Shopping in Clinton TN uncovers little known facts about the area and its gems.
– Clinton, TN, was named after Vice President George Clinton, so not Bill Clinton.
– The town was a key site during the 1956 Clinton 12 school desegregation crisis.
– Additionally, Norris Dam, nearby, was the first project completed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
– Oak Ridge, just west of Clinton, was a secret WWII atomic bomb development site.
– The Museum of Appalachia in Norris showcases rare Appalachian artifacts and history.
– Clinch River, running through Clinton, is one of the most ecologically diverse rivers in the U.S.
– East Tennessee was a pro-Union stronghold during the Civil War, unlike most of the South.
– Also, the region has over 10,000 documented caves, including the famous Tuckaleechee Caverns.
– The Trail of Tears passed through East Tennessee, forcing Cherokee removal in the 1830s.
– Similarly, Clinton’s Green McAdoo Cultural Center honors the bravery of the first Black students to integrate schools.
– The area is home to the oldest continually operating post office in Tennessee, in Norris.
– East Tennessee has more than 150 species of salamanders, therefore earning it the nickname “Salamander Capital of the World.”
– The Secret City (Oak Ridge) wasn’t marked on maps during WWII due to its classified work.
– Clinton’s annual Appalachian Festival celebrates regional music, crafts, and heritage.
– Earlier, the region was once part of the failed State of Franklin, an early attempt at independence.
– Norris Freeway (now I-75) was one of the first modern highways in Tennessee.
– The Clinch River Breeder Reactor near Clinton was an experimental nuclear project in the 1960s.
– East Tennessee has more than 30 species of rare, endangered mussels in its rivers.
– The area was a major moonshining hub during Prohibition, with many hidden stills.
– Clinton’s downtown still has original 19th-century buildings, some with Civil War bullet marks.
Finally, these facts highlight the rich, often overlooked history of Clinton and East Tennessee.
