Jellico, city in Tennessee
Jellico is a small city in Campbell County, Tennessee, situated in a quiet valley surrounded by hills. The town has roughly 2,150 residents and is organized around South Main Street, where local shops and businesses give visitors a sense of daily community life.
Jellico was officially founded in 1903 and grew rapidly because of coal mining in the surrounding mountains, with railroads arriving around 1883 to transport the coal. The town survived major disasters including a dynamite explosion in 1906 and other accidents, but continued to rebuild and develop.
The name Jellico comes from 'angelica,' a plant once common in the surrounding mountains. This connection to the natural landscape is still visible in how residents live with and relate to the hills and valleys around them.
The town sits along US Route 25W, making it easy to drive to nearby cities and into Kentucky. A Tennessee Welcome Center near the highway provides information for travelers, and the mountain climate with four distinct seasons affects when and how you visit.
The town produced notable figures like Grace Moore, a singer and actress known for opera performances, and Homer Rodeheaver, who composed church music. Their names are remembered in local parks and monuments, making them part of the town's proud identity.
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