Newport Tennessee
“Cherokee Great Indian Warpath”
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Town of Newport TN
The city of Newport Tennessee is located in Cocke County along the Pigeon River in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The confluence of the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon River‘s occur 10 miles North of Newport known as the “Forks of the River” and is also part of Douglas Lake. The must see attractions in Newport Tennessee are the Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center, the Newport Speedway, Cocke County Moonshine Distillery, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
There are many things in Newport to offer visitors such as the beauty of the mountains, bird watching, hiking, photography, fishing, camping, horseback riding, river tubing, kayaking, zip lining and more. There are many lodging options such as hotels, cabin rentals, bed and breakfasts, and primitive camping.
History of Newport TN
In the 1790s the Gilliard family donated 50 acres for the town square and courthouse for the town of Newport Tennessee. For 25 years the residents of Newport were under attack and constant threat from the Cherokee. The Cherokee eventually signed treaties and succeeded the land to the US government on the Tennessee side of the Great Smokies.
Newport became a hub for flat boats and in trading goods. In 1867 the Cincinnati & Cumberland Gap Charleston Railroad constructed a line through Clifton Tennessee just south of Newport. Flatboat trade on the river shifted towards railroad trade and the Newport residents wanted to build the county courthouse in Clifton. Newport decided to annex Clifton into the city instead of having an election to move the county seat. The residents of Clifton did not want to be annexed so Newport went ahead with the annexation. The residents of Clifton sued Newport in a 17 year legal battle. The result was that Newport finally won and the new County seat and Courthouse would be in Clifton. Clifton was to be renamed Newport and the old Newport became known as Old Town.
To make ends meet farmers in Del Rio and Cosby began taking their corn crop and making moonshine to sell in the towns and saloons of Newport during prohibition.
