Lafollette, Tennessee spent twenty-five years in the limelight as local radio station WLAF broadcast The Tennessee Jamboree every Saturday night. The show featured classic Tennessee pickers and singers and other variety acts that entertained listeners in Campbell County. Lafollette was the hub of the Tennessee bluegrass scene and music is still a big part of the town today.
LaFollette's longtime residents fondly refer to it as the "City of Dreams." This moniker came about because of the natural resources and scenic views provided by the Cumberland Mountains and Powell Valley. Other resources include the iron deposits, availability of water, coal and timber. The city was formerly called Big Creek Gap due to the creek that now runs through the older section of LaFollette. Although the population is small -- 7,456 according to the 2010 Census -- in this city your dreams don't have to be.
Moving to LaFollette
The town has a small population, yet it has great pride. You will find the longtime residents friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about places to rent. Word of mouth is often the best way to find your home sweet home. This close-knit community prides itself on helping to promote the growth and vitality of their town. Other avenues to find rental apartments are available by reading community bulletin boards, the local paper and via the Chamber of Commerce or realtors.
Hitch your boat or jet ski trailer to the moving van when you prepare to move to LaFollette. Norris Lake provides plenty of water fun for everyone, whether you enjoy swimming, fishing or participating in more strenuous water sports.
It is also appropriate to pack hiking boots, comfortable walking shoes or binoculars for viewing the local wildlife or bird watching. The mountain area is a lovely place to spend time outdoors rejuvenating your spirit or simply enjoying the company of friends and family.
You will need appropriate clothing for all four seasons in LaFollette. Although the temperatures are rarely extreme, residents do need coats and warm clothing in the autumn and winter months. This enables you to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and snowfalls. Bathing suits and cool summer clothing are a necessity to enable you to participate in the fun activities on or near the lake.
Neighborhoods in La Follette
LaFollette isn't large enough to have different neighborhoods but it does offer a variety of styles in the places you can live. Newcomers will find an eclectic mix of apartment rentals or perhaps even a house to rent. You can find historic and quaint homes reminiscent of earlier times.If contemporary housing is more your style, you will find plenty of places to live in, in this city. It has everything from studio apartments, condos for rent and many other places to settle down and to enjoy the sedate pace of living that is present here.
City Center: Many of the residents live near the center of this city. This is due to the proximity of many local businesses, such as Wendy's Restaurant and the Lafollette IGA. It also has many rental properties such as the Village Apartments and Jacksboro Plaza Ltd.
Southwest Lafollette: There are several apartment complexes in this area, including Lafollette Garden Apartments, Mountainview Apartments and Westgate Towers, all of which are within walking distance to Walgreen's.
Living in La Follette
Norris Lake is a major tourist attraction for the city and it has 800 miles of shoreline. The surface of the water covers 34,200 acres, making it a wonderful source of outdoor fun whether you enjoy activities like water skiing or strolling along the shoreline. There are plenty of marinas and public launching ramps for your boats or canoes. You can even rent a houseboat for an innovative way to entertain out of town relatives or friends for a few days.
LaFollette is the biggest town in Campbell County and the home of the Campbell County Historical Museum and Archives. This is an interesting place to learn about the history of the town and surrounding area. The museum has numerous fascinating artifacts, photographs and documents depicting the history of the county. History buffs can stroll through the many exhibits, including ones about the Civil War, Stinking Creek Bridge and Delap Cemetery. It also has information on the railroad that helped the city to grow and expand throughout the years.
History buffs will also enjoy a visit to Glen Oaks. This Victorian-style homestead was home to one of the town's founding fathers, Harvey LaFollette. It is the largest home in LaFollette and boasts 27 rooms. Glen Oaks is listed in the National Register of Historic Properties.
The Dixie Highway -- US 25W -- makes it simple to reach other nearby cities since it passes through the town. It originated due to a need to make transit from the Midwest to the Southern portion of the United States easier. This enables citizens to make quick jaunts to larger nearby cities, such as Chattanooga and Nashville.
LaFollette has modern schools and a new elementary school. The citizens believe that investing in the education of the future generation is one of the best ways to ensure that the city continues to prosper and grow.
The hospital has been remodeled recently, thus making it convenient to seek medical help when necessary without traveling to neighboring cities. LaFollette also has its own water treatment plant.
Newcomers will delight in the mountains, lakes and friendly people in LaFollette. This city is a perfect place to make your dreams come true.