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Roane County Community Information

General Information / Education / Medical / Cultural/Entertainment

In the late 1700’s the settlers choose Roane County for its prime location. The settlers established and constructed Fort Southwest Point on a high bluff overlooking the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers. The fort severed as a stopping point on the Avery Trace, connecting the cities of Knoxville and Nashville.

The city of Kingston was established in 1799 as a result of the growing population around Fort Southwest Point. An Army garrison between 1792 and 1807, the fort was surrounded by several trading posts, and provided a protected environment for the convergence of southeastern trade routes at the mouth of the Clinch River. On September 21, 1807, when Kingston served as the state capital for one day, and the Tennessee House of Representatives convened here. With a growing population, in the mid 1800’s a courthouse was built by slaves using bricks made by hand on site.

After the Civil War, a Union Officer, John Wilder discovered an abundance of iron on Walden Ridge in Roane County. He later returned with Northern industrialists to form the Roane Iron Company in 1868. The population grew, and the city of Rockwood was named after the company’s first president, William O. Rockwood.

Harriman was a utopian community built on social temperance. Former Methodist minister and founder of the East Tennessee Land Company, Frederick Gates, envisioned a town of social temperance and industry where no manufacture storage or sales of intoxicating liqueur or beverages would take place. He advertised his idea across the county, and thousands came to the 1890 Great Land Sale. The sale was a success, and the city of Harriman was formed. The American Temperance University was founded in 1893, moved into the building previously owned by the Land Company.

Situated in the northern corner of Roane County, Oliver Springs was founded in 1830 as Winter’s Gap, so named for its first white settler, Major Moses Winter. Archaeological evidence suggests that Native Americans frequently used the area as a campsite, probably because of its natural mineral springs and abundance of wildlife on Windrock Mountain. The town’s name was later changed to Oliver Springs in honor of Richard Oliver.

Oak Ridge is one of the East Tennessee’s newest cities. It was formed in 1942 when the United States Government constructed two extensive facilities in East Roane to house part of the massive World War II effort known as the Manhattan Project, responsible for building the world’s first atomic bomb. The graphite reactor on the Oak Ridge Reservation is the world’s oldest continuously operated nuclear reactor.

GENERAL INFORMATION

AIRPORTS

Atomic Airport Inc
320 Airport Rd
Oliver Springs

Meadowlake Airpark Inc
Anglers Cove Rd
Kingston
Longest Runway: 2,600 Ft - Runway Lights - Unicom Radio Communications

Rockwood Municipal
Airport Rd
Rockwood
Longest Runway: 5,000 Ft - Runway Lights - Unicom Radio Communications

CLIMATE

Annual Average Temperature: 57 F 
Monthly Average High Temperature: January - 41F July - 87F
Monthly Average Low Temperature:January - 27F July - 62F
Elevation: 875' above sea level
Annual Average Snowfall: 8"
Annual Average Rainfall: 49"
Prevailing Winds: Southwest
Mean Length of Frost Free Period (Days): 215

EMERGENCY

Emergency911
Roane County Fire Dept(865) 376-5581
Roane County Police(865) 376-5581
Roane County Sheriff(865) 376-5581
Roane County Medical911

LIBRARY

Harriman Public Library
601 Walden Street
Harriman

NEWSPAPER

The Harriman Record
510 Devonia Street, Harriman 37748
Phone: 423-882-1313
circulation: Weekly

Roane Reader
152 S Roane St
Harriman

The Roane County News
204 Franklin Street, P.O. Box 610, Kingston 37763
Phone: 423-276-3841
circulation: Weekly

The Rockwood Times
P.O. Box 297, Rockwood 37854
Phone: 423-354-9162
circulation: Weekly

Standard
226 N Kentucky St
Kingston

POPULATION

The population of Roane County is 48,271 (1993) with an annual growth of about 3%. These figures include the portion of the City of Oak Ridge that is located in Roane County.

RADIO STATIONS

WLIQ Fm Radio Station
1217 S Roane St
Harriman

WBBX-AM 1410
705 Greenwood St
Kingston
Phone: 423-376-4720

WOFC Radio Station
562 S Kingston Ave
Rockwood

WOFE - AM 580
Rockwood
Phone: 423-354-0580

ROANE COUNTY STATISTICS

Square Miles:361
Land Area (Sq. Mi):  
Water Area (Sq. Mi): 
Miles of City Streets: 140.98
Miles of County Roads:750.03

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. Highways:US 27, US 70
State Highways:State 58, State 61
Interstate Highway: I-40
 
Common Carriers:5 Motor Freight Companies
 
(Local):
Rockwood Municipal Airport
Airport Length: 5,000 ft.
Surface: Asphalt
Lighting: Medium Intensity, 36" Beacon
Gas: Yes, 100 Octane Available
Repair: Yes
 
McGhee Tyson Airport
Knoxville (Commercial):
Airlines Serving: American Eagle, Comair, Delta, Northwest, Trans World Express, United, United Express, USAir, USAir Express
Daily Flights: 116
Arrivals: 58
Departures: 58
 
Railroads: Served by Norfolk-Southern and CSX Transport
 
Navigable Waterways:(The nearest port facility is in Rockwood)

TELEPHONE SERVICE

Bell South
(865) 557-6500

UTILITIES

Cumberland Utility District
Oliver Springs, TN 37840
882-0395
Harriman Utility Board
Roane St.
Harriman, TN 37748
882-3242
Kingston TVA Steam Plant
Swan pond Rd.
Kingston, TN 37763
376-6135
Midtown Utility District
Hwy 70
Harriman, TN 37748
883-5762
Oak Ridge Utility District
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0449
483-1377
Rockwood Electric Utility
Rockwood St.
Rockwood, TN 37854
354-0514
Rockwood Water, Wastewater & Natural Gas
110 No. Chamberlain Ave.
Rockwood, TN 37854
354-0163
South Central Bell
Krystal Building.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
265-2223
Swan Pond Utility District
Mays Valley Rd.
Kingston, TN 37763
882-6108
United Cities Gas
Roane St. Hwy.
Kingston, TN 37763
376-6467
Volunteer Electric Cooperative
Decatur, TN 37322
334-5721

EDUCATION

The County is served by two excellent school systems--the Roane County School System and the Harriman City School System. Both systems have achieved the Governor's A+ Award for Community Commitment to Excellence in Education for five consecutive years. The A+ award, which was established by the State of Tennessee, recognizes our entire community, as well as our schools, for placing high emphasis on quality education.

We are one of 47 A+ communities in Tennessee and are two of 60 school systems--out of 139 systems in the State--to have achieved A+ status. To earn the A+ award, the Roane County and Harriman school systems have programs in the following ten areas:

  • Recognition of outstanding teachers and students
  • Meeting the needs of at-risk students
  • Comprehensive adult education program
  • Family involvement
  • Drug education/prevention programs
  • Community involvement
  • School age child care program
  • Comprehensive vocational education program
  • Public information efforts
  • Academic achievement

ROANE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Roane State Community College is a place where you'll find friends and faculty alike who speak your language and value your ideas.

It is a community where learning is a "shared" experience...and where your instructors help you reach your educational goals--where they are always available to answer your questions in class, during normal office hours, or through your very own personal e-mail account.

Whether you choose to follow a transfer curriculum toward your bachelor's degree at a four-year college, or go into the workforce immediately upon completing your associate's degree at Roane State, you'll be well prepared and equipped to compete with the best.

MEDICAL

Baptist Hospital of Roane County
Chamberlain Ave.
Rockwood, TN 37854
354-1121
Roane Medical Center
Devonia St.
Harriman, TN 37748
882-1323
Home Care and Hospital, Inc.
2319 South Roane St.
Harriman, TN 37748
882-1414

CULTURAL

There are many area museums and galleries, two nearby symphony orchestras, a choral group, and a community-wide band. The County also has ballet, theater, and craft centers. For those with a literary bent, the Cities of Harriman, Kingston, Oliver Springs, and Rockwood each have an excellent public library. .p

RECREATION

The natural attractions of the area, most residents spend a good deal of leisure time outdoors. Golf, bird watching, fishing, hiking, hunting, boating, picnicking...these are examples of the outdoor activities within easy reach of Roane Countians.


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