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Greeneville, Tennessee

Greene County’s seat and one of Tennessee’s oldest towns, incorporated in 1795: Andrew Johnson’s tailor shop, homestead and hilltop grave downtown, the restored General Morgan Inn and Dickson-Williams Mansion, a free county history museum, and the gateway to Tusculum, the Nolichucky valley and the Cherokee National Forest.

Town · county seatSeat of Greene County →Pop. 15,479 (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: start at the Andrew Johnson Visitor Center on North College Street, walk two and a half blocks to the president’s Main Street homestead for a free ranger tour, then climb Monument Hill. The history museum, the Dickson-Williams Mansion and Depot Street’s cafés are all within a few blocks.
  • Before you go: Greeneville is on Eastern time (ET). The historic site is open 9 AM–4 PM ET daily through November, then Wednesday–Sunday. Early voting ends today, Oct. 29 (8:30 AM–5:30 PM ET); on Election Day, Tue Nov 3, polls are open 9 AM–8 PM ET. Halloween Happenings fills downtown Fri Oct 30, 4–6 PM ET, and the Christmas Parade is Sun Dec 6 at 2 PM ET.
  • Good to know: the extra “e” is on purpose: the town is named for Gen. Nathanael Greene. Tusculum, with its university museums, is a separate city just east, and the David Crockett Birthplace State Park near Limestone is still closed after the 2024 flood.

Visitor directory

Things to do in and around Greeneville

In town

  • Andrew Johnson National Historic Site ↗Visitor Center, 101 N. College St. · the 17th president’s original tailor shop inside the Memorial Building, a museum and a 13½-minute film; his Early Home is across the street. Open 9 AM–4 PM ET daily through November, then Wednesday–Sunday December–March. Free; the Park Service closes at noon ET on Thanksgiving eve and all day on Thanksgiving · (423) 638-3551. Source conflict: the town’s “About” page says the historic site is open 9 AM–5 PM ET every day; the National Park Service’s own hours page says 9 AM–4 PM ET, daily April–November and Wednesday–Sunday December–March. We print the Park Service hours. ⓘ source
  • Andrew Johnson Homestead ↗209 S. Main St. · the home Johnson owned from 1851 to 1875, seen only on free ranger-led tours at 10 AM ET, 11 AM ET, 2 PM ET and 3 PM ET (on short-staffed days, 11 AM ET and 2 PM ET only). Get tickets at the Visitor Center up to 15 minutes before; groups of 10 or fewer, and the tour has three flights of stairs. ⓘ source
  • Andrew Johnson National Cemetery · Monument Hill ↗121 Monument Ave. · Johnson bought this hilltop in 1852; it was a Civil War signal station, he was buried here on Aug. 3, 1875, and his family raised the marble obelisk in 1878. It is also a national cemetery for veterans · open daily, dawn to dusk. ⓘ source
  • Greeneville Greene County History Museum ↗101 W. McKee St., off South Main · three floors of county history, with stair lifts to every level. Free · Tue–Sat 11 AM–4 PM ET · 423-636-1558. ⓘ source
  • Dickson-Williams Mansion ↗108 N. Irish St., at Church St. · a restored brick mansion of the 1820s, a Civil War Trails stop. Guided 90-minute tours start daily at 1 PM ET in the lobby of the General Morgan Inn, 111 N. Main St. · adults $10, ages 6–18 $5, 5 and under free. ⓘ source
  • A Walk With A President ↗Main Street: Greeneville’s 90-minute downtown walking tour follows Johnson’s route home in 1869, past the tailor shop, the Old Harmony Graveyard, Town Hall, Courthouse Square and the old stone gaol · Mon–Sat at 9:30 AM ET, April–October, from the General Morgan Inn lobby, $5 · the 2026 season ends Sat Oct 31. ⓘ source
  • Capitol Theatre · Niswonger Performing Arts Center ↗Capitol Theatre, 104 S. Main St., shows films and community theater downtown. The Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 212 Tusculum Blvd., hosts touring concerts · box office Mon–Fri 10 AM–5 PM ET, 423-638-1679. ⓘ source
  • Hardin Park ↗602 Crescent Dr. · the town’s 55-acre park, with a fishing pond, walking path, two playgrounds, a skate park, ball fields and courts, plus an Olympic-size pool in summer. More town parks: Eastview Recreation Center, 456 E. Bernard Ave., and W.T. Daniels Park, with a dog park and disc golf. ⓘ source

Eat & drink

  • Brumley’s Restaurant & Lounge ↗Inside the General Morgan Inn, 111 N. Main St. · seasonal dinners built on local farms · dinner Tuesday–Saturday. ⓘ source
  • Tipton’s Cafe127 W. Depot St. · a downtown American café on the Main Street: Greeneville list. Check hours before you go. ⓘ source
  • Tannery Downtown117 E. Depot St. · sandwiches, a short walk from the Visitor Center. Check hours before you go. ⓘ source
  • Catalyst Coffee103 N. Main St. · coffeehouse and bakery across from the courthouse. Check hours before you go. ⓘ source
  • Monterrey Mexican Restaurant211 W. Summer St. · Mexican, on the downtown list. Check hours before you go. ⓘ source

Downtown has more than 20 places to eat (Town of Greeneville). Small-town hours change, so call ahead. Full downtown list: Main Street: Greeneville ↗.

Places to stay

  • General Morgan Inn ↗111 N. Main St., downtown · the restored 1884 Brumley Hotel, now a hotel and conference center, home of Brumley’s and the start point for downtown tours · (423) 787-1000. ⓘ source
  • More places to stay ↗Beyond the inn, Discover Greeneville, the Greene County Partnership’s tourism office at 115 Academy St., keeps the county lodging list · (423) 638-4111. ⓘ source

Nearby: Tusculum, the Nolichucky & the Cherokee National Forest

  • Tusculum University museums ↗Not in Greeneville — in the city of Tusculum, just east · the Doak House Museum, and the President Andrew Johnson Library in Old College (1841). The school traces its roots to Greeneville College (1794) and to the academy the Doaks opened in 1818. ⓘ source
  • David Crockett Birthplace State Park ↗Not in Greeneville — on the Nolichucky at Limestone · closed: the park is still shut for public safety after Hurricane Helene’s 2024 flood damage. Check Tennessee State Parks for reopening news. ⓘ source
  • Horse Creek Recreation Area ↗Not in Greeneville — about eight miles away, off TN-107 in the Cherokee National Forest · a hardwood cove with hiking, fishing, picnicking and a first-come campground. The 1930s CCC pavilion is closed indefinitely for damage. ⓘ source
  • Paint Creek Corridor ↗Not in Greeneville — Forest Road 41 follows Paint Creek five miles to the French Broad, past overlooks of Kelly and Dudley Falls. Flood damage closed the Rollins Chapel Road route; use Paint Mountain Road to Lone Pine Gap. ⓘ source
  • Lick Creek Bottoms WMA · Joachim Bible Refuge ↗Not in Greeneville — western Greene County, southwest of Mohawk · wetlands and old fields for birding. Open in daylight year-round, but the refuge is closed to all entry from Nov. 15 through the end of February. ⓘ source
  • Appalachian Trail ↗Not in Greeneville — the trail follows the Tennessee–North Carolina line along the county’s southeast edge. Remote and steep; plan for no cell service. ⓘ 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 Greeneville

  • Thu Oct 29 — Last day of early voting8:30 AM–5:30 PM ET at the Greene County Election Commission, 311 CCU Blvd., Suite 1. ⓘ source
  • Fri Oct 30 — Halloween Happenings downtown4–6 PM ET on Depot and Main streets · free trick-or-treating for kids under 13 with a parent, plus hayrides and Spooky Tales in the Old Gaol. Streets close 3:30–6:15 PM ET, and the library closes at 3 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 3 — Election DayPolls are open 9 AM–8 PM ET at your assigned precinct, not at the Election Commission office. Greeneville has no town race this year; the county ballot is the state and federal general election, plus the City of Tusculum municipal election. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 3 — Greeneville City Council4 PM ET in the boardroom at Greeneville Energy Authority, 110 N. College St. The council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month. ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 7 — The Organ at the Cinema6–7:30 PM ET at St. James Episcopal Church, 107 W. Church St. · film music on the pipe organ. Free; donations welcome. ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 7 — Blackberry Smoke7:30 PM ET at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 212 Tusculum Blvd. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 10 — USAF Band of Mid-America · Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble7 PM ET at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 14 — 5K on the RunwayOutside town limits — Greeneville Municipal Airport, 610 Airport Rd. · 10 AM ET start; day-of sign-up opens at 9 AM ET · $35, for the local Civil Air Patrol squadron. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 17 — Greeneville City Council4 PM ET at Greeneville Energy Authority. ⓘ source
  • Thu Nov 26–Fri Nov 27 — Thanksgiving closuresTown offices are closed both days. The historic site closes at noon ET Wednesday and all day Thanksgiving; the National Cemetery stays open dawn to dusk. ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 28 — Depot Street Holiday Market8 AM–3 PM ET at Eastview Recreation Center, 456 E. Bernard Ave. · handmade gifts and baked goods from makers within five miles of town, on Shop Small Saturday. ⓘ source
  • Tue Dec 1 — Greeneville City Council4 PM ET at Greeneville Energy Authority. The historic site switches to winter days (Wednesday–Sunday) this month. ⓘ source
  • Fri Dec 4 — Christmas in Downtown6–9 PM ET on Depot and Main streets. ⓘ source
  • Sun Dec 6 — Greeneville Christmas Parade2 PM ET downtown · this year’s theme is “Americana Christmas,” and the Clydesdales are back. Parade entry sign-ups open Nov. 2. ⓘ source

More happenings are on the Town of Greeneville events calendar ↗ and at Discover Greeneville ↗.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · times Eastern (ET) · dates from the Town of Greeneville, the Greene County Election Commission, the National Park Service, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center and The Greeneville Sun. More Greene County events are on the county guide.

Area news

Headlines · Greeneville & Greene County

  • The Greeneville Sun · Oct 28, 2026

    Halloween Happenings returns to downtown on Friday, Oct. 30, 4–6 PM ET, with downtown streets closed from 3:30 to 6:15 PM ET.

    Read at The Greeneville Sun →
  • WGRV · Oct 28, 2026

    The state picked Greene as one of 14 counties to get a housing market analysis from TNECD and Points Consulting, to map housing needs and next steps.

    Read at WGRV →
  • WGRV · Oct 27, 2026

    The Greeneville Water Commission will apply for a $3 million USDA Rural Development grant to cover its local FEMA match for repairs at its Nolichucky River intake, damaged by Hurricane Helene’s 2024 flooding.

    Read at WGRV →
  • WGRV · Oct 27, 2026

    Greeneville Energy Authority approved about $11.9 million in contracts to finish its fiber broadband network across Greene County, partly with federal BEAD grant money.

    Read at WGRV →
  • WGRV · Oct 23, 2026

    Classes are underway in the new $34 million Tennessee College of Applied Technology building on East Andrew Johnson Highway, and a local foundation pledged $12 million for an automotive training building.

    Read at WGRV →

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 from North Carolina began arriving about 1772, when Jacob Brown camped on the Nolichucky; Greene County was formed in 1783, while still part of North Carolina, and named for Gen. Nathanael Greene, under whom many local men had fought in the Revolution (Tennessee Encyclopedia). The town keeps the extra “e” in Greeneville in his honor (Town of Greeneville). The 1785 constitutional convention of the State of Franklin met at Greeneville, and the split there helped end the would-be state (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Greeneville was incorporated on Dec. 1, 1795 (MTAS). In 1794 Hezekiah Balch founded Greeneville College, and in 1818 Samuel Doak and his son opened the school that became Tusculum; the two later merged.

Andrew Johnson came to Greeneville from North Carolina as a runaway apprentice, opened a tailor shop and served as alderman and mayor before becoming governor, senator, vice president and, after Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, the 17th president (Tennessee Encyclopedia). His presidency is still argued over: he clashed with Congress over Reconstruction and vetoed measures meant to protect the freedmen, and in 1868 he was impeached and then acquitted when the Senate vote, 35 to 19, fell one short of the two-thirds needed (National Park Service). Johnson also enslaved people in Greeneville: Park Service records show he bought Sam and Sam’s half-sister Dolly in 1842–43 and Henry in 1857. By family tradition he freed them on Aug. 8, 1863, and the 8th of August became an Emancipation Day still celebrated in the region (National Park Service).

Greene County was largely Unionist, and the Greeneville Convention of 1861 was the state’s largest pro-Union meeting in the weeks before the war. Gen. James Longstreet wintered Confederate troops at Greeneville after the 1863 battle of Knoxville, and the cavalry raider John Hunt Morgan was killed here in September 1864, surprised by Union troops (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Johnson returned home in 1869 and was buried on the hill he had bought in 1852; the hilltop became Monument Hill after his family raised the obelisk in 1878 (National Park Service).

Burley tobacco made Greeneville the region’s main tobacco market in the late 1800s, and a Pet Milk plant opened in 1928. Victorian storefronts grew up along the Southern Railway, and the 1884 Brumley Hotel was later restored as the General Morgan Inn (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Town Hall on North College Street, a neoclassical building finished in 1967, had its cupola, clocks and portico restored in 2024–25 (Town of Greeneville). In 2024 Hurricane Helene’s flooding on the Nolichucky closed the David Crockett Birthplace State Park and damaged the town water intake, and recovery work goes on. Source conflict: the 2020 Census counted 15,479 people in Greeneville (the town’s own site uses the same figure); the state’s certified 2026 estimate is 16,141 (MTAS). The Census and MTAS call it the Town of Greeneville, while the town’s site calls its board the City Council.

Read more: Greene County (Tennessee Encyclopedia) ↗ · Andrew Johnson history & culture (National Park Service) ↗ · The 8th of August (National Park Service) ↗

Greene County’s history → · The Lost State of Franklin → · How Tennessee came from North Carolina → · East Tennessee history hub →

Town offices & local resources

Town of Greeneville ↗ — departments, agendas and events · MTAS directory ↗. Greeneville has a council-manager government: a mayor elected town-wide and four council members, two from each of the town’s two wards, with a city manager running day-to-day operations. The council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4 PM ET in the boardroom at Greeneville Energy Authority, 110 N. College St. To speak, call Town Hall at least 24 hours ahead or sign up at the meeting. The town provides police, fire, parks, garbage pickup, water and sewer. Greene County government offices are downtown on North Cutler Street.

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 Greene County

← Greene County guide — Tusculum, the Nolichucky, the Cherokee National Forest, the Appalachian Trail and county resources.

Other Greene County towns: Tusculum · Mosheim · Baileyton. Communities: Afton · Chuckey · Mohawk · Midway · Camp Creek · Ottway · DeBusk · Cedar Creek · Caney Branch · Fall Branch. Census places: Greeneville town (15,479) · Tusculum city (3,298) · Mosheim town (2,479) · Baileyton town (436), plus the Fall Branch CDP. Next door: Washington · Cocke · Hamblen · Hawkins · Unicoi county guides, plus Madison County, North Carolina, across the mountains.

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). Next door, Newport is the Cocke County seat.

Sources

Checked Oct 29, 2026