Jonesborough (historically also Jonesboro) is a town in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. Its population was 5,791 as of 2021. It is "Tennessee's oldest town".

Jonesborough is part of the Johnson City metropolitan statistical area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN and VA combined statistical area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.

History
- Modern tourism
Geography
Demographics
- 2020 census
Recreation
Local legends
Clubs and organizations
Photo gallery
Education
Notable people
See also

History

Jonesborough was founded in 1779, 17 years before Tennessee became a state and while the area was under the jurisdiction of North Carolina. It was named after North Carolina legislator, Willie Jones, who had supported the state's westward expansion across the Appalachian Mountains.

Main Street, part of the Jonesborough Historic District

The town was renamed "Jonesboro" for a period of time, but it has been changed back to the original spelling.

Jonesborough was originally a part of the Washington District. In 1784, it became the capital of the autonomous State of Franklin (ostensibly named after American founding father, Benjamin Franklin). Franklin, however, was never recognized by Congress, and was re-claimed by North Carolina in late 1788.

Jonesborough is often considered to be the center of the abolitionist movement within the states that would join the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Elihu Embree printed his publication, The Emancipator, from Jonesborough. Publication began in 1820, making The Emancipator the first American periodical to be dedicated exclusively to the issue of the abolition of slavery. While Tennessee would later join the Confederacy, most east Tennesseans had Unionist leanings. They were generally subsistence farmers and held relatively few slaves compared to landowners in Middle Tennessee or the plantation areas of the Delta near the Mississippi River.

In the 1840s, Jonesborough became the second hometown to the Jonesborough Whig, a newspaper published by William G. "Parson" Brownlow, after Brownlow relocated the paper from Elizabethton, Tennessee, where it had been in publication for approximately two years. Brownlow and rival editor/Methodist circuit rider Landon Carter Haynes brawled in the streets of Jonesborough in May 1840. Over the next several years, the two newspapermen bashed one another in their respective papers, each managing at times to thwart the other's political ambitions. Haynes left the newspaper business in 1845, and Brownlow, who later was elected as governor, moved the Whig to Knoxville in 1849.

Modern tourism

The Chester Inn, built in 1797, still stands in downtown Jonesborough

Today, Jonesborough attracts heritage tourism because of its historical status as Tennessee's oldest town and its significant historic preservation efforts that have preserved a rich architectural fabric. The town's museum describes the local heritage of tobacco farming. The historic Chester Inn, built in 1797, still stands in downtown Jonesborough. The Jonesborough Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. The oldest surviving building, the Christopher Taylor House (built in 1777 about a mile outside of the original town limits), was relocated to a lot within the historic district.

Jonesborough is the home to the International Storytelling Center, which holds the annual National Storytelling Festival on the first full weekend in October. The Festival builds on the Appalachian cultural tradition of storytelling, and has been drawing people from around the world for more than 35 years. Large tents are pitched in parks around town, and storytellers sit on stages or at the head of the main tent to perform. Occasionally, performances are interrupted for a moment by passing Norfolk Southern Railway trains. Past storytellers included Carmen Agra Deedy, Syd Lieberman, and Kathryn Tucker Windham. The festival inspired the development of a successful storytelling graduate degree program at the nearby East Tennessee State University.

Geography

Jonesborough is situated in an area where the watershed of the Watauga River meets the watershed of the Nolichucky River. The Watauga passes approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the northeast of Jonesborough, and the Nolichucky passes roughly 10 miles (16 km) to the southwest. The town's principle stream, Little Limestone Creek, is part of the Nolichucky watershed.

Jonesborough is surrounded by low hills and elongated ridges that are characteristic of the Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley Province. The main crest of the Appalachian Mountains rises just a few miles southeast of Jonesborough.

Jonesborough is centered on the junction of Andrew Johnson Highway (which is part of both U.S. Route 321 and U.S. Route 11), which connects the town to Greeneville to the southwest and Johnson City to the northeast, and State Route 81, which connects Jonesborough to Interstate 81 to the northwest and Interstate 26 at Erwin to the southeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	895	—
1890	937	4.7%
1900	854	−8.9%
1910	806	−5.6%
1920	815	1.1%
1930	931	14.2%
1940	976	4.8%
1950	1,126	15.4%
1960	1,148	2.0%
1970	1,510	31.5%
1980	2,829	87.4%
1990	3,091	9.3%
2000	4,168	34.8%
2010	5,051	21.2%
2019 (est.)	5,611	11.1%
Sources:

2020 census

Jonesborough racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	5,151	87.9%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	259	4.42%
Native American	10	0.17%
Asian	57	0.97%
Pacific Islander	3	0.05%
Other/Mixed	216	3.69%
Hispanic or Latino	164	2.8%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,860 people, 2,064 households, and 1,397 families residing in the town.

Recreation

The Southern Appalachian Mountains are home to numerous outdoor activities such as: hiking/backpacking, cycling (road and mountain), hunting, fishing (streams, rivers, and lakes), whitewater rafting/kayaking, golf, disc golf, ATV/moto-cross, rock climbing, zip lining/canopy tours, and caving.

The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre produces community theater and hosts educational workshops for aspiring actors. The current artistic director is Jennifer Schmidt

Local legends

The Christopher Taylor House, built c. 1777

A local legend holds that the ghost of Andrew Jackson occasionally appears in the vicinity of a historic cabin in a town park.

In 1788, future U.S. president Jackson spent several months in Jonesborough awaiting a caravan. During this time, he lodged in a cabin belonging to Major Christopher Taylor, which was located about a mile outside of town. In 1974, this cabin was removed from its original spot and reconstructed in the town's park. The ghost supposedly walks up to the front door and disappears into the building. The ghost has also been reportedly seen walking down the street, in the direction of the old courthouse.

Clubs and organizations

Sons of Confederate Veterans, Gen. Alfred E. Jackson Camp #2159

Photo gallery

Parson's Table, built 1874
THC marker recalling abolitionist publications
First Baptist Church, built 1852
Cunningham-Clayton House, built c. 1840
Sister's Row, looking west, 205-209 W. Main Street, built 1821
122 E. Woodrow Ave., built c. 1815
Old Jonesborough Female Academy, 205 W. College Street, built c. 1834
Jacobs House, 106 E. Woodrow Avenue, built c. 1831
Gamon-Hoss House, 204 E. Main Street, built c. 1830; Federal style with Greek Revival influences
Blair-Moore House, 201 W. Main Street, built c. 1830; Federal style with Greek Revival influences
Methodist Church, 211 W. Main Street, c. 1845
Presbyterian Church, 126 W. Main Street, c. 1845
February Hill, 102 W. College Street, c. 1840
Walter Sherfey Home, 402 W. College Street, c. 1850
Shipley House, 100 E. Woodrow Avenue, c. 1848
Mansion House/May Residence, looking west, 200 W. Main Street, built 1849 with Federal influence
Johnson or Range House, 421 W. Main Street, built 1880
Holston Baptist Female Institute, 233 E. Main Street, c. 1855
Residential House, 130 W. Main Street, built c. 1905
Old Deadrick House, 102 N. Cherokee, built 1878
Residential House, 314 W. Main Street, built c. late 1860's with Italianate and Queen Anne Influences
Hacker House, 400 W. Main Street, built 1869
Academy Hill, 312 W. Main Street, built 1926
Old Clyde Haws House, 108 Oak Grove Ave, built 1933
Residential Buildings, 105/107 Spring Street, built c. 1850 with Greek Revival influences
Mail Pouch Building, 104 S. Cherokee Street, built 1888; architecture is two-part commercial block

Education

Jonesborough Public Schools are part of Washington County School District, which has nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools.

Schools located in Jonesborough include:

Jonesborough Elementary School
David Crockett High School
Jonesborough Middle School

Notable people

Walter P. Brownlow, U.S. congressman
Moses H. Cone (born in Jonesborough), prominent businessman and philanthropist in Greensboro, North Carolina
Cornelia Deaderick Glenn, First Lady of North Carolina
James W. Deaderick, Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court (1876–1886)
Alfred Eugene Jackson, farmer and merchant, and a founder of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. Jackson served in the Confederate army during the Civil War, and was the only General on either side from Washington County. During the nearby battle at Limestone, Tennessee, his troops captured approximately 300 soldiers from the 100th Ohio Infantry (US), along with their Enfield rifles and ammunition. The local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is named after General Jackson.
Thomas H. McCray, Confederate Army officer was born here
Thomas Amos Rogers Nelson, Congressman and Southern Unionist
G.C. Spencer, former NASCAR driver

Jonesborough, Tennessee facts for kids

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