Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Carter County

Carter County

Carter County was formed in 1796 from Washington County

(Acts of Tennessee 1796 [March Session], Chapter 31)

The county seat is Elizabethton.

There was a fire at the Carter County courthouse in 1933.

 

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Selected Published County Histories

Additional county and community histories can be found at the Bibliography of Tennessee Local History Sources:  Carter County.  The items in the bibliography may not all be available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.  

 

Published Local Records

 

Local Records on Microfilm 

An inventory of microfilmed Carter County records is available on our website.  Individual reels of microfilm may also be purchased.

Earliest records include:

The following reels are available on interlibrary loan from the Library and Archives:

 

Newspapers on Microfilm 

Newspapers were published in Elizabethton.  Scattered early issues are available from 1838, and a complete run begins in 1947.  Microfilms are loaned to Tennessee libraries.  Individual reels may also be purchased.  An Inventory of Newspapers on Microfilm at the Library and Archives is available on our website.

 

Selected Manuscripts Material

Search for Manuscripts Material in our Catalog 

 

Census Records

 

Additional Research Aids for Carter County

• County Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications
• Early Tennessee Tax Lists at the Tennessee State Library and Archives
• Funeral Home Records at the Tennessee State Library and Archives
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933
• School Census Records
• Tennessee World War I Veterans

* Indicates this title may be borrowed on interlibrary loan from the Library and Archives.

 

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Carter County Formation Act

ACTS OF TENNESSEE 1796 (March Session), CHAPTER 31:

"An Act to divide the county of Washington into two distinct counties."

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, That the county of Washington be divided by a line as follows, to wit. -- Beginning on the line that divides this state from the state of North Carolina, at a point from which a line to be drawn due north, will strike the house of George Haires -- thence the nearest direction to the top of the Buffaloe Mountain -- thence along the heights of the said mountain, to the high knob on the fence, near the north end thereof -- thence a direct line to the house where Jonathan Tipton, junior, now lives, leaving said house in Washington County -- thence a direct line to the south bank of Watauga river, at Jeremiah Dungan's Ford -- thence due north to the Sullivan line; and all that part lying to the east of said lines, henceforth be erected into a new and distinct county, by the name of Carter.

SECTION 2. BE IT ENACTED, That Landon Carter, Reuben Thornton, Andrew Greer, senior, Zachariah Campbell, and David M'Nabb, or a majority of them, be, and are hereby appointed commissioners, and authorized to appoint, fix on, and lay out a place the most suitable and convenient in said county, for the purpose of erecting a court house, prison and stocks.

SECTION 3. BE IT ENACTED, That the aforesaid commissioners are hereby authorized and required, as soon as may be, after agreeing on the place whereon the prison, courthouse, and stocks are to be erected in said county, to contract and agree with suitable workmen, for erecting and building, at the place aforesaid, a courthouse, prison, and stocks, for the use and benefit of said county.

SECTION 4. And the better to enable the commissioners aforesaid to carry this act into effect. BE IT ENACTED, That a tax of twelve and a half cents on each hundred acres of land -- a tax of twenty five cents on each town lot -- a tax of twenty five cents on each slave between the age of ten and fifty years -- and a tax of twelve and a half cents on each white male, between the age of twenty one and fifty years, shall be collected in the said county, for two years, by the sheriff or collector of the same, and accounted for and paid to the said commissioners, at the same time, and in the same manner, and under the like penalties and restrictions, as is or may be directed for collecting, accounting for, and paying public taxes.

SECTION 5. BE IT ENACTED, That before the said commissioners shall take into their hands, any of the monies directed to be collected by this act, they shall enter into bond in the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars, payable to the governor and commander in chief, for the time being, and his successors, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the trust reposed in them.

SECTION 6. And for the due administration of justice in said county, BE IT ENACTED, That the court for the said county of Carter, shall be held constantly by the justices of said county, on the first Mondays in April, July, October and January in every year: And the justices for said county of Carter are hereby authorized and empowered to hold the first court for the same, at the house of Samuel Tipton, and all subsequent courts for said county, on the days above mentioned for holding courts therein, at any place to which the said justices shall from court to court adjourn themselves, until a court house shall be built for the said county of Carter, then all causes, matters, and things depending in the said court, and all manner of process returnable to the same, shall be adjourned to such court house; and all courts held in and for the said county of Carter, shall be held by commission to said justices, in the same manner, and under the same rules and restrictions, and shall have and exercise the same power and jurisdiction as are or shall be prescribed for the courts for the several counties in this state.

SECTION 7. That the aforesaid county of Carter shall be, and is hereby declared to compose a part of the district of Washington, in the same manner, and for all purposes, civil and military, as it did when it stood undivided from the county of Washington: And the said county of Carter, from and after the passing of this act, shall furnish three, and the county of Washington seven jurors to the inferior courts of law and equity, for the district of Washington aforesaid.

SECTION 8. That Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Taylor, be appointed commissioners, who are authorized to run the dividing lines between the aforesaid counties; that is, where they are not already run, or particularly pointed out by natural boundaries; for which services the said commissioners shall each be allowed two dollars per day, and the markers one dollar per day, the expense equally to be paid by the aforesaid counties.

SECTION 9.That the present sheriff or collector of Washington counties be authorized to collect all arrearages of public taxes, which by law he was authorized to collect, in the same manner that he might or could do, when the said county of Washington stood undivided.

 

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Carter County Bibliography

PLEASE NOTE that the Tennessee State Library and Archives does not hold copies of all of the items listed in this bibliography. Please check the Tennessee State Library and Archives Online Catalog or visit the Ask Us a Question! webpage to contact the Library and Archives and verify we have an item in our collection. We will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.

Subjects :

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Carter County in General

• Allen, Ben & Dennis T. Lawson. "The Wataugans & the dangerous example." THQ 26 (1967), pp. 137-147.
• Augsburg, Paul D. Bob & Alf Taylor; their lives & lectures: the story of Sen. Robert Love Taylor & Gov. Alfred Alexander Taylor. Morristown, Morristown Book Co., 1925. 334 pp.
• Biographical directory, TN General Assembly, 1796-1969 (Carter County, Preliminary # 11). Nashville, TSLA, 1968. 61 pp.
• Bohn, Frank. "TN's new silk worm: industrial Germany comes to America." Rev. of Rev. Oct. 1928, pp. 367-372.
• Bost & Associates. Design study: Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, TN. Knoxville, Bost, 1970. 29 pp.
• Boyd, C. Clifford. Archaeological investigations in the Watauga Reservoir, Carter & Johnson counties, TN. Knoxville, UT Dept. Anthrop., 1986. 218 pp.
• A brief history of the Walnut Mountain cemetery & community. Walnut Mountain, Cemetery Association, 1986. 42 pp.
• Brown, Patricia C. An analysis of the subalpine forest succession into Round Bald on Roan Mountain, Carter County, TN. ETSU thesis, 1983. 40 pp.
• Burleson, Nell P. The evolution of southern Appalachian culture as evidenced in folklore. ETSU thesis, 1963. 59 pp.
• Campbell, Howard N. Watauga: an unusual history of the Watauga, TN area, the birthplace of democracy in the world as we know it today. Kingsport, Arcata Graphics, 1986. 484 pp.
• Carter County, TN & its people, 1796-1993. Compiled by the people of Carter County. Waynesville, NC, Don Mills, Inc., 1993. 729 pp.; Elizabethton, Carter County Book Committee, 1993. 729 pp.
• Chatman, Mark L. Mineral resources of the Laurel Fork RARE II study area (no. 8-274), Carter County, TN. Denver, CO, Intermountain Field Op. Center, US Dept. Interior, Bur. of Mines, 1985. 50 pp.
• Churches & institutions of Carter County, TN. Milligan College, 1994. 2 vols.
• Crowe, Dan W. An analysis of the industrial potential of Carter County, TN. ETSU thesis, 1960. 88 pp.
• Crowe, Dan W. The horseshoe people (rev. ed.). Johnson City, Sabre Printers, 1981. 196 pp.
• East TN Land Company. Expert reports on the mineral properties of the East TN Land Company. NY, South Publishing Co., 1891. 44 pp.
• Ellis, Daniel. Thrilling adventures of Daniel Ellis: the great Union guide of east TN for a period of four years during the great southern rebellion. NY, Harper & Bros., 1867. 480 pp.
• Fain, Sara P. The fiddle & the bow. Boston, Christopher Pub. House, 1952. 201 pp. (historical novel based on the lives of Bob & Alf Taylor)
• First TN-VA Development District. Potential industrial areas in Carter County, TN. N.p., 1972. unp.
• First TN-VA Development District. Water & sewer plan, Carter County, TN. N.p., 1970. 55 pp.
• Flood insurance study: Carter County, TN, & incorporated areas. Washington, D.C., FEMA, 1990. 10 pp.
• Goff, John S. "Colonel James P. T. Carter of Carter County." THQ 26 (1967), pp. 372-382.
• Goodspeed's history of east TN (Carter County, pp. 906-912, 1289-1299). Goodspeed, 1887.
• Grindstaff, A.B. A survey of the flowering plants & ferns on the Forge Hill, Carter County, TN. ETSU thesis, 1956. 35 pp.
• Grindstaff, Dana R. A study of the program of vocational rehabilitation in Carter County, TN. ETSU thesis, 1953. 40 pp.
• Hardin, John E. A study of the physical education programs of the high schools in Carter County, TN. ETSU thesis, 1961. 89 pp.
• Health profile: Carter County, TN. Johnson City, ARCHA Health Systems Agency, 1986. 22 pp.
• Hyder, N. E. "Watauga old fields." AHM 8 (1903), pp. 253-255.
• Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol MSA, 1980-1987: an economic analysis. Nashville, TN Dept. Emp. Sec., 1988. 37 pp.
• Jolly, W. W. The forest resources of Carter & Johnson counties, TN, & Avery & Watauga counties, NC: present use & development, opportunities for additional use & development. Knoxville, TVA Div. Forestry Relations, 1958. 32 pp.
• Kozsuch, Mildred. Historical reminiscences of Carter County, TN. Johnson City, Overmountain Press, 1985. 157 pp.
• Kuczynski, Kathleen A. Maternal attitudes, child behavior & child development intervention in southern Appalachia. Catholic U. Am. thesis, 1979. 135 pp.
• Lewis, Stanley T. Feasibility of a joint solid waste disposal program for Carter County & the city of Elizabethton, TN. N.p., 1972. 1 vol.
• Merritt, Frank. Early history of Carter County, 1760-1861. Knoxville, ETHS, 1950. 213 pp.
• Merritt, Frank. Later history of Carter County, 1865-1980. Elizabethton, Carter County Homecoming '86 Heritage Project, 1986. 442 pp.
• Merritt, Frank. More history of Carter County. Elizabethton, the author, 1991. 568 pp.
• Merritt, Frank. Selected aspects of early Carter County history 1760-1861. UT thesis, 1950. 178 pp.
• Miller, Larry R. The solid waste management problem in TN & possible solutions for the problem in Carter County/Elizabethton. Milligan College thesis, 1992. 54 pp.
• Minerals investigation of Pond Mountain & Pond Mountain addition RARE II further planning areas, Carter County, TN. Washington, D.C., US Dept. Interior, Bur. Mines, 1985. 54 pp..
• Morgan, Charles M. An educational survey of Carter County, TN. UT thesis, 1936. 86 pp.
• Nave, Robert T. History of the iron industry in Carter County to 1860. ETSU thesis, 1953. 114 pp.
• Nelson, Selden. "The Tipton family of TN." ETHSP 1 (1929), pp. 67-76.
• Pearman, Jack R. A survey of the vascular plants of the Sinking Creek area of Carter County, TN. ETSU thesis, 1956. 34 pp.
• Perry, Henry W. A sampling of the folklore of Carter County, TN. George Peabody College thesis, 1938. 313 pp.
• Report on Boone & South Holston Reservoirs: Washington, Sullivan & Carter counties, TN [&] Washington County, VA, EPA region IV. Corvallis, Environmental Research Laboratory, 1976. 76 pp.
• Scott, Samuel W. & Samuel P. Angel. History of the thirteenth regiment, TN volunteer cavalry, USA. Knoxville, n.p., 1903. 510 pp. (reprinted 1987 by Overmountain Press).
• Sharp, Karl W. A study of debt history in Carter County, TN, 1892-1952. UT thesis, 1952. 153 pp.
• Smith, Lynn. Promoting Carter County stream trout fishing. Milligan College thesis, 1991. 64 pp.
• Soil survey, Carter County, TN. Washington, D.C., US GPO, 1942, 1953.
• South Watauga, Carter County, east TN: a steel manufacturing center of the south; town site & mineral lands of the East TN Mining & Improvement Co., capital, $1,000,000. Philadelphia, PA, Dando Print, 1890, 1900. 31 pp.
• Talbert, John P. A survey of selected aspects of the labor movement in Carter County, TN, from 1929-1940. ETSU thesis, 1991. 105 pp.
• Taylor, James P., et al. Life & career of Senator Robert Love Taylor, (Our Bob) by this three surviving brothers, James P. Taylor, Alf A. Taylor, Hugh L. Taylor; illustrated with many interesting pictures of the great orator, from the age of fifteen to the age of sixty years, also with views of "Happy Valley", made famous by his lectures & speeches. Nashville, Bob Taylor Pub., 1913. 370 pp.
• TN Dept. Emp. Sec. The labor market in tri-cities area. Nashville, TN Dept. Emp Sec., 1952. v.1, 1952- (no more published?)
• TN Dept. Transportation [county maps] issued periodically.
• TN Valley Authority. Ind. Div. Agricultural-industrial survey of Carter County. Knoxville, TVA, 1934. var. pp.
• US Geol. Survey [topographic maps] issued periodically. Quadrangles: Holston Valley, Shady Valley, Bluff City, Keenburg, Carter, Doe, Johnson City, Elizabethton, Watauga Dam, Elk Mills, Unicoi, Iron Mountain Gap, White Rocks Mountain, Elk Park, Carvers Gap.
• Whaley, Kathy Leigh. Vegetative characterization of three wetland areas in Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, TN. TTU thesis, 1990. 36 pp.
• Yeager, Allison. "History of the TN egg fight." TN Folklore Soc. Bull. 38 (1972), pp. 6-10.

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Elizabethton

• Anderson, Sherwood. Puzzled America. NY, C. Scribner's Sons, 1935. 287 pp.
• Baldwin & the Star's Elizabethton, TN, city directory. Master ed. v. l, 1939-. Baldwin Directory Co., Inc., & the Elizabethton Star.
• Crowe, Dan. Hoover Day in Dixie. Kingsport, the author, 1979. 28 pp.
• Crowe, Dan. Old town & the covered bridge. Johnson City, Milligan Press, 1977. 80 pp.
• Ejlali, Majid. Elizabethton, TN. Elizabethton, Carter County Chamber of Commerce, 1970. map.
• Elizabethton, TN city directory. Loveland, CO, Johnson Pub. Co., 1975- ? (various).
• Hodges, James A. "Challenge to the new south: the great textile strike in Elizabethton, TN, 1929." THQ 23 (1964), pp. 343-357.
• Holly, J. Fred. The social & economic effects produced upon small towns by rapid industrialization. UT thesis, 1938. 229 pp.
• Holly, John F. Elizabethton, TN, a case study of southern industrialization. Clark U. dissertation, 1949. 393 pp.
• TN Dept. Highways. Res. & Plann. Div. Elizabethton urban transportation study. Prepared by the TN Dept. Highways, Res. & Plann. Div. in cooperation with the U.S. Dept. Transportation, FHA. Nashville, the dept., 1970. 2 vols.
• TN Dept. Transportation [county maps] issued periodically.
• TN Taxpayers Assn. A report with recommendations covering a survey of the finances & administrative methods of the city of Elizabethton, TN. (its Research report, no. 46). 163 pp.
• Thirty-six old picture postcards of Elizabethton, Johnson City, & Jonesboro, ready to mail. Jonesboro, the author, 1982. 12 pp.
• US Geol. Survey [topographical maps] issued periodically. Quadrangles:
• Holston Valley, Shady Valley, Bluff City, Keenburg, Carter, Doe, Johnson City, Elizabethton, Watauga Dam, Elk Mills, Unicoi, Iron Mountain Gap, White Rocks Mountain, Elk Park, Carvers Gap.

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Lost Cove

• Young, Malone. Latchpins of the Lost Cove. Johnson City, Latchpins Press, 1987. 216 pp.

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Milligan College

• Cornwell, Cynthia A. Beside the waters of Buffalo: a history of Milligan College to 1941. Milligan College, 1989. 203 pp.
• Dewey, Donald. Frank Knight before Cornell: some light on the dark years. NY, the author, 1985. 36 pp.
• Hopwood, Josephus. A journey through the years, an autobiography. St. Louis, MO, Bethany Press, 1932. 206 pp.

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Sycamore Shoals

• Spoden, Hal T., & Muriel C. Spoden. "Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area." THQ 36 (1977), pp. 3-18.
• Dickinson, W. Calvin. "Frontier splendor: the Carter Mansion at Sycamore Shoals." THQ 41 (1982), pp. 317-325.
• Wallace, William H. Master plan report: Sycamore Shoals Historic Park, Carter County, TN, 1971. Kingsport, the author, 1971. 24 pp.

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Watauga / Watauga Association

• Allen, Ben & Dennis T. Lawson. "The Wataugans & the 'dangerous example'." THQ 26 (1967), pp. 137-147.
• Appalachian Consortium. The Wataugans: their history & their influence on southern Appalachia & the nation. Boone, NC, Appalachian Consortium Press, 1976. 23 pp.
• Caldwell, Joshua W. "The Watauga Association." AHM 3 (1898), pp. 312-315.
• Campbell, Howard N. Watauga: an unusual history of the Watauga, TN area, the birthplace of democracy in the world as we know it today. Kingsport, Arcata Graphics, 1986. 484 pp.
• Dixon, Max. The Wataugans. Nashville, TN American Revolution Bicentennial Comm., 1976. 76 pp.
• Dixon, Max. The Wataugans. Johnson City, Overmountain Press, 1989. 80 pp.
• Hamer, Philip M. Documents: correspondence of Henry Stuart & Alexander Cameron with the Wataugans. Cedar Rapids, IA, Torch Press, 1930 (reprinted from MS Valley Hist. Rev. 17 (1930), pp. 451-459).
• Hamer, Philip M. "The Wataugans & the Cherokee Indians in 1776." ETHSP 3 (1931), pp. 108-126.
• Herndon, G. Melvin. William Tatham & the culture of tobacco: including a facsimile reprint of an historical & practical essay on the culture & commerce of tobacco by William Tatham. Coral Gables, FL, U Miami Press, 1969. 506 pp.
• Hyder, N.E. "Watauga old fields." AHM 8 (1903), pp. 253-255.
• McGill, J.T. "Andrew Greer." THM 2 (1916), pp. 204-207. (Greer was a Watauga settler & trader.)
• Williams, Samuel C. History of the lost state of Franklin. Johnson City, Watauga Press, 1924. 371 pp. (various reprints).
• Williams, Samuel C. "William Tatham, Wataugan." THM 7 (1921), pp. 154- 179.
• Williams, Samuel C. William Tatham, Wataugan. Johnson City, Watauga Press, 1923. 109 pp. (2d rev. ed., 1947).

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