Find Johnson County TN events and programs on our Calendar of Events. click on image to enlarge view America250-JohnsonCounty-Passport (1) Community Center Book Clun America250-JohnsonCounty-Passport (1) 1/24 Johnson County Calendar of Events event submission guidelines submit your event for free

Discover Johnson County, Tennessee — a welcoming mountain community where heritage, natural beauty, and opportunity meet. Access county services, local government resources, and explore things to do in Mountain City, Shady Valley, and Butler. Stay informed, get involved, and experience the best of Northeast Tennessee. Johnson County Courthouse Photo credit: Dennis Shekinah Doe Mountain Recreation Area Beautiful Watauga Lake Photo credit: Sheila Stout Caldwell Johnson County Courthouse Photo credit: Dennis Shekinah 1/41 Subscribe for Updates Subscribe Now Thanks for submitting! STAY CONNECTED TODAY! BE IN THE KNOW Welcome to Johnson County TN, your destination for today, tomorrow, or a lifetime! COURTHOUSE HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm County Clerks Office Only Saturdays 8:30am-11:45am NEW OFFICE HOURS FOR THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BEGINNING APRIL 18, 2026 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday ... 8:30am-5:00pm Open Extended hours on Thursdays from 7:30am-5:30pm CLOSED ON SATURDAYS County Transfer Station Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm Saturdays 8:00am-12:00pm County Phone Directory Johnson County TN Government Public Notices PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, April 13 at 6:00pm Upper Courtroom - Courthouse Download Agenda Packet BUDGET COMMITTEE Thursday, April 16 at 6:00pm Upper Courtroom - Courthouse Agenda included below. COUNTY COMMISSION Thursday, April 16 at 7:00pm Upper Courtroom - Courthouse DOWNLOAD AGENDA PACKET JOINT ECD MEETING Monday, April 27 at 12:00pm County Mayor's Office DOWNLOAD PUBLIC NOTICE DOWNLOAD AGENDA EARLY VOTING INFORMATION Early voting will be held at the Johnson County Election Commission Office from: April 15 through April 30, 2026 HOURS: Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday (April 18 & April 25): 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Learn More LOCAL UPDATES For Hurricane Disaster Recovery Updates, please follow: Johnson County -TN Long Term Recovery Group Phone: 423-440-2883 Email: JCTNrecovery@gmail.com NOTICE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION: You must apply for FEMA Flood Permits in the Property Assessors Office. Questions: 423-727-7692 PUBLIC NOTICE A public meeting is scheduled to discuss community needs and how Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding might address those needs. Johnson County is considering submitting a 2023-2024 CDBG-DR application to the State of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The meeting will be held at the Johnson County Courthouse, Upstairs Courtroom, 222 West Main Street, Mountain City, TN on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Residents of Johnson County will be given the opportunity to comment on potential projects, and all people of any race, age, or gender are welcome to attend. Any person wishing to attend with special needs of accessibility should contact Amanda Hall at 423-727-9696. PUB1T: 4/23/26 FROZEN by the Johnson County Young Artists May 1 & 2 at 7:00pm calendar of events Follow Johnson County Government Featured COMMUNITY POST

Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(g), the following Public Records Policy for Johnson County, TN Government is hereby adopted by the Johnson County Commission to provide economical and efficient access to public records as provided under the Tennessee Public Records Act (“TPRA”) in Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-501, et seq. Public Open Records Policy Updated 02/18/2021 Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(g), the following Public Records Policy for Johnson County, TN Government is hereby adopted by the Johnson County Commission to provide economical and efficient access to public records as provided under the Tennessee Public Records Act (“TPRA”) in Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-501, et seq. download policy & request form here The Public Records Request Coordinator for Johnson County is Sheila Caldwell. Requests to inspect public records may be submitted orally or in writing. Requests for copies of public records must be submitted in writing using the Public Records Request Form. Download a copy of the Public Records Policy and Request Form. Johnson County Mayor c/o Amanda Hall – email Public Records Request Coordinator 222 W. Main Street Mountain City, TN 37683 423-727-9696 Under state law, the County Clerk serves as the clerk of the county’s legislative body (County Commission). As such, they are tasked with all of the administrative duties related to the Commission, such as the recording of minutes, publishing of agendas, and providing adequate public notice of meetings. If you have questions regarding when and where meeting notices and agendas are posted, you need to contact the office of County Clerk Tammie Fenner. You can reach her office by email or by calling 423-727-9633. All documents are in PDF format and require a viewer to open the file. 2026 PUBLIC NOTICES & AGENDAS AGENDA PACKET: Planning Commission Meeting - January 12, 2026 AGENDA PACKET: Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - January 15, 2026 AMENDED AGENDA : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - January 15, 2026 AGENDA PACKET: Joint ECD Meeting - January 26, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : County Commission Workshop - January 26, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Joint ECD Meeting - February 9, 2026 PUBLIC NOTICE: Johnson County Commission Workshop - February 9, 2026 PUBLIC NOTICE : Beer Commission - February 17, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - February 19, 2026 AGENDA PACKET: Planning Commission Meeting - March 2, 2026 AGENDA PACKET: Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting - March 18, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - March 19, 2026 AMENDED PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - March 19, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting - March 24, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Planning Commission Meeting - April 13, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - April 16, 2026 AGENDA: Joint ECD Meeting - April 27, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - May 21, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - June 18, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : County Commission Meeting - July 16, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : County Commission Meeting - August 20, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - September 17, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - October 15, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - November 19, 2026 AGENDA PACKET : Budget Committee & County Commission Meeting - December 17 2026 2026 COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 May 2026 June 2026 July 2026 August 2026 September 2026 October 2026 November 2026 December 2026 Find 2022 & 2023 archived records here . Find 2024 archived records here. Find 2025 archived records here. Please note that previous years predate the launch of the website and are not available electronically.

Get official Johnson County, TN election information for the May 5, 2026 primary, including early voting dates, absentee ballot details, voter ID requirements, and sample ballots. QUICK OVERVIEW State and County Primary Election: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Early Voting: April 15 – April 30, 2026 Voter Registration Deadline: April 6, 2026 Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: April 25, 2026 DOWNLOAD MAY 5, 2026 SAMPLE BALLOT HERE DOWNLOAD KEY DATES FOR THE 2026 ELECTION CYCLE Note: PDF documents require a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. EARLY VOTING INFORMATION Early voting will be held at the Johnson County Election Commission Office from: April 15 through April 30, 2026 Hours: Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday (April 18 & April 25): 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Early voting allows registered voters to cast their ballot in person before Election Day in a convenient and flexible timeframe. PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT Tennessee law requires voters to present a valid photo ID when voting in person. Accepted forms of ID include: Tennessee driver’s license U.S. passport Tennessee photo ID issued by the Department of Safety Federal or military photo ID (including Veteran ID) Tennessee handgun carry permit Note: College IDs and out-of-state IDs are not accepted. For additional information and exceptions, visit GoVoteTN.com or contact the Election Commission. VOTING BY MAIL (ABSENTEE) Any registered voter of Johnson County may vote in person during a period beginning twenty (20) days prior to the election five (5) days before the election (TCA 2-6-102 (a) (1)). This period would run from: April 15, 2026, through April 30, 2026. Early Voting will be held at The Election Commission Office. DOWNLOAD EARLY VOTING & ABSENTEE NOTICE HERE Johnson County TN Election Commission The Johnson County Election Commission is committed to providing clear, accurate, and accessible information to all voters. This page includes important details for the May 5, 2026 State and County Primary Election, including early voting dates, absentee voting procedures, voter requirements, and key deadlines. Whether you plan to vote early, on Election Day, or by mail, we encourage all registered voters to review this information and make a plan to vote. Cheri Lipford, Administrator of Elections Email: johnson.commission@tn.gov 158 Election Ave, P. O. Box 106, Mountain City, TN 37683 Phone: 423-727-8592 Fax: 423-727-9168 Office Hours: Monday-Friday | 8:00am-4:00pm Our office is directly behind Johnson County Rescue Squad. IMPORTANT LINKS Johnson County Election Commission Website Current Johnson County Elected Officials Candidate Information Voter Information Election Results About the Johnson County Election Commission This page is best viewed on a desktop or tablet.

A directory of administrative offices for Johnson County Tennessee. Johnson County Administrative Offices Russell Robinson, Director ACCOUNTS & BUDGETS 423-727-7977 The Director of Accounts and Budgets, is responsible for making sure the county books are kept in compliance with all state and local rules and regulations and in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). The Director of Accounts & Budgets and his staff work closely with the County Mayor in developing financial information for the various county departments, the Budget Committee, and the County Commission regarding all areas of finance. This office plays a key role in making sure the County is and stays in a stable financial position. Melissa Hollaway CIRCUT COURT CLERK 423-727-9012 Website - Pay Civil & Criminal Fines Some of the clerks’ duties include the following: Attending each court session with all the papers for the cases on the docket; Administering oaths to parties and witnesses who testify; Keeping minutes of the court in a well-bound book or in an electronic format so long as certain rules relating to the safekeeping of the records are followed; Maintaining the rule docket and an execution docket in which all court judgments or decrees are entered in order of rendition and all receipts and disbursements in a case are entered; & Maintaining indexes for all books and dockets that are kept by the office. Tammie Fenner JOHNSON COUNTY CLERK 423-727-9633 Website The county clerk has numerous duties, including acting as clerk of the county legislative body, issuing motor vehicle titles and registrations, collecting privilege taxes, and overseeing the issuance of beer permits & marriage licenses. Sherrie Fenner CLERK & MASTER 423-727-7853 423-727-7012 (fax) sfennerclerkandmaster@outlook.com Website Read Bio Here Cheri Lipford, Certified Administrator of Elections ELECTION COMMISSION 423-727-8592 Website The Johnson County Election Commission has the statutory responsibilities of registering voters and conducting elections. Honorable Jeffery C. Lowe GENERAL SESSIONS/JUVENILE JUDGE 423-727-9486 The criminal wing of the Sessions Court handles all criminal cases charged in the county. It can render disposition on misdemeanors and probable cause hearings on felonies. The civil wing of the Sessions Court handles all damages cases up to $25,000, all detainer summonses, and orders of protection. The Juvenile wing has exclusive jurisdiction of dependent neglect children, truant children, and unruly children. It also legitimates children and collects child support on behalf of the children under its jurisdiction. Jeff Wagner HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 196 Pleasant Valley Road | Mountain City, TN 37683 423-727-7851 Litter Control Officer LITTER CONTROL Recycling Center Address: Election Avenue | Mountain City, TN 37683 423-501-1005 Matthew Lewis, Assessor PROPERTY ASSESSOR 423-727-7692 The assessor’s duties include two basic functions: appraisal and assessment of taxable real and personal property in the county that is not appraised by the state. NOTICE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION : You must apply for FEMA Flood Permits in the Property Assessors Office. Questions: 423-727-7692 Freida May, Register of Deeds REGISTER OF DEEDS 423-727-7841 Website The primary function of the register is to make and preserve a record of instruments required or allowed by law to be filed or recorded, including but not limited to deeds, powers of attorney, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, contracts, plats, leases, judgments, wills, court orders, military discharges, records under the Uniform Commercial Code (primarily fixture filings),and other types of documents. T.C.A. § 66-24-101. The records provide public notice of property ownership, liens, contracts, and other transactions that affect the public interest. The register’s office is in the county seat, and the records and papers must remain in the office at all times. T.C.A. §§ 8-13-106, 8-13-107. Mayor Larry Potter SOLID WASTE 423-727-6921 378 Industrial Park Road | Mountain City, TN 37683 TRANSFER STATION HOURS Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:00p m | Saturdays 8:00am-12:00pm Closed on recognized holidays Lisa J. Crowder TRUSTEE 423-727-9062 Johnson County Courthouse | 222 W Main Street | Mountain City, TN Website The county trustee has three major functions among other duties: (1) collecting the county’s property taxes; (2) accounting for and disbursing county funds (including proper apportionment and determination of fund availability); and (3) investing temporarily idle county funds. Bill Caldwell & Frank Dominguez VETERAN'S AFFAIRS & SAFETY 208 College Street | Mountain City, TN 37694 423-727-7929 Frank Dominguez - email Bill Caldwell, VSO - email The Johnson County Veterans Service Office is available to assist and answer any questions you may have with your veteran benefit claims. They also provide assistance with insurance issues and supplemental policy information, as well as information for low-income veterans, their families and neighbors. Cameron Stanberry YOUTH SERVICES OFFICER 423-727-9486 The Youth Services Officer of the County meets with unruly and delinquent juveniles and their families to counsel the youth, make appropriate referrals to public as well as private agencies, and to provide information for us by the court. Ryan Carroll JOHNSON COUNTY ATTORNEY (423) 460-3000

The Johnson County Purchasing Department is maintaining a registry of vendors who have expressed an interest in doing business with the Johnson County Government. SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR SALE ON GOVDEALS.COM County Government Surplus Items Highway Department Surplus Items Sheriff’s Department Surplus Items Open RFQ A&E Services County Purchasing Manual Click Here to View Open Solicitations Listing on Vendor Registry INVITATION TO BID - download Qualified state-licensed general contractors are invited to participate in the bidding phase for the following Nine (9) residential projects through the First Tennessee Development District: • Demolition and Reconstruction of Three (3) Homes under the Carter County, Tennessee THDA HOME Disaster Recovery Grant Housing program. • Demolition and Reconstruction of Two (2) Homes under the Johnson County, Tennessee THDA HOME Disaster Recovery Grant Housing Program. • Manufactured HOME Replacement of One (1) Home under the Johnson County, Tennessee THDA HOME Disaster Recovery Grant Housing Program. • Emergency Repairs of Three (3) Homes under First Tennessee Development Districts – THDA ERP Grant program. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, at 9:00 am. The conference will be held at the First Tennessee Development District, 3211 N Roan St, Johnson City, Tennessee. For initial instructions, bid documents and questions please contact Rene’ Mann at 423-268-2677. All state-licensed general contractors wishing to participate in bidding on the projects under the Carter County and Johnson County, Tennessee THDA HOME Disaster Recovery programs are strongly encouraged to attend this pre-bid conference. The contractor shall follow Federal requirements as set forth in 24 CFR 5.105(a) Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity, including: Section 3 of the Housing & Urban Development Act of 1968 24 CFR 135 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) and implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 135, as amended. Carter County, Tennessee, Johnson County, Tennessee, and the First Tennessee Development District are Equal Opportunity Employers and urge the participation of minority and female contractors. Johnson County Purchasing Department Troy Arnold, Purchasing Agent 211 North Church Street | Mountain City, TN 37683 Phone: 423-727-7861 | Fax: 423-727-7418 Email: purchasing@johnsoncountytn.gov Vendor Registration – Click Here The Johnson County Purchasing Department is maintaining a registry of vendors who have expressed an interest in doing business with the Johnson County Government. If you would like to add your business to this registry, please complete registration by clicking on the link above and follow the instructions. As needs arise for a particular product or service, the purchasing department uses this registry as one of several sources to find potential suppliers. Please note that the Johnson County Purchasing Department cannot guarantee that this registry will be utilized or that any vendor will be notified of every solicitation for quotes, bids, or proposals for which it wishes to compete. Public Notice advertisements for formal bids and proposals are placed within The Tomahawk newspaper of Mountain City, TN at minimum 2-weeks prior to the scheduled response deadline. PROTEST PROCEDURE Any protest concerning the award of any bid or proposal shall be addressed to the Johnson County, TN Purchasing Agent. Protest shall be made in writing to the Purchasing Agent and shall be filed within five (5) business days after the intended award is announced. A protest is considered filed when received by the Purchasing Agent and written confirmation is given back to the protester. The written protest shall include the name and address of the protester, identification of the procurement, a statement of the specific reasons for the protest and supporting exhibits. The submitted information will be reviewed with the appropriate Department Head and County Attorney to render a final decision and a formal response provided within five days. This decision relative to the protest shall be considered final.

Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(g), the following Public Records Policy for Johnson County, TN Government is hereby adopted by the Johnson County Commission to provide economical and efficient access to public records as provided under the Tennessee Public Records Act (“TPRA”) in Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-501, et seq. JOHNSON COUNTY ARCHIVED COMMISSION DOCUMENTS All documents are in PDF format and require a viewer to open the file. 2023 PUBLIC NOTICES & AGENDAS PUBLIC NOTICE: Planning Commission Meeting - Monday, January 9, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Quarterly Commission Meeting - Thursday, January 19, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Accounts & Budget Committee Meeting - Thursday, January 19, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Quarterly County Commission Meeting - Thursday, January 19, 2023 MEETING AGENDA: Commission Meeting Quarterly Agenda - January 19 , 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Accounts & Budget Committee Meeting - Thursday, February 16, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: County Commission Meeting - Thursday, February 16, 2023 MEETING AGENDA: Commission Meeting Agenda - Thursday, February 16, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE/AGENDA: Special-Called Commission Meeting - Thursday, March 2, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Public Records Commission Meeting - Wednesday, March 15, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Budget Meeting - Thursday, March 16, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: County Commission Meeting - Thursday, March 16, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Court Security Committee - Monday, March 27, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Planning Commission Meeting - Monday, April 17, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Budget Meeting - Thursday, April 20, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Quarterly County Commission Meeting - Thursday, April 20, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Joint ECD Committee Meeting - Wednesday, April 26, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Budget Committee Meetings : Mondays: May 8, 15 & 22, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Beer Commission Meetin g - Monday, May 8, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Planning Commission Meeting - Monday. May 8, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Solid Waste Committee Meeting - Thursday, May 11, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE/AGENDA: Special Called Meeting - Thursday, May 11, 2023 AGENDA PACKET: County Commission Meeting - Thursday, May 18. 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Beer Commission Meetin g - Tuesday, May 30, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE: Public Safety Committee Meeting - Tuesday, June 6, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA : Joint ECD Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 7, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA : JC Planning Commission Meeting - Monday, June 12, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA : County Commission Meeting: Thursday, June 15, 2023 AMENDED AGENDA: County Commission Meeting: Thursday, June 15, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE : Beer Commission Meeting: Monday, July 3, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA: Budget Committee: Monday, July 10, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA: Special Called Meeting: Monday, July 10, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA : Planning Commission Meeting: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA : County Commission Meeting: Thursday, July 20, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA PACKET : County Commission Meeting Thursday, 8/17/23 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA PACKET : Budget & Commission Meetings, Thursday, 9/21/23 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA PACKET : Budget & Commission Meetings, Thursday, 10/19/23 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING : To appoint Interim Sheriff - Monday, October 23, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA PACKET : Commission Meetings, Thursday, 11/16/23 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA: Planning Commission Meeting, Monday, 12/11/2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA : Joint ECD Meeting, Wednesday, 12/20/2023 PUBLIC NOTICE & AGENDA: Budget & County Commission Meeting, Thursday, 12/21/2023 MONTHLY COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 SPECIAL MEETING May 2023 June & July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 Find 2024 records here. Please note that previous years predate the launch of the website and are not available electronically.

If interested in employment with Johnson County, please pick up and submit an employment application from the Mayor’s Office at the Johnson County Courthouse. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES If interested in employment with Johnson County, please pick up and submit an employment application from the Mayor’s Office at the Johnson County Courthouse. You may also download and print the employment application here . Equal Employment Opportunity Information

Johnson County Long Term Recovery information. HOW YOU CAN HELP JOHNSON COUNTY Johnson County Long-Term Recovery Group Your corporate or individual donations will be administered by the First Tennessee Development District Foundation. All donations will stay in Johnson County and be used specifically for materials and tools to support the rebuilding process. These funds will help bridge any gaps that are uncovered as people find items/issues that are not covered by other organizations. DONATE ONLINE HERE If you wish to donate by check, please include Johnson County LTRG on the subject line and make your check out to: FTDD Foundation 3211 N. Roan Street Johnson City, TN 37601 Restoring Hope and Stability After the Storm Over the past year, our community has come together—individuals, organizations, churches, and businesses—demonstrating incredible compassion and resilience. The Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group has been formed to foster collaboration and ensure that every neighbor has the support they need to rebuild their lives. Contact Information Director 2303 S. Shady Street Mountain City, TN 37683 Email: JCTNrecovery@gmail.com Phone: 423-440-2883 Website | Facebook | Instagram NOTICE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION: You must apply for FEMA Flood Permits in the Property Assessors Office. Questions: 423-727-7692

The Johnson County/Mountain City Community Center offers after school and summer programming to the students of Johnson County. These services are made possible through County/City funding, grants, and contributions. The center is also used by several local organizations as a meeting place. Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm (Summer Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm - According to school schedule) Johnson County/Mountain City Community Center Joey Beth Souder, Director 214 College St Mountain City, TN 37683 (423) 727-2942 Email: jsouder@mountaincitytn.org County/City Community Center The Johnson County/Mountain City Community Center offers weekly and monthly activities, including crafting, book club, health and wellness activities, and much more. For students, the Center offers after-school tutoring, activities, and an after-school meal/snack sponsored by local businesses and other generous donors. The Center also provides many local organizations with a monthly or weekly meeting place and is available to rent for special events. For more information about the Community Center and what the center has to offer, or to inquire about renting event space, please contact the Center at (423) 727-2942. Information regarding upcoming events, classes, closures or other schedule changes is also posted on our facebook page. Be sure to follow us to stay up-to-date on all of our activities! For more information about the center, please follow us on Facebook !

Johnson County is the northeastern most county in Tennessee, sharing borders with Virginia and North Carolina. Communities are Mountain City, Butler, Cold Springs, Doe Valley, Dry Run, Forge Creek, Shouns, Laurel Bloomery, Shady Valley and Trade. Johnson County Tennessee Communities Johnson County is the northeastern most county in Tennessee, sharing borders with Virginia and North Carolina. The county is situated entirely in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is made up of many small towns and communities situated over four mountains, three valleys and along one big lake. It is one of the highest counties in Tennessee, and it has a total area of 303 square miles, of which 298 square miles is land and 4.2 square miles is water. Mountain City is the largest town in the county and serves as the county seat. The county is governed by a Board of Commissioners and a county mayor. There are (8) voting districts in the county represented by 15 Commissioners. The county is located within Tennessee’s 1st congressional district. Johnson County was created in 1836 from parts of Carter County, where Elizabethton was the county seat. The residents of what is now Johnson County tried for years to get the county to move the seat to a more central location, because it was so difficult to travel to Elizabethton. Their formal petition was rejected by the county, so they petitioned the state legislature for the creation of a new county. The new county was named after Thomas Johnson, an early settler. Mainly due to the remoteness of the county, the railroads did not reach Johnson County until the early 1900’s. The arrival of the railroad greatly helped the development of the timber and manganese mining industries. Butler, TN Butler is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tennessee, and is located along the northern shore of Watauga Lake. Butler is served by a Post Office assigned zip code 37640. The community is part of the voting district # 4 area of the county. The settlement of what is now known as Butler began in 1768. The town was originally located on Roan Creek at its confluence with the Watauga River, and the community was originally called Smith’s Mill for the gristmill built on the bank of the Roan Creek in 1820. After the civil war, it was renamed in honor of Colonel Roderick R. Butler. Aenon Seminary, a secondary school, was established in Butler in 1871. It later became Holly Springs College. In the 1906, it was purchased by the Watauga Baptist Association and renamed Watauga Academy. It operated under that name until 1948, when the town was inundated by the formation of Watauga Lake, and the town was relocated to higher ground to make way for the lake. The original town is now known as “Old Butler” and is called “The Town That Wouldn’t Drown”. The history and relocation of Butler is documented at the Butler Museum, which has incredible exhibits and original pictures on display presenting the long history, the Appalachian culture and the relocation of the original town to its current location. Cold Springs, TN The Cold Springs community is located in Johnson County, Tennessee, and it is located right outside of Mountain City. The primary coordinates of the community place it within the 37683 zip code delivery area of Mountain City. The community is part of the voting district #1 area of the county. In or near the community are the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and several businesses. The history of the community was rooted in farming and today there are still many farms in the area. Doe Valley, TN Doe Valley is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tennessee, and it is situated in the upper Doe Creek Valley between Iron Mountains to the north and Doe Mountain to the south. The community is located along Hwy 67 between Mountain City and Butler. It is near the communities of Pandora to the southwest and Dewey to the northeast. The primary coordinates for Doe Valley places it within the 37683 zip code delivery area of Mountain City. The community is part of the voting district #5 area of the county. Doe Valley is the location of the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Northeast Correctional Complex and the Johnson County Chamber Park, which hosts an annual rodeo and other events. This community is home to the Doe Valley Elementary School and the Doe Valley Volunteer Fire Department. There are also a number of small businesses located inthe area. It is near Watauga Lake and the Cherokee National Forest. Dry Run, TN Dry Run is a small community in Johnson County, Tennessee and is located near Butler. The primary coordinates of the county place it within the 37640 zip code delivery area of Butler. The community is part of the voting district #4 area of the county. Located in the community are the Dry Run Volunteer Fire Department and the Dry Run Elementary School. There are also several businesses in this area including the Dry Hill General Store & Deli and the Watauga Lake Winery. Forge Creek / Shouns, TN The Forge Creek and Shouns community is located in Johnson County, and it is actually situated within the town of Mountain City. It has an elevation of 2303 feet with Forge Mountain rising to the east of the town. The primary coordinates of the community place it within the 37683 zip code delivery area of Mountain City. The community is part of the voting district #2 area of the county. In 1761 Daniel Boone came through the area that is now Johnson County. In the mid 1770’s, a settlement was established in the area called “The Trade Gap”, which was a trading post for Indians and traders. The area was renamed Trade, Tennessee and is the oldest community in the state. By the late 1770’s, Johnson County had a population of about 150 people, with a leading citizen being Leonard Shoun, who fathered 20 children, and for which Shoun’s Crossroads is named. Laurel Bloomery, TN Laurel Bloomery is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tennessee, and it is the northeastern most community in the state with an elevation of 2410 feet. It is located along Hwy 91 between Mountain City, Tennessee and Damascus, Virginia. Laurel Bloomery had a Post Office with an assigned zip code of 37680. It is now part of the Mountain City delivery area. The community is part of the voting district # 1 area of the county. The community was settled in the early 19th century. The community’s first bloomer forge mill was built and began operation in 1810. The mill was closed in 1870, but portions are still standing today. The community was named for the Laurel Creek between Damascus and Mountain City. The area is known for its’ beautiful mountains and secluded valleys. The area is home to some great hiking trails including the easier Laurel Creek Trail that meanders along the Laurel Creek and the more challenging Gentry Falls Trail leading to a double waterfall located in the back forest of the area. The Old Time Fiddlers Convention is held every year at the Old Mill Music Park. It marks the annual anniversary of the Mountain City Fiddlers Convention of 1925 that was held in nearby Mountain City. Musicians travel to this event to play and listen to old time folk and bluegrass music. Mountain City, TN Mountain City serves as the county seat of Johnson County, and it is the northeastern most county seat in Tennessee. It is the highest incorporated city in the state at an elevation of 2,418 feet. The town has a total area of 3.3 square miles, all being land. The town is situated in one of the highest valleys in the state. Forge Mountain rises to the east, Doe Mountain rises to the southwest and Iron Mountains rise to the north. Mountain City is just a few miles from both the Virginia and North Carolina state lines. US Hwy 421 connects Mountain City with Bristol, Tennessee, to the northwest and Boone, North Carolina, to the southeast. State route 67 winds along side Watauga Lake and connects the town to Elizabethton, Tennessee. Mountain City has a Post Office with an assigned zip code of 37683. The town is part of the voting district #7 area of the county. The first Euro-American explorers arrived in what is now the Mountain City area in the late 17th century using existing Native American trails. The first permanent Euro-American settlers arrived in the 18th century and among them were Leonard Shoun and Alexander Doran. The town was founded in 1836 and was originally called Taylorsville, in honor of Colonel James Taylor. The name was changed to Mountain City in 1885, to reflect it being in one of the highest valleys in Tennessee. Mountain City and Johnson County have a long musical heritage. In 1925, the town was the site of the first Mountain City Fiddlers Convention, which is considered a landmark event in the modern history of Appalachian traditional music. The musical gathering greatly contributed to the development of the genre of country music. Shady Valley, TN Shady Valley is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tennessee, and is located just outside of the Cherokee National Forest. Shady Valley is also the name of the valley in which the town is located. It is the second highest community in Tennessee at an elevation of 2785 feet, and it is situated between Holston Mountain to the northwest and Iron Mountain to the southeast. The town is located at the intersection of Hwy 421 and Hwy 91 in the middle of the valley. Shady Valley is served by a Post Office assigned zip code 37688. The community is part of the voting district #6 area of the county. Shady Valley is home to some historic cranberry bogs. These are cold adopted ecosystems, far south of their usual range. The valley once contained an estimated 10,000 acres of boreal cranberry bogs. The annual Cranberry Festival held the second weekend in October every year, celebrates the remaining cranberry bog. The annual festival includes food, music, a parade and auctions. Shady Valley is also known for the famous Snake Motorcycle Ride. The local general store serves as the home base for this motorcycle route, and here you can get Snake Motorcycle memorabilia, food, gas and information. The community has two other small businesses, a US Post Office and the Shady Valley Elementary School. Trade, TN Trade is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tennessee, and is the eastern most community in the state. Trade is also considered the oldest community in the state, and it is the highest community in the state at 3133 feet elevation. It is located along Hwy 421 between Mountain City, Tennessee and Boone, North Carolina. Trade is served by a Post Office assigned zip code 37691. The community is part of the voting district #3 area of the county. In the 18th century, Trade was established as a trading outpost known as “The Trade Gap”. It was a trading post for Native Americans, pioneers and fur traders. Tom Dula (made famous by the folk song “Tom Dooley”) hid out in Trade as he was on the run, suspected of murder in North Carolina. He was eventually arrested by a posse in Trade. In 2008, the Trade Gristmill celebrated its grand opening at the Trade Community Center grounds. Most of the parts comprising the newly constructed mill date back to pre-civil war. This is a good attraction to share with family and friends. The culture and history of Trade is celebrated at the Trade Days Festival, a long running celebration of Appalachian arts, crafts, culture and history. It includes Appalachian music, dance and a Native American Pow-Wow. It is held at the Trade Community Center.