early 1900s, Jellico was one of the most productive coal fields in Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1906, a railroad car packed with dynamite exploded in Jellico, killing eight and destroying part of the town. The town quickly recovered, however, and many of the buildings in the Main Street area date from this recovery period. In 1999, much of North and South Main Street was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the Jellico Commercial Historic District.
Religion
Since 1922, Jellico has been the home of the denominational headquarters for the Church of God Mountain AssemblyChurch of God Mountain Assembly
The Church of God, Mountain Assembly is a holiness pentecostal Christian body formed in 1906, with roots in the late 19th century American holiness movement and early 20th century Pentecostal revival...
, a holiness Pentecostal Christian denomination.
Notable people
Jellico was the childhood home of Grace MooreGrace Moore
Grace Moore was an American operatic soprano and actress in musical theatre and film. She was nicknamed the "Tennessee Nightingale." Her films helped to popularize opera by bringing it to a larger audience.-Early life:...
, soprano star of opera, musical theatre, and film.
External links
- Jellico, Tennessee — official site
- Jellico Photo Album — old and recent photographs of Jellico