Roan Mountain, Tennessee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roan Mountain is located in northeast Tennessee at 36°11′39″N, 82°4′6″W (36.194219, -82.068417)GR1. The elevation at Roan Mountain, Tennessee varies from 2,550 feet in the center of town to 6,285 feet at the alpine summit of Roan Mountain, 7 miles away by air.

Location of Roan Mountain, Tennessee

Contents

[edit] Geography

A peak in Roan Mountain State Park as seen from the Appalachian Trail
A peak in Roan Mountain State Park as seen from the Appalachian Trail

[edit] Water Resources

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Roan Mountain, Tennessee CDP has a total area of 19.2 km² (7.4 mi²). The Doe River flows from the northern slopes of Roan Mountain, through Roan Mountain State Park and the center of town, and into the confluence with the Watauga River at [[Elizabethton, Tennessee|Elizabe of cool

[edit] Nearby Communities

Bakersville, North Carolina is found on the opposite (southern) side of Roan Mountain and the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.

[edit] Connection With U.S. Interstate Highway System

Interstate 26 to Exit 31 (Elizabethton);

US 321 east to Elizabethton, and;

US Highway 19-E at Elizabethton then south into Roan Mountain, Tennessee.

As of 2004, US 19 splits into US 19E and US 19W in Bluff City, Tennessee. north of Elizabethton. The routes rejoin in rural Yancey County, North Carolina. While US 19W heads directly for Interstate 26 at Exits 35 and 36 in Johnson City, Tennessee, US 19E takes a 70-mile (113 km) path through the Great Smoky Mountains. US 19W doesn't completely avoid the mountains, however. It breaks off of I-26 shortly before the Tennessee-North Carolina border, and takes a tortuous path through the mountains of Yancey County, North Carolina.

US 19 breaks away from the interstate, but alternate route US 19W is co-signed with Interstate 26 for much of its Tennessee length. US 19E in Tennessee is the same highway as State Route 37.

[edit] Demographics

Roan Mountain is a census-designated place (CDP) in Carter County, Tennessee, United States. The population of Roan Mountain was recorded at 1,160 residents (484 households, and 351 families) during the 2000 U.S. Decennial Census. The population density was 60.4/km² (156.4/mi²) and there were 539 housing units at an average density of 28.0/km² (72.7/mi²).

The racial makeup of the Roan Mountain CDP was 99.48% White, 0.26% African American, 0.09% Native American, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 484 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $17,813, and the median income for a family was $24,524. Males had a median income of $19,044 versus $20,792 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,046. About 23.4% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.4% of those under age 18 and 26.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

[edit] American Revolutionary War: Appalachian Gateway To The 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain

[edit] Early Railroad History

The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad ("Tweetsie") passed through the town until it ceased operations in 1950.

[edit] Facts

  • When he was Vice President late President Richard Nixon once visited the annual Rhododendron Festival in Roan Mountain.
  • A locally-known fact is the fact that Elvis Presley frequented the old Roan Mountain Motel during his early touring days.
  • The Cloudland Hotel, constructed in the 1880s by General John Wilder, a Roan Mountain resident, was, at one time the highest elevated hotel east of the Mississippi. Visitors to the Hotel included Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.
  • Late Country Music icon Johnny Cash once performed in Roan Mountain.

[edit] Myths

  • Dark Hollow Road, between Hampton Creek and Sugar Hollow Ridge, is noted for its alleged ghost, Virginia. Virginia, a beautiful, young mistress to many men in the community in the 1920's was allegedly secretly murdered and buried by several jealous women. The story is: Late, late at night when you're driving through Dark Hollow, Virginia will jump in the back of your truck bed or on the hood of your vehicle and pound the metal while screaming.

[edit] Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival and related tourism

[edit] Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival

Roan Mountain, Tennessee is host to the early summer rhododendron festival --- sited at the lower elevation of Roan Mountain State Park --- offering visitors many opportunities to sample traditional foods, purchase locally handmade crafts, and listen to a variety of traditional Southern Appalchian musicians during the scheduled events. Famous for its beautiful and extensive alpine catawba rhododendron gardens, the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival is easily accessible by motor vehicle and showcases the natural beauty of the annual catawba rhododendron bloom that usually peaks on the during the third or fourth weekend in June.

[edit] "The AT": Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail (or simply "The AT") runs along the top of Roan Mountain, providing hikers a view of a wide variety of plants such as Flame Azalea and Gray's Lily.

[edit] Roan Mountain State Park

[edit] See Also

[edit] External links

[edit] Wild Flowers

[edit] Roan Mountain Tourism and Recreation

[edit] Tennessee Valley Authority

[edit] Airports

[edit] Educational


[edit] Other

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