Greeneville

Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, sitting at an elevation of 463 meters (1,519 feet) in the Appalachian foothills. Streets fan out from a central courthouse square, with residential neighborhoods and commercial zones extending into the surrounding valleys near the Nolichucky River watershed.

The settlement was founded in 1783 and briefly served as capital of the short-lived State of Franklin. After that territory dissolved, control returned to North Carolina before Tennessee became a separate state.

The downtown preserves red brick storefronts from the 1800s, many still serving as working businesses and law offices. Visitors can experience a farmers market on Saturday mornings at Courthouse Square, where regional growers sell produce and handmade goods.

The town works well as a base for exploring the Appalachian foothills, with most destinations accessible by car. Walking tours of the historic core are manageable in length, allowing visitors to see buildings from different eras within a short distance.

A burial site at Andrew Johnson Cemetery marks the resting place of a president who never attended school and learned to read from his wife. The nearby Niswonger Performing Arts Center combines contemporary architecture with regional programming in an otherwise rural setting.

Location: Greene County

Inception: 1783

Elevation above the sea: 463 m

Website: http://greenevilletn.gov

GPS coordinates: 36.16861,-82.81333

Latest update: December 17, 2025 07:32