WILDLIFE REMOVAL WHITE COUNTY, TN

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HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS WHITE COUNTY, TN

White County, Tennessee, established on September 11, 1806, from parts of Smith and Jackson counties, was named after Revolutionary War veteran and early settler John White. Centered around the county seat of Sparta, the region was developed for its timber and coal resources, with early agriculture focusing on livestock and, later, strawberries. 

Key aspects of White County history include:

  • Settlement: Early settlers arrived around 1800, finding a wilderness that included Cherokee Indians, with the county named after John White, who settled in the area around 1789.

  • County Seat: Sparta was authorized as the county seat in 1809, with the first log courthouse built in 1810.

  • Economy: Historically reliant on agriculture and natural resources, the area was known for its lumber, coal mining, and, later, a significant nursery industry established in the late 19th century.

  • Civil War: The area experienced significant turmoil during the Civil War, with active partisan units operating in the Upper Cumberland region.

  • Geography: The county is characterized by the Calf Killer River, named after a local Cherokee chief. 

     

John White (1751-1846) was a Revolutionary War soldier, fifer, surveyor, and frontiersman. In 1789, John left Amelia County, VA, and moved his family to the Cumberland Mountains in what is now Tennessee. John had to fight the Cherokee Indians for the right to live on the land, for the Cherokee were not confined to the Cumberland Plateau until the 2nd Treaty of Holston in 1791. By 1800, dozens of new settlers had come to the “Mountain District”, including more kin of John White.

Meanwhile, the movement West continued. In 1785, a highway was opened between Knoxville and Nashville, and hundreds of settlers passed through the area. Bon Air Springs, on this highway, developed as the first resort area in the South. Further settlement led to the establishment of the town of Sparta in 1802.

In 1806, a petition for county organization, signed by 155 residents, was presented to the General Assembly in Knoxville. On Sep 11, 1806, White County was formed, partitioned from Smith and Jackson Counties. It was a huge area, encompassing all of what is now White and Warren Counties, and parts of the counties of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Grundy, Putnam, and Van Buren.

Over the next few decades, White County was itself partitioned, causing the eventual move of the County Seat from it’s original location near the White homestead to Sparta, where it remains. Because of this partitioning, early research should also include Putnam, Van Buren, and Warren counties.

It should be noted that, while the state of Tennessee accepts John White as the person after whom White County was named, some genealogists have asserted that the county was actually named after James White, the founder of Knoxville.

ATTRACTIONS

  • Burgess Falls State Park: Known for its four breathtaking waterfalls, fishing, and hiking.
  • Rock Island State Park: Situated at the confluence of the Caney Fork and Collins Rivers, it is known for the scenic Twin Falls and sand beach.
  • Virgin Falls State Natural Area: A 1,157-acre area popular for hiking and back-country camping, featuring a unique waterfall that emerges from a cave.
  • Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness: Known as the "Grand Canyon of the Cumberlands," offering over 10,000 acres for hiking, hunting, and visiting scenic overlooks like Welch's Point, according to Heide Brandes.

History & Culture

  • White County Heritage Museum: Highlights local history, including the "Granddaddy of Bluegrass" Lester Flatt, and Civil War history.
  • Rock House Historic Site: A historic stagecoach stop built in the early 1800s, often called the "fortress" home of a local leader.

Local Flavors & Activities

Nearby Points of Interest