Currently, there are 95 counties in Tennessee. Hamblen County ranks as the third smallest county in Tennessee (land area), but ranks 21st in total population. As of 2010, the total population of Hamblen County was 62,544.
The first settlers to the Hamblen County area came in 1783 (13 years before Tennessee became a state; 72 years before Morristown was incorporated; and 87 years before Hamblen County was formed).
TIMELINE
The first settlers, in what is now known as Hamblen County, were Robert McFarland and Alexander Outlaw. They migrated here from Virginia and they both settled in the “bend of the Nolichucky River”.
1787:
Land grants were issued from North Carolina to Edward Riggs, Jesse Riggs and Gideon Morris for property lying in what is now known as Morristown.
1792-1793:
A road was cut through what is now Hamblen County. It would later be called Main Street. It was the dividing line between Jefferson County and Grainger County. It was known as the Great Stage Route from Knoxville to Abingdon, Virginia.
1796:
Tennessee became the 16th state to join the Union.
1833:
Morristown’s first postmaster was John F. Coffin.
1855:
Morristown was incorporated. It was named after the Morris family. Gideon Morris, Daniel Morris, and Absalom Morris were brothers and they settled in the area.
1857:
1st newspaper published in Morristown was “The American Statesman” published by F.W. Wylie and H.C. Craig. It was brought to Morristown from Dandridge, but soon was discontinued.
May 31, 1870:
Hamblen County was officially established. It was formed from parts of Grainger and Jefferson Counties. This change made life easier for those living in the Morristown area. No longer did Morristownians have to travel to Dandridge (county seat of Jefferson County) or to Rutledge (county seat of Grainger County) to take care of official business. These two towns, which were approximately twelve miles apart, were separated by the Holston River which was frequently impassable. Hamblen County was divided into nine voting districts. The new county was named Hamblen after Hezekiah Hamblen, a native of Hawkins County. William Green who was a State Senator at the time was given the priviledge of naming the new county. Mr. Green chose to honor his grandfather, Hezekiah Hamblen.
October 3, 1870:
1st County Court meeting held in Hamblen County.
1st Marriage: James Morgan and Mattie E. Blanton
January 24, 1871:
Hamblen County grew larger by gaining a small fraction of land from Hawkins County.
October 3, 1871:
Court House Building Committee chose $18,000 plan submitted by well reknown architect, A.C. Bruce.
December 24, 1872:
Contract signed by George Folsom and John Lyle to build the courthouse for $21,750 with guaranteed completion set for November 1, 1874. [The courthouse is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places.]
1877:
Rev. Melville R. Murrell received a patent on his flying machine known as the "American Flying Machine".
September 26, 1879:
Morristown's 1st and only hanging. Anthony Blair shot and killed his 18 year old stepdaughter, Maggie Blair on July 30, 1879. The scaffold where Mr. Blair was hung was located in a field at North Henry Street between West 4th and West 5th North Streets.
1882:
Smallpox epidemic.
1886:
A hand pump and a reel of rubber hose was the first fire fighting equipment purchased for Morristown.
March 16, 1888:
Electric light shone for the first time in Morristown in the engine room of the Electric Light Company.
1940-1942:
TVA began clearing lands for the Cherokee Reservoir. They acquired 12,993 acres of Hamblen County land and 215 Hamblen County families were moved from lands affected by the project.
Sources: Historic Hamblen 1870-1970; A History of Hamblen County, Tennessee And Its People; The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture; Morristown Gazette; Morristown's Chamber of Commerce.
Hamblen County Communities
Courtesy of the Hamblen County Archives
Hamblen County Schools
Courtesy of the Hamblen County Archives
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Last revised: July 16, 2018
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