"He was born and raised in Lynchburg, Tennessee/ His daddy owns a big distillery." -- Jack Daniels, Miranda Lambert
A study in contrasts, the small town of Lynchburg is home to the large--and America's oldest--distillery of Jack Daniel's. The distillery produces every drop of the iconic Tennessee whiskey in the dry county of Moore County. Though alcohol is produced in the town, it can't be consumed there or anywhere else in Moore County. More than a quarter of a million visitors tour the distillery every year and spend considerable time in the charming town Jack Daniel's and just more than 6,000 residents call home. Nestled in the mountains of south-central Tennessee, Lynchburg and the county it resides in have the same population, area-- 130 square miles--and border. What began as the main city in the county has evolved into the only city. In fact, today, the country and city are the same. Not bad for a city with a single traffic light!
Be prepared for life to move at a slower pace in Lynchburg
"He was born and raised in Lynchburg, Tennessee/ His daddy owns a big distillery." -- Jack Daniels, Miranda Lambert
A study in contrasts, the small town of Lynchburg is home to the large--and America's oldest--distillery of Jack Daniel's. The distillery produces every drop of the iconic Tennessee whiskey in the dry county of Moore County. Though alcohol is produced in the town, it can't be consumed there or anywhere else in Moore County. More than a quarter of a million visitors tour the distillery every year and spend considerable time in the charming town Jack Daniel's and just more than 6,000 residents call home. Nestled in the mountains of south-central Tennessee, Lynchburg and the county it resides in have the same population, area-- 130 square miles--and border. What began as the main city in the county has evolved into the only city. In fact, today, the country and city are the same. Not bad for a city with a single traffic light!
Moving to Lynchburg/Moore County
Be prepared for life to move at a slower pace in Lynchburg. The nearest interstates--24 to the east, 65 to the west--are each about 40 minutes away from Lynchburg, so owning a car is a must. Tourism is the top industry in the town, with most residents working in the distillery, in a local retail store or restaurant, or even on their own farm. If you do plan on working in a nearby city like Manchester, Tullahoma or Shelbyville, keep in mind that Tullahoma offers the quickest commute.
Give yourself a few months to search for rental properties in Lynchburg. House rentals far outnumber apartment complexes in town, although the closer you are to nearby cities, the better your chance of finding an apartment rental.
Neighborhoods in Lynchburg
When the area was first settled in 1800, most residences were placed on the west side of town with factories and industries located on the eastern side, with the East Fork Mulberry Creek separating the two halves. The town has grown considerably since this beginning, although remnants of this beginning can still be seen in the downtown area. Other areas that were once separate communities are now considered neighborhoods within Lynchburg and Moore County.
Downtown: Along Main Street, you'll see the Town Square. Originally built to resemble the courthouse square of neighboring Shelbyville, the square and its buildings was destroyed in a fire in 1883. The current courthouse was rebuilt just a few years later and is still standing today, with most of the other buildings on the square built within a decade or two of the courthouse. As a result, the entire downtown area has a charmingly nostalgic feel to it. On the north side of downtown, along the creek, is Jack Daniel's Distillery.
Countyline: On the northwestern side of Moore County, this community is most notable for Motlow State Community College. The rural area benefits by being so close to the shopping mall and medical center in Tullahoma.
Raysville: Just across Lynchburg Highway from Countyline, this neighborhood shares many of the same rural characteristics with its neighboring community, except it offers its residents recreational fun at the Cumberland Springs Lake and Dam.
Hickory Hill: On the southeastern side of the county, Hickory Hill has plenty of housing options--most of them older homes or even mobile homes--primarily because it is far from most of the area's main roads or shopping areas. Privacy is easy to obtain here, however.
Lost Creek: Just north of Hickory Hill, Lost Creek is ideal for avid fishermen. Wherever you move in the area, you're guaranteed to be mere minutes from water. Drop a line anywhere along Lost Creek or Tim's Ford Lake. There's even a state park and marina nearby.
Living in Lynchburg and Moore County
While it's easy to say that Jack Daniel's is the biggest draw to the area, Lynchburg certainly has other attractions to keep residents busy. You could spend plenty of time exploring the historic downtown square, the Old Jail Museum and the 120-year-old Mulberry House. While in downtown, get a home-cooked meal at the iconic, historic and much-loved Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. Who knows, you might just find yourself seated next to town resident Little Richard.
When you do crave a little more excitement, take a scenic drive north to Nashville. You can take either Interstate 65 or 24, and the trip will only take you about an hour and a half.
