Johnson City Tennessee Real Estate - Johnson City TN Homes for Sale - Property Listings

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High in the Appalachian Mountains, Johnson City, Tennessee has been the center of business and tourism in the northeastern part of the state. Founded as a tiny railroad depot, Johnson City grew to become a major rail hub, tourist destination and later to metropolitan college town. East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, along with a number of smaller private colleges. This dynamic mix of young and old, rich history and new traditions, keeps the rich culture of this Appalachian area alive, attracting newcomers to the area every day. Additionally, the natural beauty and fresh mountain air make Johnson City and the surrounding communities of Gray, Jonesborough, Limestone, Greenville and Elizabethton, the perfect location to live, work or visit.

Johnson City History

Though the eastern portion of Tennessee saw some settlement in the late 1700’s, development in the Johnson City area did not begin until the 1850’s. In 1856, Henry Johnson founded a railroad station which he called, “Johnson’s Depot.” This small depot would later become a major hub for this part of eastern Tennessee.

The Civil War saw the town’s name changing briefly to “Haynesville,” in honor of Confederate Senator Landon Carter Haynes. Immediately following the war, Henry Johnson’s name was restored to the town, with Johnson himself being elected mayor in 1870. After the war, rail tourism also resumed. Johnson City served as headquarters for the narrow gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (the ET&WNC, nicknamed "Tweetsie") and the standard gauge Clinchfield Railroad. Both rail systems featured excursion trips through scenic portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and were engineering marvels of railway construction. To this day, railroads still play a role in Johnson City commerce: the Norfolk Southern Railroad passes through the city.

In spite of the Panic of 1893, a nationwide financial crisis deeply affecting railroad towns, Johnson City experienced new growth at the turn of the 20th century. With the establishment of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for Civil War veterans (now the U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center and National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tennessee) in 1901 and The East Tennessee State Normal School (predecessor to East Tennessee State University) in 1911, Johnson City was well on its way to becoming one of Tennessee’s major population centers. By 1930, Johnson City was the fifth-largest city in Tennessee.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating, and definitely most infamous parts of the storied past of Johnson City is its association to bootlegging and Al Capone. Stories persist that Johnson City was one of several distribution centers for notorious gang boss Al Capone during Prohibition, giving the city the nickname of “Little Chicago.” Capone had an extremely organized network for distributing the fruits of Appalachian distilleries to cities in northern states. According to local accounts, Capone himself was a part-time resident of Montrose Court, a luxury apartment complex on the National Register of Historic Places. The annual "Little Chicago Blues Festival" is held commemorating the legends surrounding the Prohibition-era speakeasies and railroad glory days of Johnson City.

Growth of East Tennessee State University prompted the need to connect Johnson City more thoroughly with surrounding areas via highway. In 2003, Interstate 26 was extended from Asheville, North Carolina to Johnson City completing a 20-year half-billion dollar construction project through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Johnson City Parks & Recreation

Johnson City operates a variety of park facilities and recreation programs for the benefit of city residents. Johnson City’s facilities include 19 parks, 5 recreation centers, 19 tennis courts, 52 athletic fields, 2 pools (both indoor and outdoor), Howard Johnson Field and Roosevelt Memorial Stadium to accommodate the growing population of the area. Johnson City Parks and Recreation encourages you to “increase your life's value today, join a program, use a facility, experience nature, share a smile and enjoy a park!”

For a list of parks in Johnson City, click here

For the Johnson City Parks and Recreation calendar of events, click here

Johnson City Local Events

The Johnson City area hosts some of the most unique events in the East Tennessee area. These events both celebrate the area’s unique heritage and foster a sense of community spirit.

The Blue Plum Art & Music Festival
Enjoy music, arts and crafts, food, children's area, family entertainment, 5k run, animation festival and more in Blue Plum Village in downtown Johnson City.

Umoja/Unity Festival
This celebration of ethnic highlights different cultures using storytelling. This event is produced with cooperation of the ETSU Storytelling Department.

Johnson City Attractions

Johnson City is a unique mix of Appalachia and a collegiate, metropolitan environment. Attractions in Johnson City highlight the best of both of these worlds. Enjoy an evening of live theater at Barter Theater, visit the Bristol Motor Speedway, home to the world’s fastest half mile, or explore the natural beauty of the mountains at Roan Mountain State Park—the possibilities are endless!

For a list of attractions in Johnson City, click here

For more information on Johnson City TN visit the official website by clicking here

For the Johnson City Chamber of Website click here

Gray TN Information

The Johnson City suburb of Gray, Tennessee is located in Washington County. About 1,200 people call the community of Gray home. Though the town was originally rural farmland near a railroad station known as Gray Station, the name of the area was eventually shortened to Gray. It was not until the end of the 20th century that Gray took shape as a residential suburb with minor commercial activity.

Jonesborough TN Information

At 225 years old, Jonesborough is one of the oldest towns in the state of Tennessee. Andrew Jackson first opened his law practice in Jonesborough. As President, Jackson visited the Chester Inn on his way from Washington to his home at the Hermitage. A native Tennessean, President James K. Polk spent time in Jonesborough, and President Andrew Johnson from nearby Greeneville, also campaigned in Jonesborough.

In addition to its presidential history, Jonesborough also has a rich history that is commemorated by storytelling. The Appalachian oral tradition connects generations together through the vivid yarns that tell tales of heroic ancestors or universal truths. The National Storytelling Festival was started in Jonesborough to keep this tradition alive. A national storytelling revival followed, with schools like ETSU even offering graduate degrees in storytelling.

Another tradition that figures prominently in the Jonesborough life is country music. Often called the birthplace of country music, Jonesborough hosts free concerts downtown every Friday night from May through September with “Music on the Square.”

Home to quaint shops and unique cafes, Jonesborough makes an ideal day trip for many in the Johnson City area. With so much rich history and culture, and quiet Appalachian forests for a backdrop, however, many day trips turn into lifelong living in Jonesborough!

For more information on Jonesborough TN, visit the official website by clicking here

Limestone TN Information

Located along the border of Washington and Greene Counties, the community of Limestone, Tennessee is part of the Johnson City area. Limestone is the birthplace of Davy Crockett and the location of the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park.

Greeneville TN Information

Greeneville is a city rich in historical beauty. President Andrew Johnson’s birthplace and early homestead are located in this town, and the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park is nearby. Many historic churches and old railroad hotels are featured prominently in Greeneville. Come see why people past and present have been drawn to the Greeneville area—the timeless and breathtaking mountain views!

Elizabethton TN Information

Elizabethton, Tennessee is an area rich in history. Founded in 1799, Elizabethton is site of the oldest independent American settlement west of the Eastern Continental Divide. Many historic sites have been preserved by the town for future generations like the Elizabethton Historic District, featuring properties ranging in age from the late 1700’s to the 1930’s. Built in 1882, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is another historic landmark worth seeing.

Home to about 14,000 people, Elizabethton, Tennessee is a thriving small town in Carter County. Elizabethton is a full service city and contains one High School and three Elementary Schools. A city-owned airport is just minutes from downtown Elizabethton. Elizabethton is also home to a branch of Northeast State Community College. Adjacent to Johnson City, Elizabethton is a short drive from many other areas in the East Tennessee region. Elizabethton can be accessed by Interstate 26, Interstate 81, Tri-Cities Regional Airport, U.S. Highway 19E, U.S. Highway 321, and U.S. Highway 11E.

For more information on Elizabethton TN visit the official website by clicking here

For the Elizabethton TN Tourism website, click here

For the Elizabethton TN Chamber of Commerce website, click here

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