Local Map: Mountain City, TN
Facts About Johnson County
In the last few years, many people have discovered the Johnson County mountains, friendly folks, progressive government, and recreational opportunities.
Mountain City, the county seat, is located in the center of the county. At 2,728 ft. above sea level, it has the highest elevation of any city in Tennessee. Mountain city is located approximately 40 miles northeast of Johnson City, 34 miles southeast of Bristol, and 26 miles northwest of Boone, NC.
Land area in the County totals 272 square miles. The terrain ranges from relatively flat valleys dotted with farms and pasturelands to the rugged mountainous chain of the Appalachians. Elevations vary from 1,800 ft in the lowlands to 5,000 ft in the mountains.
Due to its elevation, Johnson County has a temperate climate with cool winters and mildly warm summers.
The County contains beauty spots such as State Park Backbone Rock and a portion of Watauga Lake, the highest lake in the Tennessee Valley Authority system. At 1,960 ft above sea level it lies in the southwestern section of the County.
Roan Creek, a tributary of the Watauga River, and Beaverdam Creed, a tributary of the South Fork Holston River, are the major streams in the county and provide excellent trout fishing.
Approximately 26% or 49,512 acres of the county is in the Cherokee National Forest.
Twenty miles of the farmed Appalachian Trail also passes through the County. The Red Tail Mountain Golf Course in the County is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the South.
Come to Johnson County! The air is crisp and clean; the streams are unpolluted and the mountain landscapes unspoiled. It's a great place to live..