Mountain City, Tennessee
Mountain City is a town of 2,542 people in Johnson County, Tennessee, founded in 1836.
Why visit Mountain City
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 5 places to eat and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Heritage Hall Theater, Holy Hill, Butler House and Maymead Farm.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Mountain City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Mountain City
Mountain City is a town in and the county seat of Johnson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,415 at the 2020 census. It is the northeasternmost county seat in Tennessee. In addition, at an elevation of 2,418 feet (737 m), it has the distinction of being the highest incorporated city in the state.
From the Wikipedia article Mountain City, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks4
Butler House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Mansion in Mountain City, , Tennessee,
Maymead Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes5
History
When the first European explorers arrived in what is now the Mountain City area in the late 17th century, well-worn Native American trails passed through the area. In 1949, workers at the Maymead quarry (just south of Mountain City) discovered a cave with several early Mississippian-era (ca. 1000 A.D.) burials inside. The Needham and Arthur expedition of 1673 is believed to have passed through the area, making use of the gap at Trade to the south. Explorer Daniel Boone made use of the same gap on an expedition to what is now Kentucky in 1769, and today part of the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail—which follows Boone's route—passes through Mountain City.
From the History section of Mountain City, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship5
Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.7 mi
833 West Main Street, Mountain City
Southside Freewill Baptist Church
Church · Baptist
206 South Church Street, Mountain City
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Johnson County Public Library
Library · 0.4 mi
219 N. Church Street;North Church Street, Mountain City
Healthcare1
Map of Mountain City
35 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 23°F | 3.7 in | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 25°F | 3.4 in | 5.0 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 31°F | 4.1 in | 1.1 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 39°F | 4.3 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 74°F | 49°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 56°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 52°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 41°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 31°F | 2.9 in | 0.4 in |
| Dec | 49°F | 26°F | 3.9 in | 2.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mtn City 2 (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Johnson County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-10-02: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-27: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-04-07: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 20 miles away.
- Cove Creek 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- West Jefferson 18 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Boone 19 mi southeast, about 31 min by car
- Jefferson 19 mi east, about 31 min by car
- Hunter 20 mi west, about 32 min by car
- Bristol 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Banner Elk 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Foscoe 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Bristol 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Elizabethton 26 mi west, about 41 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Mountain-City-Church-Street-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Roderick-butler-house-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Maymead-Farm-Johnson-County-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
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