Morristown, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat
of, Hamblen County, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson
counties. The Morristown metropolitan area is also a part of the Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette, TN Combined Statistical Area
.
, a short-lived semi-autonomous
settlement located in northeast Tennessee
that was originally leased from the resident Cherokee
tribes during the 1770s.
Records in North Carolina indicate that the Morris clan moved to the Watauga Settlement from North Carolina
. According to Cora Davis Brooks, author of "History of Morristown 1787 - 1936":
The settlement founded by Gideon has, as far as it has been noted, always been called Morristown. No known records exist demonstrating land grants in the area to anyone aside from Gideon and his extended family. Jefferson County, TN., which is due west from Hamblen County, possesses a record in the Jefferson County Court House of the results of the execution of Gideon Morris's will, which includes property deeded to John Morris in 1817 for a 400 acre (1.6 km²) tract of land originally granted to Gideon by the State of North Carolina, and presumably comprising only a portion of the original grant due to the known size of the Morris family at that time. The record further details the fact that Gideon lived on the 400 acre (1.6 km²) tract of land until his death, and the inference that he was buried in the Morris family graveyard ends the record.
The Morris family graveyard was, logically, located near to the original family home. It is easy to find, located on what is now called East Louise Avenue a bit south of Main Street in east Morristown, southeast of the Morristown-Hamblen Library. Today it consists of a single acre (4,000 m²) enclosed by a fence of iron, and has a simple sign affixed to its gate with nothing more than 'Morris' on the plate. The oldest date recorded on the burial slabs is for one John Morris, born in 1770. His wife, Rachel, is recorded nearby as having been born in 1786. Another notable stone marks the resting place of Mary Spoon, listed as born in 1779 and died in 1882, which would make her over one-hundred and three years old at the time of death.
Gideon was known to have had three sons with him when he arrived in the area of present-day Morristown. Their names are recorded as John, Gideon, and Shadrack.
One daughter of Gideon's by name of Elizabeth, is listed in official records as having married a man with the name of Hurst, and their son was James Hurst. At the present time, the name Hurst is fairly common in Hamblen and surrounding counties, with many of those bearing the name in prominent positions in those counties.
According to the 2010 Census, the city has a total area of 20.9 square miles (54.1 km²).Some of the area is covered with water, specifically Cherokee Lake
, an artificial reservoir built by the Tennessee Valley Authority
in the 1940s.
was 1,194.7 people per square mile (461.2/km²). There were 12,705 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile (203.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.5% White, 15.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.3% of other races
.
There were 11,412 households out of which 22.5% had children under 17 years of age living with them, 45.2% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.85% under 17 years of age, 9.45% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,005, and the median income for a family was $33,391. Males had a median income of $26,724 versus $20,515 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,894. About 14.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of, Hamblen County, 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 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area
Morristown metropolitan area
The Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties - Grainger, Hamblen, and Jefferson - in eastern Tennessee, anchored by the city of Morristown. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 123,081...
, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Tennessee
*...
counties. The Morristown metropolitan area is also a part of the Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette, TN Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
.
Early settlement
The first European settler of what eventually became Morristown was a farmer named Gideon Morris. It is recorded in Goodspeed's "History of Tennessee" that Gideon, along with an unspecified number of his siblings, arrived in the area of present-day Morristown from the Watauga SettlementWatauga Association
The Watauga Association was a semi-autonomous government created in 1772 by frontier settlers living along the Watauga River in what is now present day Elizabethton, Tennessee...
, a short-lived semi-autonomous
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
settlement located in northeast Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
that was originally leased from the resident Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
tribes during the 1770s.
Records in North Carolina indicate that the Morris clan moved to the Watauga Settlement from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. According to Cora Davis Brooks, author of "History of Morristown 1787 - 1936":
- "Gideon Morris was listed as one of the signers of the petition to annex Watauga to North Carolina in 1775, and in the Fall of the same year he served in Colonel Christian's expedition against the Indians. (N. C. Colonial Records, Vol. 10, p. 708) ( King's Mountain Men by Miss Kate White.)"
- "In 1778 Gideon Morris appeared in court and swore allegiance ('History of South-west Virginia', by Summers). Lands were granted by the State of North Carolina to Gideon Morris in Washington, Greene and Hawkins counties. He probably settled on portions of these grants either in 1787 or 1791, which was included in Jefferson county and now in Hamblen county."
The settlement founded by Gideon has, as far as it has been noted, always been called Morristown. No known records exist demonstrating land grants in the area to anyone aside from Gideon and his extended family. Jefferson County, TN., which is due west from Hamblen County, possesses a record in the Jefferson County Court House of the results of the execution of Gideon Morris's will, which includes property deeded to John Morris in 1817 for a 400 acre (1.6 km²) tract of land originally granted to Gideon by the State of North Carolina, and presumably comprising only a portion of the original grant due to the known size of the Morris family at that time. The record further details the fact that Gideon lived on the 400 acre (1.6 km²) tract of land until his death, and the inference that he was buried in the Morris family graveyard ends the record.
The Morris family graveyard was, logically, located near to the original family home. It is easy to find, located on what is now called East Louise Avenue a bit south of Main Street in east Morristown, southeast of the Morristown-Hamblen Library. Today it consists of a single acre (4,000 m²) enclosed by a fence of iron, and has a simple sign affixed to its gate with nothing more than 'Morris' on the plate. The oldest date recorded on the burial slabs is for one John Morris, born in 1770. His wife, Rachel, is recorded nearby as having been born in 1786. Another notable stone marks the resting place of Mary Spoon, listed as born in 1779 and died in 1882, which would make her over one-hundred and three years old at the time of death.
Gideon was known to have had three sons with him when he arrived in the area of present-day Morristown. Their names are recorded as John, Gideon, and Shadrack.
One daughter of Gideon's by name of Elizabeth, is listed in official records as having married a man with the name of Hurst, and their son was James Hurst. At the present time, the name Hurst is fairly common in Hamblen and surrounding counties, with many of those bearing the name in prominent positions in those counties.
Geography
Morristown is located at coordinates: 36°12′38"N 83°17′46"W (36.210615, -83.296141).According to the 2010 Census, the city has a total area of 20.9 square miles (54.1 km²).Some of the area is covered with water, specifically Cherokee Lake
Cherokee Reservoir
Cherokee Reservoir, also known as Cherokee Lake, is a reservoir in Tennessee formed by the impoundment of the Holston River behind Cherokee Dam.The reservoir has a surface area of about , a flood-storage capacity of , and nearly of shoreline...
, an artificial reservoir built by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
in the 1940s.
Demographics
The 2010 census listed the following: 29,137 people, 11,412 households, and 7,278 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 1,194.7 people per square mile (461.2/km²). There were 12,705 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile (203.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.5% White, 15.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.3% of other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
.
There were 11,412 households out of which 22.5% had children under 17 years of age living with them, 45.2% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.85% under 17 years of age, 9.45% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,005, and the median income for a family was $33,391. Males had a median income of $26,724 versus $20,515 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 $15,894. About 14.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
Usage in popular culture
- The movie The Evil DeadThe Evil DeadThe Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
was filmed in Morristown off of Kidwell's Ridge Road. The cabin featured in the film has since burned down, though the chimney remains.
- The movie Morristown: A Ballerina Love StoryMorristown: A Ballerina Love StoryMorristown is a dance film released by Brandenburg Films in 2008. The film was written, and directed by Christo Garcia. It was co-produced by Christo Garcia and Mark Chervinsky...
was filmed in Morristown.
- The movie Five Across the EyesFive Across the Eyes (film)Five Across the Eyes is a suspense/horror film directed by Greg Swinson and Ryan Thiessen and produced by Trauma One Entertainment. It was shot in 2005 in Morristown, TN and neighboring Greene County, TN.- Plot :...
was filmed in Morristown.
Sports
- In 1985 and 1987, Morristown had teams qualify for the Little League World SeriesLittle League World SeriesThe Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
; the 1985 team finished third. The two Morristown teams, one from Nashville (1970) and one from the city of Jackson (1974), are the only Tennessee teams to advance to the series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
- In 2007, Morristown won the Little League Softball World Series.
Notable natives and residents
- Michael Abbott, Jr. - Stage and screen actor. Appeared as Cleaman Hayes in the award winning film Shotgun StoriesShotgun StoriesShotgun Stories is a 2007 drama film about a feud between two sets of half-brothers following the death of their father in rural Arkansas. The film was written and directed by Jeff Nichols, and stars Michael Shannon, Barlow Jacobs, and Glenda Pannell....
. - Davy CrockettDavy CrockettDavid "Davy" Crockett was a celebrated 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier". He represented Tennessee in the U.S...
– Pioneer; grew up in and around Morristown, born in nearby Greene County, Tennessee. - Mike Ford – NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
crew chief for Denny HamlinDenny HamlinJames Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract... - Elaine HendrixElaine HendrixElaine Hendrix is an American actress, producer, singer, dancer, and activist. She is best known for her roles in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, Inspector Gadget 2, and the 2004 documentary What the Bleep Do We Know!?....
– Animal rights activist and award-winning TV/movie actress; attended middle and high school in Morristown. - Tim HornerTim HornerTim Horner is a professional wrestler best known for his "Lightning Express" tag team with Brad Armstrong.-Career:Tim Horner started wrestling in 1982 in the Alabama territory. He formed a tag team called the "Lightning Express" with Brad Armstrong and they had a lot of success. They won the...
– Professional wrestler. - Josiah Leming – Contestant in the seventh season of American IdolAmerican Idol (season 7)The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
who was eliminated in the top 50 but subsequently signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. - Frankie RandallFrankie Randall-External links:...
– Boxing star first to beat Julio César Chávez; has held 3 world titles; was raised in Morristown. - James "Little Man" Stewart – NFL player from 1995–2003, for the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
; was raised in Morristown and played for Morristown Hamblen High School West and the University of TennesseeUniversity of TennesseeThe University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... - Uncle Am StuartUncle Am StuartAmbrose Gaines "Uncle Am" Stuart was an American Old-time fiddle player. After winning various fiddle contests across the Southern Appalachian region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Stuart made several recordings in June 1924 that would later prove influential in the development of...
– early Country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
fiddle player - Jane WagnerJane WagnerJane Wagner is an American writer, director and producer. Wagner is best known as Lily Tomlin's comedy writer, collaborator and life partner....
– Playwright and actress who wrote The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe - John A. WillisJohn A. WillisJohn Alvin Willis was an American theatre and film book editor, theatre awards producer, actor, and educator. He is best known for editing the long-running annual publications Theatre World and Screen World....
– Theatre and film book editor, theatre awards producer, actor, and educator. He is best known for editing the long-running annual publications Theatre WorldTheatre WorldTheatre World is the oldest , pictorial and statistical record of American theatre, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theatre, as well as a complete national theatrical awards section and obituaries...
and Screen World.
Education
- Morristown-Hamblen High School EastMorristown-Hamblen High School EastMorristown-Hamblen High School East is a secondary school located in Morristown, Tennessee. The school incorporates grades 9-12. Their mascot is the Hurricane and the school colors are orange and black. The school had an enrollment over 1,400 students as of the 2009-2010 school year...
- Morristown-Hamblen High School WestMorristown-Hamblen High School WestMorristown-Hamblen High School West is a secondary school located in Morristown, Tennessee. The school incorporates grades 9-12. Their mascot is the Trojan and the school colors are crimson and white. The school had an enrollment over 1,600 students as of the 2010-11 school year. Dr...
- Main campus of Walters State Community CollegeWalters State Community CollegeWalters State Community College is a state-supported community college operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It was established in 1970 in located Morristown, Tennessee and was named in honor of former United States Senator Herbert S...
- Satellite campus of King CollegeKing CollegeKing College is a private, comprehensive college located in Bristol, Tennessee. Founded in 1867, King is independently governed with covenant affiliations to the Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ....
Further reading
- Brooks, Cora Davis. "History of Morristown 1787 - 1936" 1936.
- Hill, Howard. "The Morristown-Hamblen Library"