State Route 56 (Tennessee)
Encyclopedia
State Route 56 is a 164-mile (265 km) highway that runs south to north in Middle Tennessee
.
Starting at the northern border, TN-56 is considered a secondary road; at the Kentucky
state line, it terminates with KY-63. From there it starts its southern journey through the small town of Red Boiling Springs
and on to the town of Gainesboro
in Jackson County. It there becomes a primary route and a division of the Tennessee Scenic Parkway system, and it proceeds south to U.S. Route 70 N
just outside of Baxter
in Putnam County
.
Before Interstate 40
was built in the 1960s, TN-56 went directly through the town of Baxter and proceeded down what is now the Old Baxter Road to Silver Point and then to Smithville
. After the interstate came through, a spur route was built to intersect with Exit 280 (the Baxter - Gainesboro exit) that bypasses Baxter. Also, the route from I-40 to Gainesboro is known to Upper Cumberland
residents as part of the Corridor J
project. At the junction of I-40 and TN-56, TN-56 accompanies I-40 west for 7 miles (11.3 km). At Exit 273 (Smithville - McMinnville exit) TN-56 proceeds south towards Smithville
and then to McMinnville
in Warren County. This stretch of road between I-40 and Smithville was notorious for terrible curves prior to the late 1970s, but it was rebuilt and is now considered a good route to follow. Some refer to this route as the I-40 to I-24
corridor. In McMinnville, drivers can travel west on State Route 55 to Manchester
to reach I-24. Beyond McMinnville, TN-56 once again is considered a secondary route. It goes through Altamont
, Tracey City
, and then terminates in Monteagle, Tennessee
at U.S. Route 41
and Interstate 24
.
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee....
.
Starting at the northern border, TN-56 is considered a secondary road; at the Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
state line, it terminates with KY-63. From there it starts its southern journey through the small town of Red Boiling Springs
Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee
Red Boiling Springs is a city in Macon County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,023 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Red Boiling Springs is located at ....
and on to the town of Gainesboro
Gainesboro, Tennessee
Gainesboro is a town in Jackson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 879 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.Gainesboro is part of the Cookeville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in Jackson County. It there becomes a primary route and a division of the Tennessee Scenic Parkway system, and it proceeds south to U.S. Route 70 N
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
just outside of Baxter
Baxter, Tennessee
Baxter is a town in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,279 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cookeville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.Though this is a small town it had its few minutes of fame when the little family store was featured in "Coal Miner's...
in Putnam County
Putnam County, Tennessee
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 62,315, a 21 percent increase from 1990. The was 72,321, an increase of 16.1% since 2000...
.
Before Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
was built in the 1960s, TN-56 went directly through the town of Baxter and proceeded down what is now the Old Baxter Road to Silver Point and then to Smithville
Smithville, Tennessee
Smithville is a city in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of De Kalb County.-Geography:...
. After the interstate came through, a spur route was built to intersect with Exit 280 (the Baxter - Gainesboro exit) that bypasses Baxter. Also, the route from I-40 to Gainesboro is known to Upper Cumberland
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the...
residents as part of the Corridor J
Appalachian Development Highway System
The Appalachian Development Highway System is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission in the United States. See: .-History:...
project. At the junction of I-40 and TN-56, TN-56 accompanies I-40 west for 7 miles (11.3 km). At Exit 273 (Smithville - McMinnville exit) TN-56 proceeds south towards Smithville
Smithville, Tennessee
Smithville is a city in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of De Kalb County.-Geography:...
and then to McMinnville
McMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,605 at the 2010 census...
in Warren County. This stretch of road between I-40 and Smithville was notorious for terrible curves prior to the late 1970s, but it was rebuilt and is now considered a good route to follow. Some refer to this route as the I-40 to I-24
Interstate 24
Interstate 24 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It runs diagonally from Interstate 57 to Chattanooga, Tennessee, at Interstate 75....
corridor. In McMinnville, drivers can travel west on State Route 55 to Manchester
Manchester, Tennessee
Manchester is a city in Coffee County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,102 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Coffee County...
to reach I-24. Beyond McMinnville, TN-56 once again is considered a secondary route. It goes through Altamont
Altamont, Tennessee
Altamont is a town in Grundy County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grundy County.-Geography:...
, Tracey City
Tracy City, Tennessee
Tracy City is a town in Grundy County, Tennessee, United States. Incorporated in 1915, the population was 1,481 at the 2010 census. Named after Benjamin Franklin Tracy, the city developed out of railroad and mining interests after coal was found in 1840. Tracy City is also home to the oldest family...
, and then terminates in Monteagle, Tennessee
Monteagle, Tennessee
Monteagle is a town in Franklin, Grundy, and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, in the Cumberland Plateau region of the southeastern part of the state...
at U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
and Interstate 24
Interstate 24
Interstate 24 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It runs diagonally from Interstate 57 to Chattanooga, Tennessee, at Interstate 75....
.
Counties traversed (north to south)
- Macon — 17.37 mi (28 km)
- Jackson — 27.37 mi (44 km)
- PutnamPutnam County, TennesseePutnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 62,315, a 21 percent increase from 1990. The was 72,321, an increase of 16.1% since 2000...
— 6.05 mi (9.7 km) - DeKalb — 20.2 mi (32.5 km)
- Warren — 24.88 mi (40 km)
- Grundy — 33.88 mi (54.5 km)
- MarionMarion County, TennesseeMarion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 27,776. Its county seat is Jasper.Marion County is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
— 0.01 mi (0.0160934 km) - FranklinFranklin County, TennesseeFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 41,052. Its county seat is Winchester.Franklin County is part of the Tullahoma, Tennessee, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
— 16.55 mi (26.6 km)