Why visit Tracy City
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 2 parks and trails, 2 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include East Ramsey, Tip Top, Col. A.M. Shook House and Grundy Forest State Natural Area.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Tracy City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Tracy City
Tracy City is a town in Grundy County, Tennessee, United States. Incorporated in 1915, As of the 2020 census, Tracy City had a population of 1,406. It is named after financier Samuel Franklin Tracy, the city developed out of railroad and mining interests after coal was found in 1840. In 2010 the people of Tracy City elected a dead man, Carl Robin Geary, as mayor.
From the Wikipedia article Tracy City, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Museums and landmarks1
Col. A.M. Shook House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in Tennessee, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes2
History
In 1840 local boys digging a groundhog out of the ground discovered coal. In the early 1870s Tracy City an experimental blast furnace was built by Samuel Jones and owned by the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company. The furnace, called "Fiery Gizzard", was built to see if local coal would be used to produce iron. The furnace made 15 tons of iron before the stovepipe fell on the third day. The former location of the furnace is marked with a historical marker. The coke ovens at Tracy City supplied railroad and industrial fuel and workers and their families moved into the area in great numbers from 1875 until 1900. By 1910 the industry faded due to problems invoked by labor unions and convict labor. Tracy City is also home to the oldest family bakery in Tennessee, Dutch Maid Bakery. In 1987 the coke ovens were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tracy City was incorporated in 1915.
Tracy City has featured prominently in Grundy County's history of arson. Ten buildings in the business district were set alight in 1935. The 100-year-old L&N Depot, 86-year-old James K. Shook School, various waterworks, schools, a lumber yard, and a doctor's clinic were also torched in the 20th century. This tradition has continued into the 21st century. On April 8, 2022, there was an arson attempt at the Historic Christ Church Episcopal on 10th Street in Tracy City.
From the History section of Tracy City, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship6
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Map of Tracy City
30 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 26°F | 5.7 in | 1.5 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 30°F | 5.8 in | 1.9 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 37°F | 6.3 in | 0.8 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 45°F | 6.3 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 5.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 65°F | 6.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 58°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 37°F | 5.2 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 30°F | 6.8 in | 1.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Monteagle (5 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
Grundy County has had 12 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)
- 2025-06-19: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2023-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Franklin County Airport (UOS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Monteagle 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Sewanee 10 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Gruetli-Laager 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
- Altamont 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
- Jasper 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Kimball 16 mi south, about 25 min by car
- Cowan 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
- Powells Crossroads 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
- South Pittsburg 17 mi south, about 28 min by car
- Decherd 18 mi west, about 29 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
- Tracy City City Hall, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Blue Hole, Tracy City, Tennessee, J. Michael Scarborough, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shook House 2 House Tracy City, TN, Kentondickerson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shook House Tracy City, TN, Kentondickerson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Meracantha contracta - iNaturalist 83109960, Jessica, CC BY 4.0
- Fiery Gizzard waterfall, J. Michael Scarborough, CC BY-SA 3.0
- E.L. Hampton House, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marugg Company, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery exterior, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery knickknacks, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery offerings, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery wares, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery treats, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery display, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery quiche & salads, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Dutch Maid Bakery interior, Ke4roh, CC BY 4.0
- Frank White House, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- James K. Shook School, J. Michael Scarborough, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.