Hampton, TN

Tucked into a scenic valley along the Doe River, Hampton is a quiet Carter County community situated just southeast of Elizabethton. Surrounded by the Unaka and Iron Mountains, it offers a peaceful rural setting with incredible outdoor access. Watauga Lake sits only minutes to the northeast for boating and fishing, while the Appalachian Trail skirts the edge of town, giving residents world-class hiking right in their backyard.

ATTRBrian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

The town was founded in the late 1860s by Elijah Simerly, who named it after his wife, Mary Hampton. Local history is still very visible today, from the grand 19th-century Butler Mansion to the old railroad routes winding through the dramatic Doe River Gorge. With its relaxed pace, sweeping mountain views, and easy connections to neighboring towns, Hampton is an appealing spot for anyone seeking quiet Appalachian living.