Misplaced Pages

#618381

37-673: The Collins River passes through Grundy and Warren counties. McMinnville , Altamont , Gruetli-Laager and Beersheba Springs are among the communities located within its watershed. The Savage Gulf section of the Collins River has been designated a "scenic river" by the State of Tennessee. The Collins River rises near the town of Palmer atop the Cumberland Plateau , where the Middle Prong Collins River (which descends from

74-473: A Democrat first elected in 1896, introduced a bill in 1904 that enabled the project. The bill said the construction cost would be borne by the recipient of the power franchise to be operated for 99 years and the government would hold title to the Dam. After the city of Chattanooga failed to exercise its option on the project, Josephus Guild sought financial help from Charles James, a prominent Chattanooga businessman who

111-543: A century on August 24, 1971. The sheriff reported 21 other fires, mostly arson, prior to that in 1971 alone. After 86 years, James K. Shook School burned to the ground circa May 1976. Offices of newspapers have not been spared, either. The Grundy County Times was set ablaze in 1917, and the Herald office suffered an explosion in 1967 and was destroyed by arson in 1978. After 105 years standing, the Grundy County Courthouse

148-645: A lengthy paved road used by runners and walkers. The lake is bordered by a honey comb of Coke Ovens that remain from when coal was mined in the area. The county has several saltpeter mines. Saltpeter is the main ingredient of gunpowder and was obtained by leaching the earth from several local caves. Fultz Saltpeter Cave, located in Fultz Cove, and Hubbard Saltpeter Cave, located in Hubbard Cove, were both significant operations. Woodlee Cave, located in Northcutts Cove,

185-574: A nearby ridge) joins Mill Creek (which flows northward from Palmer). Flowing northwestwardly, the Collins passes under State Route 399 (Barkertown Road) before entering Savage Gulf, a scenic gorge where the river gradually descends 800 feet to the Highland Rim . The town of Beersheba Springs straddles the edge of the Plateau overlooking the river valley. State Route 56 crosses the Collins twice as it follows

222-405: A newer bridge that carries State Route 287 — cross the mouth of the Collins River. The Collins River watershed covers 811 square miles (2,100 km), and drains parts of Warren , Grundy , Van Buren , Sequatchie , Coffee , and Cannon counties. The watershed contains 1,003 miles (1,614 km) of streams and 69 lake acres. Over half the watershed is forested, and just over a third

259-690: A young engineer from Chattanooga , became interested in a plan drawn by Major Dan C. Kingman, the head of the local office of the Army Corps of Engineers . The plan was originally developed to control the turbulent waters below Chattanooga in the Tennessee River Gorge known as the Suck, the Pot and the Skillet. These river features, long feared by riverboat navigators, impeded trade along the waterway Rep. John A. Moon ,

296-589: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . It is located in Middle Tennessee , bordering East Tennessee . As of 2021 , the population was 13,622. Its county seat is Altamont . The county is named in honor of Felix Grundy . Grundy County has a rich history and today is the home of a vast recreational wilderness known as the South Cumberland State Park which offers extensive hiking, camping, and rock climbing. Most of Grundy County

333-466: Is atop the Cumberland Plateau averaging a height of around 1,800 feet above sea level. Many locations in the county offer beautiful vistas and grand waterfalls. The county seat of Grundy County is Altamont , founded in the 1840s. Thirty years before the Civil War, the resort town of Beersheba Springs was founded around a natural mineral springs near the current site of a popular wilderness area known as

370-605: Is home to the Grundy County Historical Society which is located in the Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company Library & Research Center and is staffed daily by many local residents who assist visitors with tours of the museum and offer assistance for genealogical research. Near by Tracy City many visitors enjoy Grundy Lakes. The Grundy Lakes Park surrounds a series of mountain lakes and streams. The park offers swimming, picnic areas and

407-461: Is located on the north side of Layne's Cove at the foot of the Cumberland Plateau. It was discovered in 1897 by Robert A. Nelson, Melville Anderson, and Will Fitzgerald, who crawled into a small opening next to a large, well-known spring. In 1898, the cave was purchased by R. M. Payne who enlarged the small opening, built trails, and opened the cave to the public as a commercial cave. Wonder Cave

SECTION 10

#1732870039619

444-573: Is part of Rock Island State Park . Part of the Collins River Trail, maintained by the park, passes along the wooded embankment above the shore of the river along this peninsula. The Collins River is one of the few rivers in Tennessee with a good population of muskie ( muskellunge ). Muskie were stocked in various watersheds throughout Tennessee, including the Collins River from 1982 through 2006. Grundy County, Tennessee Grundy County

481-404: Is used for either pastures or row crops. The upper parts of the river along the Cumberland Plateau flow along Pennsylvanian -era siltstone, shale and sandstone. Along the river's Highland Rim portion, Mississippian -era limestone is more common. Karst features such as sinkholes and caves are not uncommon in this area. One of the state's largest caves, Cumberland Caverns , is located within

518-462: The Collins watershed. The 23-mile (37 km) Barren Fork empties into the Collins east of McMinnville. Other tributaries include Big Creek and Savage Creek, which join the river at Savage Gulf, Hills Creek and Scott Creek, which empty into the Collins just north of the Warren-Grundy line, and Charles Creek, which empties into the river downstream from McMinnville. During the late 18th century,

555-469: The Old Kentucky Road, which roughly followed an old Indian path, crossed the Collins River at Shells Ford, near modern McMinnville. A string of other commonly used fords were located just above the mouth of the river, including Flat Shoals Ford, near modern Campaign . Reed's Ferry, later known as Black's Ferry, operated near the modern U.S. Highway 70S crossing throughout much of the 19th century. In

592-516: The Savage Gulf area. This area is also part of South Cumberland State Park . The Collins Gulf Trail at Savage Gulf follows a portion of the river as it descends from the Cumberland Plateau. The lower portion of the Collins River is part of Great Falls Lake, the reservoir created by Great Falls Dam near the river's confluence with the Caney Fork. The oxbow peninsula between the Collins and Caney Fork

629-434: The Savage Gulf. Visitors to the Savage Gulf are amazed by the beautiful views and extensive hiking trails. In the mid-1860s, the town of Gruetli-Laager was formed by an immigrant population from Switzerland. Today many of the original family names are found amongst the local population. Today many people, on their way to Fiery Gizzard and Foster Falls , will pass through the quaint and friendly town of Tracy City . Tracy City

666-429: The age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under

703-467: The age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 22,959, and the median income for a family was $ 27,691. Males had a median income of $ 27,063 versus $ 17,447 for females. The per capita income for

740-477: The auction takes place. 35°23′N 85°43′W  /  35.39°N 85.72°W  / 35.39; -85.72 Chattanooga and Tennessee Electric Power Company The Chattanooga and Tennessee Electric Power Company was formed in 1905 by Josephus C. Guild, Charles E. James and Anthony N. Brady to produce hydroelectric power and improve navigation on the Tennessee River . Josephus Guild,

777-532: The blazes saying, "I'm not going to say that Grundy County is any different than any other rural county. There are a ton of good people there." According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 361 square miles (930 km ), of which 361 square miles (930 km ) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km ) (0.2%) is water. Grundy County contains much of the Fiery Gizzard Trail , renowned for scenic beauty and diversity. Wonder Cave

SECTION 20

#1732870039619

814-440: The county was $ 12,039. About 22.60% of families and 25.80% of the population were below the poverty line , including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 23.60% of those age 65 or over. As part of Middle Tennessee , Grundy County has historically been one of the strongest Democratic counties in the state. It voted Democratic in every presidential election from 1880 to 2004, except for in 1968 (when segregationist George Wallace won

851-618: The county), and 1972 when many traditional Democratic voters around the nation voted for incumbent Republican Richard Nixon . However, like most of the rural south, Grundy County has shifted towards the Republican Party in recent years, but was one of the last counties in Tennessee to make the switch to the party. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win Grundy County was John Kerry in 2004 , who won 18 out of Tennessee's 95 counties, whereas Al Gore won 36 in 2000 . Grundy County

888-498: The county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km ). There were 6,282 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 98.33% White , 0.14% Black or African American , 0.30% Native American , 0.17% Asian , 0.35% from other races , and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 5,562 households, out of which 33.40% had children under

925-657: The dam; his son, Jo Conn Guild , took an active role in the project. The dam was completed in 1913. In the 1920s, the company merged with the Chattanooga Railway and Light Company and Drexel and Company , which had a competing project on the Ocoee River , to form the Tennessee Electric Power Company (TEPCO). In 1933, Congress established the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to develop

962-630: The economy by a series of flood control dams on the Tennessee River and to sell the electricity generated from the dams. After the Supreme Court in 1939 dismissed a challenge to the authority of the TVA to sell electricity in the service territory of the company, TEPCO's electric system was purchased for $ 78,425,095 by the Tennessee Valley Authority and other participating municipal public utilities and electric cooperatives . TEPCO continued to operate as

999-515: The late 19th century, businessman Asa Faulkner constructed a wooden bridge across the mouth of the river as part of his Falls City development. Around 1900, Warren County built four bridges over the river: the Hennessee Bridge (approximately 8 miles above the river's mouth), the Lusk Bridge (near McMinnville), and Martin's Ferry Bridge and Harrison's Ferry Bridge, both located on the upper part of

1036-484: The river's valley out of the gorge. Crossing into Warren County, the river veers northward along a meandering route, passing under State Route 8 (Harrison Ferry Road) and State Route 127 (Shellsford Road). Just east of McMinnville, the river absorbs its key tributary, Barren Fork , and passes under U.S. Route 70S . After winding its way northward for several miles, the river eventually turns eastward, passing under State Route 288 (Hennessee Bridge Road) as it enters

1073-558: The river. A flood in late March 1902 destroyed Faulkner's bridge and two of the county's bridges– the Hennessee and the Lusk–; along with bridges over Barren Fork and Charles Creek. The Tennessee Electric Power Company built the truss bridge which still spans the mouth of the river as part of its Great Falls Dam project in 1916, and rebuilt and raised the bridge in the mid-1920s. The current vehicle bridge, which runs adjacent to

1110-415: The slack waters of Great Falls Lake. At Rock Island State Park, the river enters an oxbow bend , nearly joining the Caney Fork before abruptly turning southward, then eastward, then northward again before finally emptying into the Caney Fork just upstream from Great Falls Dam. The oxbow creates a peninsula that contains much of the state park. Two bridges — an older truss bridge no longer in use, and

1147-522: The truss bridge, was built by the Tennessee Department of Transportation in the 1980s. Most of the Collins River was designated a "scenic river" as part of the state's Scenic Rivers Program. The lower 42 miles (68 km) of the river were removed from this designation in 1983, however, and the scenic designation now applies only to the upper parts of the river at Savage Gulf. A 15,590-acre (6,310 ha) scientific state natural area now protects

Collins River - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-467: The vote, a figure closer to what is usually seen in historically Republican East Tennessee counties. Four years later, he did even better in the county, getting 82% of the vote and holding the Democratic candidate to under 20% for the first time in the county's history. Grundy County is featured in the country song Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident) by John Michael Montgomery , as the place where

1221-492: Was a major tourist attraction for nearly 80 years, but construction of the Interstate Highway system diverted tourists away from the old, main highway, Highway 41, and the cave eventually closed. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 13,529 people, 4,820 households, and 3,320 families residing in the county. As of the census of 2000, there were 14,332 people, 5,562 households, and 4,054 families residing in

1258-469: Was also mined for saltpeter. Saltpeter was mined during both the War of 1812 and the Civil War, so these caves may have been mined during either, or both, time periods. In the 20th century, Grundy County earned a reputation for arson . The business district of Tracy City was nearly destroyed when ten buildings were wiped out by an intentional blaze on April 27, 1935. The Tracy City L&N Depot combusted after

1295-482: Was also won by Democratic U.S. senate candidates Bob Clement in 2002 and Harold Ford Jr. in 2006 , both of whom lost. Republican presidential nominee John McCain won the county by nearly 13% in 2008, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to win Grundy County since Nixon won it 36 years earlier, and by 2016 , Grundy County had taken a major shift toward the GOP, when Republican Donald Trump received 76% of

1332-414: Was always eager to help promote the city's interests. James approached Anthony Brady, a New York financier with large interests in electrical utilities, who agreed to participate in the venture. The Hales Bar Dam was built after Congressional action, on January 7, 1905, changed the site of the dam from Scott's Point. The cost of the dam was over $ 10,000,000. Josephus Guild died during the construction of

1369-514: Was destroyed by arson on May 3, 1990. Some vandals appear to favor dynamite. In the 1960s and 1970s, four dynamite blasts destroyed or damaged waterworks, another a lumber yard, and another a doctor's clinic. Such was the problem at abandoned county schools that insurance was difficult to obtain. Glenn Bonner, school superintendent at the time, said, "Just as soon as a building becomes vacant — boom!" When asked about these crimes and others, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Bill Thompson downplayed

#618381