Retire to Tennessee

Counties

Jefferson County:

Jefferson County was named for President and statesman Thomas Jefferson who was serving as Secretary of State in 1792. Thomas Jefferson at that time the area was still part of the Southwest Territory of the United States.

Portions of Greene and Hawkins counties were taken to form Jefferson County. The towns of Dandridge, Mossy Creek (now Jefferson City), New Market, and Oak Grove were established by 1834. Later New Market, White Pine, and Jefferson City became incorporated cities.

Jefferson County Statistics:

Average year-round temperature/weather:

Annual Average Temperature 56

Rainfall (in.) 45.1

Snowfall (in.) 4

Avg. July High 87.5

Avg. Jan. Low 27.2

Median price of homes
: $112,600

Cost of living:
2008 cost of living index in Jefferson County: 77.0 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Jefferson County's cost of living is 16.85% Lower than the U.S. average.

Population of city/county and/or median age:
50,221 (2009)

Median resident age: 36.5

Recreational and Cultural:

• Parks
• Black Oak Park
• Great Indian War Trail Monument
• Nelson Merry Park
• Henderson Island Wildlife Refuge

Golf

• Baneberry Golf & Resort
• Dandridge Golf & Country Club
• Lost Creek Golf Club
• Patriot Hills Golf Club

Campgrounds

• Fancher's Campground, Inc.
• Lake Cove Resort, Inc.
• Douglas Headwater Campground
• Douglas Tailwater Campground
• Cherokee Dam Campground

Jefferson County has shoreline on two of the largest lakes in Tennessee Cherokee Lake is on the county's northern border and Douglas Lake is on the southern border. There are abundant opportunities for fishing, boating, skiing, camping and swimming. There is no closed fishing season. Both Douglas and Cherokee lakes have several access areas, boat docks, marinas, campgrounds and parks.

Cherokee Lake is located in the foothills of East Tennessee. Formed from the Holston River and its tributaries, its 30,300 acres of water surface and 463 miles of shoreline attract more than 2.5 million visits a year. TVA has installed aeration systems at Cherokee Dam to improve the health of the fish population as well as increase the number of fish species.

Douglas Lake is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Formed from the French Broad River and its tributaries of the Nolichucky and Pigeon Rivers, its 30,400 acres of water surface and 555 miles of shoreline attract more than 1.7 million visitors a year.

Education:
Elementary Schools

Dandridge Elementary School

Jefferson Elementary School

New Market Elementary School

Piedmont Elementary School

Rush Strong School

Talbott Elementary School

White Pine School

Middle Schools
Jefferson Middle School

Maury Middle School

Rush Strong School

White Pine School

High School
Jefferson County High School

Other
Oakland Adult Learning Center

Colleges and Universities
University of Tennessee

Walters State

Tusculum College

Tennessee Technology Center

Shopping:
Peebles

Wal-Mart

Food City

Medical Facilities:
Hospitals

Jefferson Memorial Hospital

Morristown Hamblen Healthcare

St. Mary's Health System, Inc.

Crime Rate:
Low

Additional Information:

Cities and towns

• Baneberry
• Chestnut Hill (unincorporated)
• Dandridge
• Jefferson City
• New Market
• Piedmont (unincorporated)
• Strawberry Plains (unincorporated)
• Talbott (unincorporated)
• White Pine