The Bald Mountains are a mountain range rising along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina in the southeastern United States. They are part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Province of the Southern Appalachian Mountains . The Bald Mountains stretch from the Pigeon River in the south to the Nolichucky River in the north, and comprise parts of Cocke County , Greene County , and Unicoi County in Tennessee and parts of Madison County and Yancey County in North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains border the range to the south, and the Unakas rise opposite the Nolichucky to the north. The range gets its name from the relatively frequent occurrence of grassy balds atop the more prominent summits.
26-727: The Cherokee National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest protect substantial sections of the Bald Mountains. The Appalachian Trail traverses the crest of the range. Populated areas within the range include Erwin and Del Rio in Tennessee and Hot Springs in North Carolina. The highest summit in the Bald Mountains is Big Bald followed by big bald shaft of purple dome, which rises to an elevation of 5,516 feet (1,681 m). This article about
52-584: A Republican stronghold since the Civil War. No National Democratic candidate has won the county since 1856 , though Lyndon Johnson came within 359 votes of Barry Goldwater in 1964 and Jimmy Carter came within 819 votes of Gerald Ford in 1976. Franklin Roosevelt is the only other Democrat to even cross the 40 percent mark. The only time the Republicans have failed to win the county since 1868 ,
78-480: A female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.85. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.30% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
104-567: A fourteenth state prior to Kentucky and Vermont 's admissions into the union. The county reverted to North Carolina control, however, following the failure of the Franklin state government in 1788. In 1790 the area became part of Southwest Territory , and afterward it was admitted to the Union in 1796 as the 16th state. Jonesboro , the county seat of Washington County, is Tennessee's oldest town. With many buildings restored, it comprises one of
130-529: A location in Madison County , North Carolina is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a location in Yancey County , North Carolina is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Cocke County, Tennessee geography–related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Greene County, Tennessee geography–related article
156-544: A railway center. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 330 square miles (850 km ), of which 326 square miles (840 km ) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km ) (1.0%) is water. The western portion of the county is situated in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , which are characterized by long, narrow ridges roughly oriented northeast-to-southwest. The county's most prominent Ridge-and-Valley features rise in
182-414: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Unicoi County, Tennessee geography–related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Cherokee National Forest The Cherokee National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. states of Tennessee and North Carolina that was created on June 14, 1920. The forest is maintained and managed by
208-855: Is home to mammalian species such as black bear , raccoon , coyote , skunk , opossum , beaver , two species of squirrel, bobcat , chipmunk , river otter , two species of fox, woodchuck , and white-tailed deer . Birdwatchers commonly view species of juncos , mourning doves , chimney swifts , eastern phoebes , barn swallows , blue jays , indigo buntings , cardinals , towhees , sparrows , chickadees , and warblers . Raptors include turkey vultures , hawks , eagles , and peregrine falcons . Reptiles include timber rattlesnake , northern copperhead , eastern box turtle , common snapping turtle , and southeastern five-lined skink . Amphibians of frogs , toads , and salamanders are all common residents. Notable species of salamander include Jordan's salamander and hellbender . Recreation opportunities in
234-531: Is now Elizabethton , in adjacent Carter County. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1776, the Wataugans organized the "Washington District", which was governed by a committee of safety . North Carolina initially refused to recognize the settlements as legal, but finally agreed to annex the district after the settlers thwarted an invasion by hostile Cherokees. The settlements were governed as
260-474: Is part of Boone Lake . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 133,001 people, 55,817 households, and 33,838 families residing in the county. As of the census of 2000, there were 107,198 people, 44,195 households, and 29,478 families residing in the county. The population density was 328 people per square mile (127 people/km ). There were 47,779 housing units at an average density of 146 units per square mile (56/km ). The racial makeup of
286-758: The Appalachian Trail ; Citico Creek Wilderness ; Big Frog Mountain within Big Frog Wilderness , and surrounds both the Tennessee Valley Authority Watauga Reservoir and Wilbur Reservoir. The forest is located in parts of ten counties in Tennessee and one county in North Carolina. In descending order of forestland area they are Polk , Monroe , Carter , Unicoi , Cocke , Johnson , Greene , Sullivan , Washington and McMinn counties in Tennessee and Ashe County in North Carolina. The forest
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#1732772297105312-762: The Copper Basin . The Cherokee National Forest has two separate sections: a northern region to the northeast of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a southern section to the southwest of the Smokies. the southern section comprises much of the Unicoi Mountains . The Cherokee National Forest contains such notable sites as the Ocoee River (site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events); 150 miles (240 km) of
338-813: The John Muir Recreation trail , other hiking trails, and some trails designed for equestrian use. Bicycle trails are being developed. Camping is available in RV campgrounds and tent -only camping areas, and primitive tent camping is allowed throughout much of the forest. There are eleven official wilderness areas in Cherokee National Forest, which are all part of the National Wilderness Preservation System . Three of these extend into neighboring National Forests (and also into neighboring states, where
364-644: The United States Forest Service . It encompasses an estimated area of 655,598 acres (2,653.11 km ). The Cherokee National Forest headquarters are located in Cleveland, Tennessee . The Cherokee National Forest mostly lies within eastern Tennessee , along the border with North Carolina , and comprises nearly the entire border area except for sections within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and
390-521: The Washington District , which originally included all of what is now Tennessee. The district was reorganized as Washington County in 1777. From 1777 until 1784, North Carolina held nominal control over the county, but did little for the residents, at least in their eyes. So the area citizens formed, in 1784, the State of Franklin to meet their needs. Franklin was an early attempt to create
416-412: The poverty line , including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over. There are two school districts in the county: Washington County School District and Johnson City School District . The majority of Johnson City is in the latter, while all other areas of the county are in the former. Washington County schools include: Like most of East Tennessee, Washington County has been
442-491: The Cherokee National Forest are diverse. The forest's fast-flowing rivers support trout fishing. Rainbow trout are stocked in many streams and rivers. Brook trout and brown trout are also present. Bass , bluegill and crappie are found in the forest's lakes, which are also open to wind surfing , water skiing and boating . Trails criss-cross the forest. In addition to the Appalachian Trail, these include
468-419: The county was 93.72% White , 3.82% Black or African American , 0.24% Native American , 0.73% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.51% from other races , and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 44,195 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 10.50% had
494-463: The excavation and blasting of 17 tunnels during its construction; and the narrow-gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (Tweetsie). Significant restoration is underway, as well as publicizing the railroad heritage of the Johnson's Depot Historic District. Other historic properties are being restored as representative of Johnson City's late nineteenth and early twentieth-century era as
520-463: The extreme eastern part of the county. Sampson Mountain, which rises in the southeastern part of the county, is home to a designated national wilderness area . The Nolichucky River flows through the southern part of Washington County. The Watauga River flows the northern part of the county, and forms part of the county's border with Sullivan County . The lower section of the Watauga River
546-428: The forest changes names): Washington County, Tennessee Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2020 census , the population was 133,001. Its county seat is Jonesborough . The county's largest city and a regional educational, medical and commercial center is Johnson City . Washington County is Tennessee's oldest county, having been established in 1777 when
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#1732772297105572-531: The nation's most authentic historic districts of the period 1790–1870. Washington County was divided between pro-Union and pro-secession sentiments at the outset of the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Washington Countians voted 1,445 to 1,022 in favor of remaining in the Union. One of the bridges targeted by the East Tennessee bridge-burners in November 1861
598-597: The state was still part of North Carolina . Washington County is part of the Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is a component of the Johnson City–; Kingsport – Bristol , TN- VA Combined Statistical Area , commonly known as the " Tri-Cities " region. Washington County is rooted in the Watauga settlements , which were established in the early 1770s in the vicinity of what
624-800: The vicinity of its northwestern border with Hawkins and Sullivan counties. The eastern portion of the county lies within the Blue Ridge Mountains , specifically the Bald Mountains (south of the Nolichucky River ) and the Unaka Range (north of the Nolichucky). Buffalo Mountain, a long ridge that straddles much of Washington's eastern boundary, contains the county's highest point, 3,520-foot (1,070 m) Pinnacle Knob. The Cherokee National Forest protects much of
650-416: Was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 33,116, and the median income for a family was $ 41,162. Males had a median income of $ 30,874 versus $ 21,485 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,085. About 10.20% of families and 13.90% of the population were below
676-526: Was located in what is now Watauga near the Washington-Carter county line. Landon Carter Haynes , a Confederate senator, hailed from Washington County. Johnson City, originally known as Johnson's Depot, was a major railway center for the southeastern states, connecting the region for freight transportation and passengers. It was the headquarters for both the standard-gauge Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio ( Clinchfield Railroad ), which required
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