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The Clinton 12 Norris Lake

Clinton is located in Anderson County along the Clinch River on the eastern side of Knoxville. Norris Dam is located nearby.

The City of Clinton is located approximately 25 miles northwest of Knoxville. Oak Ridge borders the Clinch River's navigable waterway for 42 miles along the shores of Watts Bar and Melton Hill Lake.

Alex Haley's home is located in Clinton. Haley was the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family and the co-author of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The Alex Haley home was purchased after Haley's death by the Children's Defense Fund who named the property the Alex Haley Farm. The group utilizes the farm as an American child advocacy and research group.

In 1956, Clinton gained national attention when segregationists opposed the desegregation of Clinton High School. Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, a court order required the desegregation of the high school. Twelve African-American students enrolled in the high school in the fall of 1956. On August 27, 1956, the Clinton Twelve attended classes at Clinton High School for the first time, becoming the first African-Americans to desegregate a state-supported public school in the Southeast. While the first day of classes occurred without incident, pro-segregation forces led by John Kasper and Asa Carter arrived in Clinton the following week and rallied the city's white citizens. Riots broke out in early September, forcing Governor Frank G. Clement to station National Guard units in Clinton throughout September. Sporadic violence and threats continued for the next two years, culminating in the bombing of Clinton High School on October 5, 1958. With an influx of outside aid, however, the school was quickly rebuilt. (Source: Wikipedia) The school is now a cultural center, named Green McAdoo Cultural Center.

The Museum of Appalachia is located in Clinton. Founded in 1969 by John Rice Irwin, the museum portrays an authentic mountain farm/village with 36 historic log structures, exhibit buildings filled with thousands of authentic Appalachian artifacts, gardens surrounded by split rail fences, and farm animals in a picturesque setting. Several annual events are held at the museum, including Tennessee Fall Homecoming and Christmas in Old Appalachia.

Clinton has a Jaycee Park which has five baseball/softball fields, outdoor swimming pool, six tennis courts, basketball court, playground equipment, picnic area, picnic shelter, walking trail, and a horse arena.


Population: 9,964 (2019)

Anderson County

Anderson County is situated close to Knoxville and is the location for
Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Norris Dam is located in Anderson County. Bull Run Steam Plant is located on 750 acres directly across the Clinch River (Melton Hill Lake) from Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Anderson County was formed in 1801 from parts of Knox and Grainger counties. It was named for Joseph Anderson who was judge of the Superior Court of the Territory South of the River Ohio, a U.S. senator from Tennessee, and Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. During World War II, the federal government initiated the Manhattan Project, and founded Oak Ridge.

The county seat is Clinton.

Newspapers (print and digital): The Oak Ridger

Anderson County Population: 76,978 (2019)

Government: Anderson County Tennessee

Business: Anderson County Chamber of Commerce

Genealogy: Anderson County Genealogy | Anderson County History and Information

News: Inside Anderson County

There are over 115 churches in Anderson County and a major medical center.

Norris Dam and Norris Dam State Park are located in Anderson County. Completed in 1936, Norris Lake covers 36,000 acres. Picnic tables and walking trails are available.