Hampton offers a small-town feel with ample ways to explore wildlife
Hampton first appeared on the map in the late 1860s when the president of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad named the community after his wife. Four mountains frame the area, warranting slow growth in the years following its establishment and the laid-back nature of its current state. "Hampton is a sweet little town and removed from the hustle and bustle of Elizabethton and Johnson City," says Sierra Arnett, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Security Real Estate and Northeast Tennessee native. "You feel like you're in a different world. It's a slower way of life, and the people there are kind and welcoming." Its natural surroundings cater to various recreational opportunities, where residents can spend a day fishing and swimming at Watauga Lake or hiking out to nearby Laurel Falls. Though a handful of local establishments serve the area, the shopping and opportunities of Elizabethton are just 5 miles north.
Days spent on Watauga Lake
“Watauga Lake is a major tourist attraction in that area,” Arnett says. The lake is a 4-mile trip northeast, where visitors splash about at Shook Branch Swimming Area. “Winter is one of the most popular times of the year for fishing out on the lake,” Arnett says. Anglers can drop their watercraft in at Rat Branch Boat Ramp for a day of casting lines. Laurel Fork Trailhead sits closer to home in the neighborhood. The trail leads to the foot of Laurel Falls’ 40-foot-high cascades, where visitors cool off in the natural pool below after the 1.5-mile trek. Residents also stop by Hampton Watershed Trails off 1st Avenue to enjoy local wildlife or pedal its mountain biking paths.
Johnson City is currently expanding Tweetsie Trail, its well-known railroad-turned multi-use pathway. The trail starts in Downtown Johnson City, runs through Elizabethton and will soon stretch southeast through the community to the foot of Cedar Mountain. The city plans to finish the expansion by 2025.
Hampton has ranch-style homes and varying acreage
A drive through Hampton’s central residential pocket reveals a series of grid-like streets encompassed by the ridgelines of neighboring mountains. Enduring sidewalks with grass-filled cracks denote the community’s age alongside centuries-old churches and “Butler Mansion,” Simerly’s Italianate-style home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Early 1900s ranch-style homes fill the remainder of Hampton’s historic district alongside a handful of Cape Cod, Colonial and cottage styles. Lots average just over a quarter acre, which increases in the rural portions of the neighborhood farther out. Here, narrow roads past mature trees and ranch-style homes, some of which sit on lots spanning more than 5 acres. Homes typically sell between $75,000 for a home in need of repair to $340,000. However, recently built homes on more land can reach up to $560,000.
Laurel Fork Restaurant's breakfast offerings
Laurel Fork Restaurant is the only locally owned spot in the area. The diner’s busiest time of day is breakfast, when it serves southern comfort foods like biscuits and gravy within its casual dining room. A handful of chain restaurants like McDonald’s and Subway also line U.S. Route 19 for quick bites. From within the community, residents can also pick up daily essentials from Dollar General, groceries from Redi Mart Supermarket and tools for their next project at Brown’s Grocery & Hardware. Hampton Trails Bicycle Shop also provides repairs and equipment for all cyclists from amateurs to professionals. However, residents travel north to Downtown Elizabethton for a wider selection of restaurants and retail stores.
Getting involved at Hampton High School
Hampton Elementary School teaches the area’s prekindergarten through eighth-grade students and holds a B-minus rating on Niche. The school sits within the community alongside Hampton High School, which maintains the same rating. High school students can participate in an array of student clubs and organizations ranging from Future Farmers of America to Architecture and Engineering Design.
Getting around on U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 runs through the center of the community, linking commuters to Elizabethton 5 miles north and Johnson City 15 miles northwest with the help of U.S. Route 321. The former is home to the Sycamore Shoals Hospital and Elizabethton Municipal Airport, which services private flights. Those looking to travel out of the area must take flights out of Tri-Cities Airport, a 32-mile trip northwest along Interstate 26,
Hampton's flooding concerns
Considering its location in the valleys of surrounding mountains, Hampton is susceptible to flooding after heavy rainfalls and inland tropical storms. According to First Street, the community has a significant flooding risk, with roadways noted as the highest concern.
