My East Tennessee East Tennessee Guides
Home › By county › Jefferson County › Dandridge

Dandridge, Tennessee

Jefferson County’s seat on Douglas Lake, just off I-40: the 1845 courthouse with the county archives and museum, old taverns, inns and cafés along Main Street, and a downtown dock that is home base for Douglas Lake bass tournaments.

Town · county seatSeat of Jefferson County →Pop. 3,344 (2020)Eastern time (ET)Things to do ↓Eat & drink ↓Places to stay ↓Events ↓A short history ↓Town offices & resources ↓

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · all times Eastern (ET) · sources at the bottom

In 30 seconds
  • Why stop: see the 1845 courthouse and its county museum, walk Main and Meeting streets past the old taverns, have lunch downtown, then watch the boats at the Dandridge Dock on Douglas Lake.
  • Before you go: Dandridge is on Eastern time (ET). Early voting ends today, Oct 29 (9 AM–4 PM ET, 760 Justice Center Dr). The Bill Dance Giant Bass Open runs from the Dandridge Dock on Oct 31–Nov 1, and on Election Day, Tue Nov 3, Dandridge voters choose three aldermen.
  • Good to know: Bush’s Visitor Center (Chestnut Hill), Glenmore Mansion and Carson-Newman (Jefferson City), and most Douglas Lake marinas have Dandridge or nearby addresses but are outside the town limits. The county hospital is in Jefferson City.

Visitor directory

Things to do in and around Dandridge

In town

  • Jefferson County Courthouse & County Museum ↗202 W Main St · built in 1845 and one of the few courthouses in the state that has never suffered a major disaster, so the county’s records survive almost intact. The museum in Room 203 displays the 1806 marriage bond of Davy Crockett and Polly Finley. Archives hours are Mon–Fri 9 AM–3 PM ET, and the museum office is listed as open daily 8 AM–4 PM ET · 865-397-4904. ⓘ source
  • Historic Downtown Dandridge ↗Main and Meeting streets around the courthouse · Visit Jefferson County TN points visitors to the town’s four historic taverns, one of the oldest original courthouses in the state, and the Dike That Saved Dandridge marker. ⓘ source
  • Dandridge Town Hall stage ↗131 E Main St · home of Music on the Town, a free Thursday-night concert series each September and October. The 2026 series ended on Oct 15. Source conflict: the town calendar lists Music on the Town concerts from 6–9 PM ET, while Visit Jefferson County TN says concerts begin at 7 PM ET. Check both before next fall’s series. ⓘ source
  • Dandridge Dock on Douglas Lake ↗157 Public Dr · the town’s boat dock downtown, home base for Douglas Lake bass tournaments, including the Bill Dance Giant Bass Open on Oct 31–Nov 1. ⓘ source
  • Dandridge Memorial Library ↗1235 Circle Dr, on the banks of Douglas Lake · Tue, Wed and Fri 9 AM–6 PM ET; Thu 10 AM–7 PM ET; Sat 9 AM–1 PM ET; closed Sunday and Monday · 865-397-9758. A new $4.2 million library is being built at 1135 Academy Circle, due by the end of June 2027. ⓘ source
  • Field of Dreams & town parks ↗The town’s Field of Dreams Recreational Complex has walking trails, open green space and ball fields. The Field of Dreams Activity Center in Grace Shrader Park hosts leagues and community events; the town also runs a greenway. ⓘ source
  • Dandridge Farmers Market ↗1205 Gay St · the town-run market met Saturdays 8 AM–12 PM ET on the town calendar through Oct 17; watch for next season · (865) 397-7420. ⓘ source

Eat & drink

Listings come from Visit Jefferson County TN. We could not confirm current hours on a first-party page, so call ahead.

Places to stay

Inns and hotels inside the town limits, plus lakeside lodging outside town:

Nearby: Douglas Lake, Chestnut Hill & Jefferson City

  • Douglas Lake ↗Not in Dandridge — the TVA lake across Jefferson County’s south side. TVA built Douglas Dam during World War II in a record 382 days (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Its marinas, campgrounds and free public boat ramps are mostly outside the town limits, and Visit Jefferson County TN lists it for bass and crappie fishing. ⓘ source
  • Bush’s Visitor Center ↗Not in Dandridge — Chestnut Hill, home of Bush’s Beans · check hours before you go. Source conflict: Visit Jefferson County TN lists Bush’s Visitors Center at 137 E Main St in downtown Dandridge, next to Town Hall. Bush’s own site places its home in Chestnut Hill, and our county guide gives 3901 US Hwy 411. We list the Bush’s center as outside the town limits. Call before you go. ⓘ source
  • Glenmore Mansion ↗Not in Dandridge — 1280 N Chucky Pike, Jefferson City · an 1868 Second Empire mansion shown as a house museum, with tours May through October. Christmas at Glenmore runs the first two weekends of December; 2026 dates were not posted. ⓘ source
  • Historic Mossy Creek District ↗Not in Dandridge — Jefferson City’s original downtown, where the Mossy Creek Foundation runs ghost tours, Mossy Creek Station events and a community calendar. ⓘ source
  • Carson-Newman University ↗Not in Dandridge — Jefferson City · a church-supported university founded in 1851 (Tennessee Encyclopedia) · 865-471-2000. ⓘ source
  • Cherokee Lake ↗Not in Dandridge — the TVA lake across Jefferson County’s north side. ⓘ source

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · in or out of town checked against Census town limits. Call ahead — hours change. All hours Eastern (ET).

Coming up in and around Dandridge

  • Thu Oct 29 — Last day of early voting9 AM–4 PM ET at the Early Vote Center, 760 Justice Center Dr · (865) 397-3440. ⓘ source
  • Thu–Fri Oct 29–30 — Ghost Tours of the Mossy Creek DistrictNot in Dandridge — historic downtown Jefferson City · a five-stop walking tour for ages 11 and up, $20; tours start at 6 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Fri Oct 30 — Carson-Newman Trunk-or-TreatNot in Dandridge — 6–8 PM ET in the Tarr Music Building lot, 1620 Russell Ave, Jefferson City · free. ⓘ source
  • Sat–Sun Oct 31–Nov 1 — Bill Dance Giant Bass Open6 AM–5 PM ET both days at the Dandridge Dock, 157 Public Dr · a big-bass tournament on Douglas Lake for amateur anglers. ⓘ source
  • Sat Oct 31 — Dandridge Lions Club charity golf tournamentNot in Dandridge — Dandridge Golf & Country Club, 1247 Stonewall Jackson Dr · lunch at 12 PM ET, shotgun start at 1 PM ET; teams and sponsors are still needed. ⓘ source
  • Sat Oct 31 — Chestnut Hill Bunker TreatNot in Dandridge — the Chestnut Community Park ball field, Chestnut Hill · car show and chili cook-off 2–7 PM ET, then trunk-or-treat 5–10 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 3 — Election DayPolls are open 9 AM–8 PM ET, and you must vote at your own precinct. Dandridge voters choose three aldermen, along with the state and federal races · (865) 397-3440. ⓘ source
  • Mon Nov 9 — Jefferson County Commission work session6:30 PM ET at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 202 W Main St. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 10 — Jefferson County Election Commission10 AM ET at 760 Justice Center Dr, Suite B. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 10 — Dandridge Board of Mayor & Aldermen6 PM ET at the Dandridge Public Works Facility/Police Department. ⓘ source
  • Mon Nov 16 — Jefferson County Commission voting meeting6:30 PM ET at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 202 W Main St. ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 21 — Free veterans breakfastThird Saturday of the month at First United Methodist Church, 121 E Meeting St. The time was not posted on the county page. ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 28 — Jefferson City Christmas Tree Lighting & MarketNot in Dandridge — 4–7 PM ET at Mossy Creek Station, Main St, Jefferson City. ⓘ source
  • Sat Dec 5 — New Market Christmas ParadeNot in Dandridge — steps off at 5 PM ET (line-up 4 PM ET at the old Lost Creek Golf Course) and ends at the New Market fire department · free food tickets and a live band. ⓘ source
  • Sat Dec 12 — Jefferson City Christmas ParadeNot in Dandridge — 5:30 PM ET in downtown Jefferson City; route details were not yet posted. ⓘ source

More happenings are on the Town of Dandridge events calendar ↗ and Visit Jefferson County TN ↗. No 2026 date had been posted for the Dandridge Christmas Parade when we checked; last year the Dandridge Volunteer Fire Department’s parade stepped off at 1 PM ET on Sat Dec 20, 2025 (2025 town listing ↗). We’ll refresh this list after the Dec 12 Jefferson City parade.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · times Eastern (ET) · dates from the Jefferson County Election Commission, Visit Jefferson County TN, the Jefferson County Commission, MTAS, the Mossy Creek Foundation, the City of New Market and The Standard Banner. More Jefferson County events are on the county guide.

Area news

Headlines · Dandridge & Jefferson County

  • The Standard Banner · Oct 22, 2026

    Dandridge gave final approval to mixed-use zoning for 64 acres at I-40 Exit 417. Commercial plans can move ahead, while the homes wait on a town water study.

    Read at The Standard Banner →
  • The Standard Banner · Oct 22, 2026

    Construction is under way on the new $4.2 million Dandridge Memorial Library at 1135 Academy Circle, due to be finished by the end of June 2027.

    Read at The Standard Banner →
  • The Standard Banner · Oct 22, 2026

    County commissioners sent a proposed mineral-tax study group back to a work session; the local zinc mines said they would take part in a study.

    Read at The Standard Banner →
  • The Standard Banner · Oct 22, 2026

    Jefferson City is weighing a pause on water service to new developments while it tests replacement membrane systems at its water plant.

    Read at The Standard Banner →
  • WVLT 8 · Oct 19, 2026

    The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce says it will shut down after the County Commission’s Budget Committee turned down its request for $90,000 in bridge funding.

    Read at WVLT 8 →

Short summaries in our words — tap through to read the full story at the source. All area news → · Outlet requests: [email protected]

A short history

Settlers came to Dandridge by 1783, and Territorial Governor William Blount created Jefferson County on June 11, 1792. During the State of Franklin years, 1784 to 1788, the area had been part of Caswell County. North Carolinians came down the French Broad River and Virginians by way of the Holston (Tennessee Encyclopedia).

The town was named for Martha Dandridge Washington, the first First Lady (Visit Jefferson County TN), and was incorporated on Dec. 1, 1799, under the Private Acts of 1799 (MTAS). The young Sam Houston spent weeks reading in the library of a cousin in Dandridge (Tennessee Encyclopedia).

On Christmas Eve 1863, Federal cavalry fought Confederate troops from General James Longstreet’s command at Dandridge (Tennessee Encyclopedia). The courthouse, finished in 1845, has never suffered a major disaster; the county archives were established in 1997, and the county museum, begun in 1957, fills Room 203 (Jefferson County).

During World War II, TVA’s Douglas Dam took 40.5 square miles of the county’s best farmland (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Visit Jefferson County TN lists the Dike That Saved Dandridge marker among the town’s historic sites, and the lake now laps the edge of downtown.

Today Dandridge is a town under a private act charter (Private Acts of 1998). The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 PM ET at the Dandridge Public Works Facility/Police Department. Town Hall is open Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM ET, and the town runs garbage, sewer and water service (MTAS). The 2020 Census counted 3,344 people inside the town limits, up from 2,812 in 2010; the state’s certified 2026 estimate is 3,947.

Read more: Jefferson County (Tennessee Encyclopedia) ↗ · Jefferson County Archives & Museum ↗ · Visit Jefferson County TN: our towns & history ↗

Jefferson County’s history → · East Tennessee history hub →

Town offices & local resources

Town of Dandridge ↗ runs Town Hall at 131 E Main St; the MTAS directory ↗ lists the town’s charter, meetings and office hours. Dandridge has a mayor and aldermen under a private act charter. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 PM ET at the Dandridge Public Works Facility/Police Department. Jefferson County offices are in and around the courthouse at 202 W Main St, and the County Commission meets at 6:30 PM ET in the courthouse.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · official sites only · numbers copied from each agency’s own page — tap ⓘ to confirm. Times Eastern (ET). Emergencies: call 911.

Around Jefferson County

← Jefferson County guide — Douglas and Cherokee lakes, Jefferson City, New Market, White Pine and county resources.

Other Jefferson County places: Jefferson City · White Pine (also Hamblen) · New Market · Baneberry · Strawberry Plains (also Knox & Sevier) · Talbott (also Hamblen) · Chestnut Hill · Piedmont · Shady Grove · Mount Horeb · Swannsylvania. Next door: Cocke · Grainger · Hamblen · Knox · Sevier county guides.

Other county-seat guides: Wartburg (Morgan County) · Kingston (Roane County) · Huntsville (Scott County) · Jamestown (Fentress County) · Crossville (Cumberland County) · Clinton (Anderson County) · Dayton (Rhea County) · Decatur (Meigs County) · Athens (McMinn County) · Cleveland (Bradley County) · Madisonville (Monroe County) · Loudon (Loudon County) · Maryville (Blount County) · Sevierville (Sevier County) · Knoxville (Knox County) · Newport (Cocke County) · Tazewell (Claiborne County) · Benton (Polk County) · Greeneville (Greene County) · Morristown (Hamblen County) · Rogersville (Hawkins County) · Jacksboro (Campbell County) · Maynardville (Union County) · Rutledge (Grainger County). Nearest seats: Morristown (Hamblen), Newport (Cocke), Sevierville (Sevier), Rutledge (Grainger) and Knoxville (Knox).

Sources

Checked Oct 29, 2026