Grainger County, Tennessee
| Grainger County, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
Grainger County Courthouse in Rutledge
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 Location in the U.S. state of Tennessee |
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 Tennessee's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1796 |
| Named for | Mary Grainger Blount |
| Seat | Rutledge |
| Largest city | Bean Station |
| Area | |
| • Total | 302 sq mi (782 km2) |
| • Land | 281 sq mi (728 km2) |
| • Water | 22 sq mi (57 km2), 7.2% |
| Population | |
| • (2010) | 22,657 |
| • Density | 81/sq mi (31/km²) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Website | graingertn |
Grainger County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,657. Its county seat is Rutledge. It is renowned for its tomatoes.
Grainger County is included in the Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Grainger County was formed from Knox and Hawkins Counties in 1796, the year Tennessee became a state. It is named for Mary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount. Anderson, Claiborne, Campbell, Hamblen, Hancock, Scott and Union Counties were formed from parts of the original Grainger County.
Like many East Tennessee counties, Grainger County was generally opposed to secession from the Union. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, Grainger County voters rejected secession by 1,756 to 495.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 302 square miles (780 km2), of which 281 square miles (730 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (7.2%) is water. Grainger County is bounded on the northwest by the Clinch River (impounded by Norris Dam to form Norris Lake) and on the southeast by the Holston River (including Cherokee Lake). Clinch Mountain is a major geographic feature that effectively separates the county into a southern section (including Rutledge) and a northern section (including Washburn).
Indian Cave is an historic site located on the Holston River near present-day Blaine. The cave was used for centuries before Europeans entered the area, as indigenous peoples settled in the area about 1000 CE. Remains of cane torches and other artifacts located in the cave indicate use by prehistoric indigenous peoples. The Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee migrated into the area from the northeast, making the eastern Ohio River valley and Appalachians down into South Carolina their historic territory.
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