McMinn County, Tennessee

History of McMinn County

Native American Indians inhabited McMinn County for thousands of years before white men settled the area.   It is widely believed the first Europeans to enter McMinn County were Hernando Desoto and his men, in the mid 1500's.  This assumption is based on the findings of Aztec statuary on an island in the Hiwassee river west of Calhoun.

McMinn County was organized on November 12, 1819 and its government was established in March of 1820.  It was named after Joseph McMinn, a Calhoun resident, who was Governor of Tennessee at the time of the  organization.  Joseph McMinn was active in the political constitutional convention in Knoxville.  He personally delivered Tennessee's proposed constitution to President George Washington.  Joseph McMinn's public service career included eight terms in the General Assembly, three as speaker of the Senate, and three terms as Tennessee's fifth governor from 1815 to 1821.  He later served as an agent to the Cherokees.  Joseph McMinn died in 1824 and is buried in Calhoun.

Even though McMinn County had experienced many trying times in its long history, the Civil War was undoubtedly the county's crisis point.  With the county sharply divided over the question of secession, the adage of "brother against brother" took on true relevance.  The county was never site to any large battles, but numerous skirmishes did occur as both sides struggled for control of both the Hiwassee River bridge at Calhoun and the county's rail lines.  McMinn County sent men to fight on both sides of the war and the county itself changed hands many times during the war.  General William Tecumseh Sherman used the Bridges Hotel in Athens as his headquarters and reportedly developed a real affection for the town.  A strong Unionist and Tennessee's first post-war governor,  William G. "Parson" Brownlow, served as minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the forerunner of the present Keith Memorial United Methodist Church in Athens.

McMinn County recovered from the wounds of the war and began its evolution from an agricultural community to an industrial one.  The textile, railroading and lumber industries were some of the first in the county.  Today McMinn County is a largely industrial county with major companies producing goods as diverse as automobile components, farm equipment, furniture, chemicals, clothing and newsprint.  Bowater Inc., located in Calhoun is the world's largest producer of newsprint.

McMinn County has an area of 439 square miles and currently has a population of approximately 45,000 persons.  The five municipalities of Athens, Etowah, Englewood, Niota and Calhoun are located in the county. Athens is the county seat.