The first recorded settlers arrived in present-day Jefferson County in 1783. The first county seat was organized in 1793, making Dandridge the second oldest city in Tennessee. Dandridge is also the only town in the nation named in honor of Martha Dandridge Washington, First Lady of George Washington.

The Jefferson County Museum & Archives are maintained in the County Courthouse in Dandridge. The courthouse was built in 1845 in the Greek Revival architectural style and is one of the oldest courthouses still in use today. The museum originated from the work of Reverend Reuel B. Pritchett in 1956. Some of the most popular exhibits are a reproduction of the marriage bond signed by Davy Crockett for his marriage to Polly Findley, and other items from Crockett’s life. Residents of Jefferson County also donate objects from different periods of American history, such as war memorabilia, to the museum.

Jefferson City, with a present-day population of more than 7,000, was known originally as Mossy Creek for the vivid green moss growing on the banks of the creek. The name was changed in 1901 to Jefferson City in honor of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson City is the largest city in Jefferson County and home to Carson-Newman College.

White Pine is home to more than 2,000 people and is the second largest city in Jefferson County. Originally known as Dandridge Crossing, the name was changed to White Pine in 1872 when Postmaster Esquire Richard White saw a very tall white pine while trying to think of a name for the new post office. White Pine is home to the East Tennessee Progress Center, the Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center, corporate offices for ATWORK and a Clayton Homes manufacturing facility. The community also offers easy access to I-81, I-40 and US Highway 25-E.

The Jefferson County School District oversees five K-5 schools, two K-8 schools, two 6-8 schools and one high school. The mission of Jefferson County School District is “to develop twenty-first century citizens who are well prepared socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and psychologically to live confidently in a technologically advanced multi-cultural society.” Therefore, students are taught to be values oriented, career directed, wellness conscious, skillful and creative in critical thinking, culturally sophisticated and understanding of global interdependence. The Jefferson County School District ensures that graduates go immediately into the work world, technical training, or to a college or university. This unique policy contributes directly to the county’s extremely low unemployment rate.

The Carson-Newman College is Jefferson County’s most prestigious post-secondary school. Founded by the Baptists of East Tennessee in 1851, it is a small, Christian campus where students are able to interact closely with faculty. US News and World Report named Carson-Newman one of the South's top ten regional liberal arts schools in a ranking based on academic reputation, student selection, faculty and financial resources, graduation rate and alumni satisfaction. The college offers more than 50 professional programs in engineering, law, medical records administration, physical therapy, pharmacy and other health sciences.

Thanks to its location near two large lakes, Jefferson County features abundant opportunities for water recreation. The shores of Douglas and Cherokee lakes have several access areas, boat docks, campgrounds and parks. Both lakes also have fish populations similar to those found in other East Tennessee Reservoirs, namely Black Bass, Sauger, Walleye and Crappie.

Jefferson County is home to the Baneberry Golf and Resort, the Dandridge Golf and Country Club, the Lost Creek Golf Club and the Patriot Hills Golf Club, all of which provide a minimum of 18 excellent holes of golf. Numerous clubs and societies are also available in Jefferson County, such as civic clubs, historical societies, senior citizen groups and outdoor clubs. Other miscellaneous clubs include the Jefferson County Craft Association, the Jefferson County Neighborhood Center, the Martha Dandridge Garden Club and the Sans Souci Club.

Jefferson County is one of East Tennessee’s fastest growing counties. Its tremendous recent growth is due in part to its strategic location at the junction of interstates 40 and 81, where 70% of the U.S. population is within one day’s drive. In addition, the county has railroad access, low utility costs, a good labor force and very low taxes. These benefits have led to an impressive list of companies that have chosen Jefferson County as their home, including Appalachian Door Co., Ball Corporation, Clayton Homes, Pinnacle Steel Processing, Smoky Mountain Knife Works Inc. and Specialty Defense Systems. The county’s strong economic performance has earned it the Governor's Three Star Award for economic preparedness and community development for more than 18 years in a row.

Jefferson County has access to commercial air service at McGhee Tyson Airport, located 36 miles away. Non-commercial air service is available from Morristown Airport in Hamblen County, which is only seven miles away. The Tri-Cities Regional Airport is located north on Interstate 81. The Northfolk/Southern Railroad provides rail service and Greyhound Bus Lines provides passenger bus service to and from Jefferson County, with 7 arrivals and departures daily.

There are more than enough annual events in Jefferson County to keep residents occupied every month of the year. Some of the more famous annual events include the White Pine Ruritan Pancake Breakfast, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Annual Festival of British and Appalachian Culture, the Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival, the June Jubilee and numerous city Christmas parades. In addition, numerous fishing and golfing tournaments take place throughout the year.

With low property taxes, a strong economy, outstanding schools and an excellent quality of life, Jefferson County lives up to the proposition that “we can't give you the whole world, just the best parts.”

Jefferson County Real Estate

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