McMinn County History


gem.gif (110 bytes)    Historical Overview

gem.gif (110 bytes)    Cherokee History

gem.gif (110 bytes)    Early Churches

gem.gif (110 bytes)    Early Schools

 

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Historical Overview

The organization of this new county formed from Indian Lands was known as the "Hiwassee Purchase" and was signed in Washington, D.C. on 27 February 1819, between:
and the following Cherokee Chiefs: On the 13th of November, 1819; the State Legislature at Murfreesboro passed the Act which formed McMinn county, which was named after Governor Joseph McMinn.

Calhoun was chosen as the first county seat in 1819 but in 1823 Athens was designated to represent the county and its people. Eli Hurst, a merchant in Athens, was credited with naming the town in 1821. The ridges and hills surrounding Athens reminded him of descriptions of the capital of Greece.

Calhoun, being the oldest town in the county, was settled in 1821 and named for Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, who served as Vice President under Andrew Jackson. Being situated on the Hiwassee River, it was an ideal location for a paper mill which is today, the largest newsprint plant in the United States.

Etowah was first known as Grady before the L&N Railroad organized the town in 1905 and in 1906 gave it the name of "Etowah". The name is contributed to it being a Creek word for "tribe" or "town" and also for it being a Cherokee word for "muddy waters".

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Cherokee History

WELCOME TO A PORTION OF THE TENNESSEE OVERHILL

This area was named because it was home to the Cherokee towns that were on the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains - overhill from the Lower Cherokee settlements. The OVERHILL is composed of the southeast counties of McMinn, Monroe and Polk, as well as the southern portion of the Cherokee National Forest.

This is the richly detailed site that you need to start with for your Cherokee learning adventure.

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Early Churches

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Early Schools

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