Jamestown, TN

Perched on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, Jamestown serves as the welcoming county seat of Fentress County. Originally known as Sand Springs, the town grew around natural springs that still bubble up at Mark Twain City Park right beside the courthouse. The park honors an interesting piece of local history, as Mark Twain’s father, John Clemens, designed the county’s very first courthouse. Today, the courthouse square and neighboring parks provide easygoing spots to take a walk, catch up with neighbors, or let the kids play.

ATTRBrian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Daily life in Jamestown centers on a compact, traditional downtown where Main Street and Central Avenue provide everyday essentials. You will find local diners, grocery stores, pharmacies, and family-owned shops alongside county offices. Community pride runs deep, shaped in large part by World War I hero Sgt. Alvin C. York. His legacy lives on at the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, the historic public high school he founded that still educates local teens. A community center, town pool, and local airport round out the practical conveniences of living here.

ATTRBrian Stansberry (photographer) / CC BY 3.0

Jamestown also puts incredible outdoor recreation right in your backyard. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Pickett State Park, and Dale Hollow Lake are all an easy drive away, making hiking, boating, and horseback riding part of regular weekend life. Every August, the town becomes the official headquarters for the World’s Longest Yard Sale, drawing vendors and visitors along Highway 127 from across the country. It all combines to give Jamestown a relaxed mountain-plateau atmosphere with a friendly, tight-knit feel.