Sinkholes in Johnson County, TN | Tennessee Sinkholes

History of Johnson County, TN

• Native American Settlements

• • • was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Cherokee and Shawnee, before the arrival of European settlers.

• European Settlement

• • • European settlers, primarily of English, Irish, and Scottish descent, began moving into the region in the late 18th century
    • Johnson County was officially established in 1836.

• Civil War

• • • During the Civil War, Johnson County was divided in its allegiances, with some supporting the Union and others supporting the Confederacy
    • The county experienced skirmishes and raids, and the Battle of Shady Valley, a minor engagement, took place in the county in 1863.

• 19th and 20th century

• • Logging and the timber industry played a significant role in the history of Johnson County, with large-scale logging operations and timber mills contributing to the local economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The arrival of railroads in the late 19th century and the construction of roads and highways in the early 20th century improved transportation and facilitated economic development in the county.

Notable Landmarks in Johnson County, TN

• Doe Mountain Recreation Area

• • • This outdoor recreational area located in Johnson County offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, ATV riding, and camping on its thousands of acres of pristine wilderness.

• Backbone Rock

• • • unique geological formation known as “The Shortest Tunnel in the World,” Backbone Rock
    • a 20-foot-long tunnel carved through solid rock that allows water from Beaverdam Creek to flow under a highway.

• Shady Valley Country Store

• • • Established in the late 19th century, the Shady Valley Country Store
    • a historic landmark that still operates as a country store
    • provides a glimpse into the history and heritage of the area.

• Trade, Tennessee 

• • a well-preserved example of a 19th-century Appalachian settlement, with several historic buildings and structures that offer a glimpse into the past.