Cosby, unincorporated community in Cocke County, Tennessee
Cosby is an unincorporated rural community in Cocke County, Tennessee, located at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Scattered homes, small shops, and local restaurants line winding country roads surrounded by forested mountain slopes.
The Cherokee people lived in this valley long before settlers from North Carolina arrived in the late 1700s and began farming the mountain land. When the national park was established in the early 20th century, many families had to leave their homesteads, though some used the land sale proceeds to restart their lives nearby.
Cosby sits in the heart of Appalachian country, and visitors can still find handmade quilts and folk crafts sold at small local shops. Each May, a community festival brings people together for traditional mountain music, storytelling, and dance that reflect how people in this valley have lived for generations.
The roads in and around Cosby are narrow and winding, so allow extra time when driving through the area. Nearby towns offer grocery stores and gas stations, so it is best to stock up before heading into the valley.
Cosby was once known informally as the Moonshine Capital of the World, because farmers produced illegal spirits in hidden mountain hollows for decades. Today, legal distilleries in the area carry on that craft and pay tribute to local figures like Popcorn Sutton, a bootlegger who became a folk legend.
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