It is unknown when individuals first discovered what is now Jefferson City, but it is suggested that original name of the city, Mossy Creek, originated due to the first settlers description of the 'vivid' green moss developed around a creek near the settlement. By 1797, Mossy Creek had around 75 to 100 families with a four-mile-radius of the city.
Geography
Jefferson City is located in northern Jefferson County at . It is bordered to the west by New Market, to the south by Dandridge, and to the northeast by Morristown. U.S. Route 11E, the Andrew Johnson Highway, passes through the south side of the city. It leads northeast to the center of Morristown and west to New Market. Knoxville is to the southwest via Route 11E. Tennessee State Route 92 passes through the west side of Jefferson City, leading north to Rutledge and south to the center of Dandridge. According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson City has a total area of, of which are land and, or 0.72%, are water. The northwest boundary of the city touches the southernmost arm of Cherokee Lake, a reservoir on the Holston River.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,760 people, 2,821 households, and 1,692 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,464.0 people per square mile. There were 3,155 housing units at an average density of 595.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 89.99% White, 6.29% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population. There were 2,821 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.86. In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 25.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $25,911, and the median income for a family was $33,964. Males had a median income of $28,306 versus $18,739 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,770. About 19.7% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Municipal
Jefferson City uses the council-manager government system, which was established in 1901 when the city was incorporated. It is governed by a five-member city council composed of the mayor and four council members.
Public schools in Jefferson City are operated by the Jefferson County Department of Education. Elementary students attend Jefferson Elementary, middle school students attend Jefferson Middle, and high school students attend Jefferson County High School in neighboring Dandridge along with other students in the Jefferson County Schools District.
Carson-Newman University
, a privateSouthern Baptistliberal arts university, is located in Jefferson City adjacent to its downtown district. It was founded in 1851, and has an estimated student enrollment of 2,500.
Notable people
Dana X. Bible, college football coach at Texas A & M, Nebraska, and Texas
