Jefferson City, Tenn., is a small town with a key Christian university and big-time amenities close by.
A city of about 6,000 residents in upper East Tennessee, Jefferson City is home to Carson-Newman University. With about 2,000 students, Carson-Newman was ranked seventh among the nation’s baccalaureate colleges last year, according to Washington Monthly magazine. The university was the only Tennessee school named in the top 15 of the publication’s “Baccalaureate Colleges” category.
Jefferson City is the retail center of Jefferson County, with the city offering the greatest variety of shopping and dining options. The city also is the county’s industrial focal point, offering the largest number of employment opportunities. Also in Jefferson City sits what experts call a true Victorian treasure, the Glenmore Mansion. The original mansard roof and dormer windows adorn the mansion, built in 1868.
Within minutes from Jefferson City are Cherokee Lake and Douglas Lake. Meanwhile, nearby Knoxville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg provide plenty of opportunities for entertainment.
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*NEAR EAST TENNESSEE’S BIGGEST CITYJefferson City is just 20 minutes away from Knoxville, the largest city in the area. Rich in culture, natural beauty and history, Knoxville also is home to the University of Tennessee.Pigeon Forge is a short drive from Jefferson City. It’s home to Dollywood, entertainer Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-themed park consisting of rides, an adjoining water park and a museum of her costumes and memorabilia. Pigeon Forge also holds other family-friendly attractions including country music revues, magic shows, dinner theaters and outlet malls.Gatlinburg is the gateway to the roughly 520,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Attractions include the 407-foot Space Needle observation tower and the Sky Lift, a 2.1-mile aerial cable car from downtown to the popular amusement park and ski resort Ober Gatlinburg.
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WATERY RECREATION>Cherokee Lake is one of the oldest of the TVA reservoirs, completed in 1941. The lake covers 30,300 acres at full pool, is 59 miles long, and has 463 miles of shoreline attracting more than 2.5 million visitors annually.>Douglas Lake was constructed in 1943 for the purpose of flood control and hydroelectric power generation. The lake has more than 550 miles of shoreline with a surface area greater than 30,000 acres at full pool.
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A GREAT PARKJefferson City is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. About 1,500 black bears live in the park, according to the National Park Service. This equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile. Bears can be found throughout the park but are easiest to spot in open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley, NPS says.
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A PRIVATE LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITYCarson-Newman University has students from 33 states, Washington D.C. and about 20 foreign countries. Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman offers 50 undergraduate majors as well as bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.