Once a mining hub, Orme is now a quiet mountain town
Orme, pronounced so that it rhymes with storm, is a small town in Tennessee’s segment of the Cumberland Plateau. It was founded in 1902 as a coal mining community. “Back in its heyday, it was producing over 1,000 tons of coal per day, so it was a pretty lucrative place,” says Realtor David Engelen of Century 21 Cumberland Realty. “But there was a big strike back in the 1930s, and the town never regained its footing afterwards.” Since 1939, the town has experienced a gradual decline – the railroad was removed to provide steel for the war effort in the 1940s, the schoolhouse was shut down in the 1960s and the post office shuttered in 1970. Today, it is home to fewer than 100 residents. “It’s become a sleepy little town that’s definitely secluded, but the views are absolutely beautiful,” Engelen says. “Either you’re down in the valley looking up at these wooded, 1,700-foot mountains all around, or you’re up in the mountains looking down at the trees in the valley. It’s great for people looking to be off the beaten path.”
Homes are concentrated around the only road through town
Houses in Orme are mostly concentrated around the historic Orme Depot, the last remaining structure from the town’s mining roots. Narrow roads without sidewalks lead to gravel driveways and fenced-in lots that sit in the shadow of the rising mountains. Cottages and Colonial Revival styles are common among stick-built houses, and some residents prefer to buy lots and install manufactured and mobile homes. “A lot of people would rather buy a lot and build something new on it than renovate the existing properties,” Engelen says. “Prices are lower in Orme than in areas a little further up, but it can be a little too secluded for some people. It’s the kind of place where you have to keep two freezers in the garage and a backup generator just in case.” Homes in Orme rarely come on the market. In July 2025, a four-bedroom custom-built house on a nearly 50-acre lot sold for $425,000.
South Pittsburg is the nearest option for school children
Students in Orme will likely attend schools in nearby South Pittsburg. South Pittsburg Elementary receives a B-minus from Niche, educating children from kindergarten through grade 6. South Pittsburg High serves students from grades 7 through 12 and scores a B. The school has a competitive football team that made the state championships in 2024 and offers a range of career and technical education programs.
Residents will need to commute on Orme Road
Orme Road and Orme Mountain Road are the only ways in or out of town. Engelen says Orme Road leads straight into Alabama, but driving on Orme Mountain Road is challenging. "It’s windy, it’s narrow, and in some places it’s not much more than a dirt trail. Most of the time, it’s quicker to drive down to Alabama and then double back up to South Pittsburg.”
In South Pittsburg, commuters can access U.S. Highway 72 and Interstate 24, which is the quickest way to get to Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, the closest area hospital. This highway is also the best way to get to Chattanooga, an hour's drive east.
Residents will need to do most of their shopping in Alabama
Although on a map the nearest supermarket is Kirkpatrick’s Foodland in South Pittsburg, residents are more likely to head south on Orme Road into Alabama for groceries. “If you live in Orme and you want to go shopping, you go to Stevenson in Alabama because it’s easier than taking the mountain road over to South Pittsburg,” Engelen says. This is also the quickest way to get to Walmart Supercenter in Kimball, Tennessee. Restaurants in Stevenson include Noble Roman’s Pizzeria and The Vault at 302 West, a café, speakeasy and cigar lounge housed in a century-old building downtown.
Hiking, caving, hunting and camping are popular near Orme
Caving in the Appalachian Mountains is a time-honored tradition, and Caver’s Paradise campground is around 30 minutes north of Orme. Franklin State Forest is also nearby and is popular for hiking, hunting, camping and horseback riding. There are around 30 miles of trails for hiking use woven through the forest, and around 12 miles dedicated to non-motorized use. Residents can also spend time hunting in their own backyards. “You’ll have bear, mountain lion, turkey and deer out there,” Engelen says. “There’s not a time I’ve been up there showing properties that I haven’t seen one of those four.”
