Bean Station, Tennessee
Bean Station is a town split between the counties of Grainger and Hawkins in Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,967. It is part of the Kingsport, Knoxville, and Morristown metropolitan statistical areas.
Bean Station | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Main Street (Old US 11W) in Bean Station | |
|
Seal | |
| Nicknames: The Crossroads, Firework Alley | |
| Motto: "A Historical Crossroad" | |
Location of Bean Station in Grainger and Hawkins counties in Tennessee | |
Bean Station Bean Station | |
| Coordinates: 36°20′37″N 83°17′03″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| Counties | Grainger, Hawkins |
| Founded | 1776 |
| Incorporated | 1996 |
| Founded by | William Bean |
| Named for | Bean family settlement |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Ben Waller |
| • Vice Mayor | Jeff Atkins |
| • Town Council | Aldermen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.99 sq mi (15.52 km2) |
| • Land | 5.99 sq mi (15.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,112 ft (339 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 2,967 |
| • Density | 495.41/sq mi (191.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 37708, 37811 |
| Area codes | 865, 423 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403829 |
| FIPS code | 47-03760 |
Pioneer William Bean established Bean Station in 1776 as a frontier outpost; it is considered one of the earliest permanently settled communities in Tennessee. During the 18th and 19th centuries, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road and the Great Indian Warpath, the town grew to become an important stopover for early pioneers and settlers in the Appalachia region.
During the American Civil War, the town was the site of the final battle of the Knoxville campaign before Confederate forces surrendered to a Union blockade in nearby Blaine. In the early 20th century, Bean Station experienced renewed growth with the development of Tate Springs mineral springs resort, investment from U.S. Senator John K. Shields, and the construction of the Peavine Railroad which provided passenger rail services to Knoxville. In the 1940s, the Tennessee Valley Authority inundated the town as part of the construction of Cherokee Dam, and nearly all of the town's residents were removed via eminent domain and federal court orders. Following its inundation, the town was shifted to the new junction of U.S. Route 11W and U.S. Route 25E, becoming a popular lakeside community, and a commuter town for the city of Morristown in neighboring Hamblen County. Citing annexation attempts by Morristown, Bean Station was incorporated as a town in 1996.