About 13 miles from Morristown and 30 miles from Knoxville, Jefferson City is a cozy community situated along Cherokee Lake. It attracts residents for its quiet lifestyle and waterfront recreation. “We’re a bedroom community for both Morristown and Knoxville,” says resident and Realtor Shawn Wilmoth, who owns Cedar Pond Farms in Jefferson City. “Most of the industry is in Knoxville or Morristown, and a lot of people commute. It’s a really easy commute.” Those who work in Jefferson City likely work at Carson-Newman University or Jefferson Memorial Hospital. “For a little town to have a hospital is a big deal,” says Wilmoth. Jefferson City is ideal for those who prefer a slower pace of life without being too far from the comforts of big city living.
Jefferson City rests in the foothills of East Tennessee.
Carson Newman University has a large campus near downtown Jefferson City.
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Homes overlooking Cherokee Lake
Jefferson City is comprised of mainly ranch-style and new traditional homes, with a median single-family price of $350,000, about $55,000 below the national median. “Housing is still very stable from a pricing standpoint,” Wilmoth says. The city’s most expensive homes sit along Cherokee Lake, where buyers can find lakefront houses with private docks and patios overlooking the lake. Prices for lakefront property vary but can reach into the mid $900,000s.
Brick Ranchers are very popular in Jefferson City.
You can find New Traditional homes dotting the landscape of Jefferson City.
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Cherokee Lake and Cedar Pond Farms
Jefferson City's location along Cherokee Lake attracts residents with its nearly endless outdoor activities. “Cherokee Lake is popular for boating, fishing, waterskiing and sailing,” Wilmoth says. “A lot of bass fishing goes on at the lake.” Another popular area attraction is Cedar Pond Farms, where visitors can meet and greet with the farm’s Scottish Highland cows, known lovingly by Wilmoth as “fluffy cows.” “It’s quite an attraction,” Wilmoth says. “People like to come, brush the cows and feed them out of their hands. They get selfies with the cows. At the end of the experience, they finish it off with some gelato and espresso from Gelato Brothers and then go down and pick wildflowers and walk the farm.” Cedar Pond Farms also has an Airbnb, which attracts visitors who want to meet the cows and stay on the farm. “They love the cows so much they’ll come and spend a couple nights on the farm to be with the cows,” he says. “We’ve had several people propose with the cows. For some reason, bachelorette parties are very popular here. They’ll have their veils and sashes on, and they’ll be out there with the cows.”
Cedar Pond Farms features a Scottish Highland Cow Experience in Jefferson City.
Cherokee Dam Park has a boat ramp so you can easily get out on the water.
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Jefferson County School District and Carson-Newman University
Jefferson County School District earns a B-minus rating from Niche and the city is also home to Carson-Newman University, a Southern Baptist liberal arts school with about a 2,500 student population. “It’s nice because you have a lot of things going on with the college, from plays to sporting events,” Wilmoth says.
Jefferson County High School offers lots of sports for students to participate in.
The Carson Newman University Eagles play football at Burke-Tarr Stadium in Jefferson City.
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Dining in Jefferson City and shopping in nearby cities
Jefferson City has a few local restaurants like the family owned El Sazon Mexican Restaurant and The Hoagie Shop, a deli known for its reubens and Blue Bell milkshakes. Off the Hook Lakeside Bar and Grille is a popular restaurant in the summertime for its waterfront dining options along Black Oak Creek. Groceries and other essentials can be found in Jefferson City, but for additional shopping, most residents travel to nearby cities. “We’re only about 15 minutes from another smaller city called Morristown,” Wilmoth says. “If you don’t want to go 30 minutes to Knoxville, you can go 15 minutes to Morristown, which has a shopping mall and a movie theater.”
The Hoagie Shop in Jefferson City features hamburgers, wings, and of course hoagies and sandwiches on their menu.
El Sazon is a popular local Mexican restaurant in Jefferson City.
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National Weather Service and the Jefferson City Police Department
Since 2020, the Morristown office of the National Weather Service has reported tornadoes, flooding, heavy snow, record cold, high winds and wildfires. FBI data shows that the Jefferson City Police Department has seen a steady decline in property crime since 2017, while its violent crime rate has remained about the same.
U.S. Route 11E connects to Morristown and Knoxville
U.S. Route 11E passes through Jefferson City, connecting it to Morristown, 13 miles east, and to Knoxville, 29 miles west. The East Tennessee Human Resource Agency offers door-to-door transportation services to Jefferson City residents. When traveling out of town, residents fly out of McGhee Tyson Airport, 41 miles southwest.
Jefferson City’s Hometown Christmas
Jefferson City’s Hometown Christmas is an annual celebration held in the city’s downtown along Main Street. The event features a parade, food trucks and an outdoor holiday market.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Byrum
Video By
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Gorgeous Cherokee Lakefront property overlooking the Black Oak Marina, Cherokee Dam and views of the mountains. Enter through the private gate onto 4.93 acres improved with a 1200 sq foot pavilion with bath and storage area. Large fire pit and boat ramp have also been installed. Build your dream home/vacation home on the property or enjoy the amenities with family and friends. Property has septic
Back on market due to buyers financing falling through. This 5 bedroom rancher offers just over 3,000 square feet of living space, 3 full bathrooms, 2 living room spaces and 3 fireplaces! All while sitting on a 1.2 acre lot, just inside the edge of the city limits so you can enjoy the convenience of public water, sewer and trash pickup but in a peaceful setting. The kitchen was updated in the
Now Available- 2Br / 1.5 Bath Apartment near Carson Newman College - 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath upstairs and 1 half bath downstairs (1050 sq feet) Apartment centrally located near Walmart, Lowes & Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, TN. Excellent location with excellent neighbors. Freshly painted, new flooring in bedrooms. Available to be seen ** NO SMOKING including VAPING**
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