Discover the Oldest Town in Tennessee

Tennessee is the 16th state in the U.S. However, the oldest town in Tennessee was established almost two decades before Tennessee was granted statehood. This state is known for its natural beauty, history-making musicians, and good eating. But that’s not all. Keep reading to discover the oldest town in Tennessee and what makes it unique. 

A Brief History of Tennessee

The state of Tennessee was originally part of North Carolina. Then, Eastern Tennessee briefly became the state of Franklin from 1784-1788. However, the whole state became part of the Union as the 16th state in 1796. Following its early statehood, Knoxville became the capital, John Sevier became the first governor, and General Andrew Jackson became the first congressman. Tennessee also earned the nickname “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812 because many state residents helped with the war effort.

What Is the Oldest Town in Tennessee?

The oldest town in Tennessee is Jonesborough, which was founded in 1779. In fact, the town was founded before Tennessee officially became a state in 1796. At the time, Tennessee belonged to North Carolina, and Jonesborough was the capital of what would have been the 14th state, the State of Franklin. Now, Jonesborough is less than two hours from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina.

The oldest surviving building in Jonesborough is the Christopher Taylor house, built in 1777, roughly a mile outside the original town limits. However, it was relocated to an area within the historic district. Now it stands on Main Street in downtown Jonesborough, making it one of the most well-preserved log homes. The log cabin is two stories tall and acted as Andrew Jackson’s temporary home.

The History of Jonesborough

History comes to life in Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee. It’s quietly tucked into the hills west of the Appalachian mountains in northeastern Tennessee. Despite the peace, the town comes to life with the rich heritage of a place stuck in time. Much of the original architecture in the town remains due to decades of preservation efforts.    

The Jonesborough Historic District makes up downtown and has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, which it earned in 1969. Most buildings lining the streets are from the 1800s and remain standing just as they did centuries earlier. The rich history of the oldest town in Tennessee is preserved thanks to the dedicated Historic Zoning Commission. 

Even now, many of the homes in Jonesborough are on 18th-century plots with gravel driveways and surrounded by hedges that highlight the original perimeters of the land. A leisurely walk through the area is the only way to fully experience the town’s long history.     

Local Legends From Jonesborough

The oldest town in Tennessee is not without ghosts. There are whispers about some of the town’s local legends. One of the most popular is the ghost of Andrew Jackson, who allegedly wanders the streets of Jonesborough. According to legend, he can be seen walking between Major Christopher Taylor’s cabin, only a few blocks from the Washington County Courthouse where he practiced. Not too far off, a print shop from 1818 where Elihu Embree published the first abolitionist newspaper still stands.  

Andrew Jackson arrived in Jonesborough in 1788 to wait for a caravan as a 20-year-old lawyer. He stayed in the town for over five months so he could travel westward to work as a public prosecutor. While there, he took an oath of office and served as an attorney, making Jonesborough the first place he practiced law. He also helped draw up plans for Tennessee’s statehood. Later he went west to Nashville, where he would eventually settle down as a legal prosecutor and eventually become the 7th U.S. president.  

Wildlife You’ll Find in Jonesborough

The oldest town in Tennessee is abundant with common Tennessee wildlife. You may run into Andrew Jackson’s ghost or one of these animals the next time you walk down the peaceful streets of Jonesborough. 

Raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Raccoons are medium-sized stocky mammals that live in various rural and urban habitats throughout the oldest town in Tennessee. They are omnivores, meaning they eat an array of plants and animals in the region. Raccoons are also a hunted species in Tennessee. Therefore, they are more abundant in some areas than others. It’s illegal to keep wild raccoons as pets in Tennessee because they can carry parasites and become aggressive when they reach maturity.    

White-tail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

White-tail deer live all over Tennessee, including urban and suburban areas. In fact, they have an extensive range that makes them native to North America, Central America, and South America. They are also the most economically important big game species in the state. White-tail deer live up to 12 years in the wild and weigh up to 140 pounds if they are male and 100 pounds if they are female.      

Wild Hog (Sus scrofa)

Wild hogs are invasive and exotic in the state. The oldest town in Tennessee is no different. They originally lived in only 15 Tennessee counties but are now in 80 out of the 90 state counties. Over 100 years ago, wild hogs were brought to the Smoky Mountains for hunting and have been running rampant through the East Tennessee area ever since. They cause significant ecological and financial damage by trampling and uprooting crops, destroying landscaping, and killing native wildlife.   

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

The little brown bat is one of six “mouse-eared bats” that live throughout Tennessee. They are small bats with long, soft fur ranging from shades of olive-brown to dark yellow-brown. Including their tail, they measure between 4.5 inches to 5.6 inches long. The little brown bat uses echolocation to interact with its environment and spends most of the day grooming. The best way to distinguish them from other bat species is by the long hair on their feet.   

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

The northern mockingbird has been the official state bird of Tennessee since 1933. They are most known for their ability to mimic melodies. Both males and females share a similar appearance, with gray chests and upper bodies surrounding a white belly. They are 8-11 inches long with a 12-15 inch wingspan. The male northern mockingbird sings most of the year, while the female birds rarely sing over summer.  

Visiting the Oldest Town in Tennessee

Jonesborough has plenty of history to share with visitors. This small town weaves the past and present together with its diverse residents, business owners, travelers, and architectural design.   

People visit the oldest town in Tennessee to get a glimpse of the historic Storytelling Capital of the World. Storytelling is a huge part of the town’s history. But the famous Storytelling Festival didn’t plant its roots in the town until 1973. It is a fitting location because of the charming streets lined with 18th-century architecture, telling countless stories from the past without uttering a single word.

The oldest town in Tennessee is also home to the International Storytelling Center. Here the annual National Storytelling Festival takes place during the first full week of October. This festival continues the Appalachian tradition of storytelling by bringing people together worldwide for nearly 50 years. During the festival, storytellers perform on stage while visitors stay in large tents that are scattered around parks downtown. The only interruption to these stories are trains from the Norfolk Southern Railway that occasionally pass through.

Stop by any of the surviving buildings in Jonesborough to experience the lasting history of the oldest town in Tennessee.     

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock.com