Washburn, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Washburn is an unincorporated community
in rural northern Grainger County, Tennessee
, United States
. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. According to the 2000 United States census the total population was 2,508.
While many smaller communities exist in the area, such as Joppa
, Powder Springs, Tater Valley, Liberty Hill, and Thorn Hill
, Washburn is considered to be the central town of northern Grainger County, due to its access to most county services.
Commercial and public services include a bank, post office, school, library, and medical clinic, as well as several private businesses.
Prior to all of this activity, the community, then called Puncheon Camp, served as the seat of Grainger County from an unknown time until Rutledge
was established as the county seat in 1801.
The town quickly became a mecca for people wanting to move out of Knoxville
. The town officially became Washburn on June 2, 1898 when the United States Postal Service
built a new post office within the town, replacing the one nearby which had previously been known simply as Clear Spring.
The town continued to grow well into the early twentieth century. In the 1950s, it was decided that northern Grainger County needed a secondary school of its own. Prior to this, any student who wished to go to school beyond the 8th grade had to find a way to get to Rutledge High School, across Clinch Mountain
in the county seat of Rutledge. Washburn High School was established to meet this need. Subsequently, as the idea of centralized schooling became popular, the smaller elementary schools, such as Thorn Hill Elementary, Liberty Hill School, and Powder Springs Elementary were closed and combined into the new Washburn Elementary School.
At the time, both Rutledge and Washburn High Schools had the same number of students, and both buildings were built in a similar design. This design similarity is still evident in both schools to this day.
Towards the end of the 20th Century, northern Grainger County as a whole, as well as the bustling town of Washburn went into a decline. Without the many employment and educational opportunities that existed in larger cities, many citizens left Washburn, and in most cases, Grainger County altogether.
The "North-Side" of Grainger County (the County is split in half by the Clinch Mountain range) seemed to always get the short end of the stick in those days, citizens became angry whenever they thought the County government overlooked them, in favor of the larger "South-Side" which includes the larger cities of: Rutledge, Tennessee
, Bean Station, Tennessee
, and Blaine, Tennessee
.
When, in early 2004, the Grainger County Board of Education decided that a new comprehensive high school was needed in the county, residents of Washburn and surrounding areas became concerned that the county might decide to close Washburn High School and instead bus their children across Clinch Mountain every day. Rutledge High School was severely over capacity with more than 800 students, while Washburn High School had only some 200 students in grades 9 through 12. As of 2006, this situation was still unresolved. Construction on the new Grainger County High School, with a planned capacity of 1600 students, began in 2006 and was scheduled for completion in 2008.http://www.lewisgroup.net/portfolio/portfolio_detail.html?portfolio_id=38 Many residents on the south side of the county supported the investment in the new school, but citizens on the north side remained concerned. County officials said that students would have a choice of either staying at Washburn High School or going by bus to the new school, but there was concern that this promise would not be kept.
complex is a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school housing approximately 60 students in each grade.
Washburn school is home to the Washburn Pirates, which participate in basketball, baseball, and softball. Washburn High School also offers extracurricular activities and clubs to all students (such as: Future Business Leaders of America, Skills USA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) and is constantly expanding to fit student's interests.
Grainger County Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Grainger County Board of Education, purchased some 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) behind Washburn Schools in 2005, with the intent of building a park, community center, and new sports fields for the School. Grants of $75,000 have been received from the state, but are not sufficient to fund the project, which is estimated to cost nearly $200,000.
Washburn received a grant from the State for the sum of $282,000 to build 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) of sidewalks in the town.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in rural northern Grainger County, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Morristown metropolitan area
The Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties - Grainger, Hamblen, and Jefferson - in eastern Tennessee, anchored by the city of Morristown. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 123,081...
. According to the 2000 United States census the total population was 2,508.
Geography
Washburn is located at 36°17′24"N 83°35′28"W (36.29, -83.59) .While many smaller communities exist in the area, such as Joppa
Joppa, Tennessee
Joppa is an unincorporated community in rural west-central Grainger County, Tennessee, United States that rests below Joppa Mountain, a subrange of the 150 mile long Clinch Mountain Ridge. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:It's situated along the...
, Powder Springs, Tater Valley, Liberty Hill, and Thorn Hill
Thorn Hill, Tennessee
Thorn Hill is an unincorporated community in rural northeastern Grainger County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 United States Census reported the population of Thorn Hill to be 1,236 at the time.-Education:The community of...
, Washburn is considered to be the central town of northern Grainger County, due to its access to most county services.
Commercial and public services include a bank, post office, school, library, and medical clinic, as well as several private businesses.
History
During the 1890s, construction was buzzing all over the North side of Grainger County. The Knoxville-Cumberland Gap Railroad was coming to town. Sometime within the decade of construction, it was decided that the railroad needed a rail yard and depot along the line. The railroad company named the depot "Washburn" after the man who had helped to build the railroad and had secured the legislation to make it become a reality.Prior to all of this activity, the community, then called Puncheon Camp, served as the seat of Grainger County from an unknown time until Rutledge
Rutledge, Tennessee
Rutledge is a town in Grainger County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Grainger County. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
was established as the county seat in 1801.
The town quickly became a mecca for people wanting to move out of Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. The town officially became Washburn on June 2, 1898 when the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
built a new post office within the town, replacing the one nearby which had previously been known simply as Clear Spring.
The town continued to grow well into the early twentieth century. In the 1950s, it was decided that northern Grainger County needed a secondary school of its own. Prior to this, any student who wished to go to school beyond the 8th grade had to find a way to get to Rutledge High School, across Clinch Mountain
Clinch Mountain
Clinch Mountain is a mountain ridge in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Virginia, lying in the ridge-and-valley section of the Appalachian Mountains...
in the county seat of Rutledge. Washburn High School was established to meet this need. Subsequently, as the idea of centralized schooling became popular, the smaller elementary schools, such as Thorn Hill Elementary, Liberty Hill School, and Powder Springs Elementary were closed and combined into the new Washburn Elementary School.
At the time, both Rutledge and Washburn High Schools had the same number of students, and both buildings were built in a similar design. This design similarity is still evident in both schools to this day.
Towards the end of the 20th Century, northern Grainger County as a whole, as well as the bustling town of Washburn went into a decline. Without the many employment and educational opportunities that existed in larger cities, many citizens left Washburn, and in most cases, Grainger County altogether.
The "North-Side" of Grainger County (the County is split in half by the Clinch Mountain range) seemed to always get the short end of the stick in those days, citizens became angry whenever they thought the County government overlooked them, in favor of the larger "South-Side" which includes the larger cities of: Rutledge, Tennessee
Rutledge, Tennessee
Rutledge is a town in Grainger County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Grainger County. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Bean Station, Tennessee
Bean Station, Tennessee
Bean Station is a city in Grainger County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was incorporated in November 1996...
, and Blaine, Tennessee
Blaine, Tennessee
Blaine is a town in Grainger County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,856 at the 2010 census, an increase of 271 individuals since the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
When, in early 2004, the Grainger County Board of Education decided that a new comprehensive high school was needed in the county, residents of Washburn and surrounding areas became concerned that the county might decide to close Washburn High School and instead bus their children across Clinch Mountain every day. Rutledge High School was severely over capacity with more than 800 students, while Washburn High School had only some 200 students in grades 9 through 12. As of 2006, this situation was still unresolved. Construction on the new Grainger County High School, with a planned capacity of 1600 students, began in 2006 and was scheduled for completion in 2008.http://www.lewisgroup.net/portfolio/portfolio_detail.html?portfolio_id=38 Many residents on the south side of the county supported the investment in the new school, but citizens on the north side remained concerned. County officials said that students would have a choice of either staying at Washburn High School or going by bus to the new school, but there was concern that this promise would not be kept.
Education
Washburn is home to the only operating public school in northern Grainger County. The Washburn SchoolWashburn School
Washburn School is a public school located in Washburn, Tennessee, USA in the east division of the state. Currently there are over 600 students enrolled at the secondary school, with approximately 40 staff members, including principal Ginny McElhaney, and vice principal Greg Clay.Students at the...
complex is a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school housing approximately 60 students in each grade.
Washburn school is home to the Washburn Pirates, which participate in basketball, baseball, and softball. Washburn High School also offers extracurricular activities and clubs to all students (such as: Future Business Leaders of America, Skills USA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) and is constantly expanding to fit student's interests.
Community services and development
Washburn is in the midst of an upswing as of late. The community is now served by piped-water, supplied by the Luttrell, Blaine, Corryton Utility District.Grainger County Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Grainger County Board of Education, purchased some 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) behind Washburn Schools in 2005, with the intent of building a park, community center, and new sports fields for the School. Grants of $75,000 have been received from the state, but are not sufficient to fund the project, which is estimated to cost nearly $200,000.
Washburn received a grant from the State for the sum of $282,000 to build 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) of sidewalks in the town.