Hampton, Tennessee
Hampton is an unincorporated community in Carter County, Tennessee, United States. Located a few miles southeast of Elizabethton and northwest of Roan Mountain, Hampton is surrounded on all sides by the Unaka Mountains. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region. History. Hampton was established in the late 1860s by Elijah Simerly, a state legislator and president of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad. He named the community for his wife, Mary  Hampton. Simerly built an elaborate, Italianate-style house which still stands at the corner of Main Street and 1st Avenue, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is now known as the "Butler Mansion" after a later owner, Ralph Butler. The Laurel Fork Railway served a mill in Hampton. Geography. Hampton lies in a broad valley concentrated around the Doe River and its junction with two of its tributaries, namely the Little Doe River, which enters the area from the southwest, and Laurel Fork, which enters the area from the east. This valley is surrounded  by Jenkins Mountain on the west, the Iron Mountains on the north, Pond Mountain to the east, and Cedar Mountain to the south. Just southeast of Hampton, the Doe River emerges from the Doe River Gorge, a narrow valley between Cedar Mountain and Fork Mountain. Watauga Lake is located northeast of Hampton. Dennis Cove, an Appalachian cove, lies to the southeast. The Appalachian Trail passes through the eastern outskirts of Hampton. The trail traverses Dennis Cove and follows the upper Laurel Fork Valley before ascending to the crest of Pond Mountain. It descends again to U.S. Route 321, and continues  northward along the shores of Watauga Lake. Hampton is located along U.S. Routes 321 and 19E south of Elizabethton, Tennessee. Historic district. Hampton's historic district has many historic homes, including the Butler Mansion. Economy. Hampton's economy is mainly based on tourism from the Cherokee National Forest (In which it is located) and the Appalachian Trail. There are several restaurants and stores in Hampton. On the southern outskirts of town, one will find Doe River Gorge, a Christian retreat and Summer camp featuring its own narrow gauge railroad laid on a segment of former East Tennessee and Western North  Carolina Railroad roadbed. Education. Schools in Hampton are operated by Carter County Schools: Hampton-Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department. Hampton-Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department serves Hampton, Valley Forge and surrounding areas. Connection with U.S. Interstate Highway System. Interstate 26 Exit 24 then east Tennessee State Route 67 to Elizabethton, then right on Tennessee State Route 67 to Hampton.