Rutledge, Tennessee: Grainger County seat — the courthouse and Andrew Johnson’s tailor shop, the Nance House downtown, Cherokee Lake nearby

In 30 seconds

Why stop: photograph the Andrew Johnson tailor-shop replica by the courthouse, walk Friendship Park behind the Nance House, have breakfast on Rutledge Pike, then head south to Cherokee Lake.
Before you go: Rutledge is on Eastern time (ET). Early voting ends today, Oct 29 (8:30 AM–4:30 PM ET, 7701 Rutledge Pike). On Election Day, Tue Nov 3, Rutledge voters elect a mayor and aldermen. The first Downtown Rutledge Holiday Market is Sat Nov 7 (10 AM–6 PM ET).
Good to know: Grainger County Park, Cherokee Lake’s campgrounds, Buffalo Springs and the Veterans Overlook have Rutledge or Bean Station addresses but are outside the town limits. We could not confirm a hotel in town.

Visitor directory

Things to do in and around Rutledge

In town

Grainger County Courthouse & Andrew Johnson’s tailor shop ↗8095 Rutledge Pike · the county courthouse, with a replica of the tailor shop the future 17th president ran in Rutledge beside its Trail Through Time history kiosk. ⓘ source
Nance House Arts & Heritage Center & Friendship Park ↗103 Marshall Ave. · a National Register house and shady park downtown that Clinch-Powell RC&D took over from the town in January 2026 and is restoring. It hosts the Spooktacular on Oct 29 and the first Downtown Rutledge Holiday Market on Nov 7 · Clinch-Powell 865-828-5927. ⓘ source
Rutledge Presbyterian Church ↗7995 Rutledge Pike · built around 1903, with Tiffany-style stained-glass windows; listed as a national historic site in 2016 and restored by Clinch-Powell. It is a Trail Through Time stop. ⓘ source
Grainger County Archives ↗7850 Rutledge Pike · county records, genealogy and local history on the top floor of the old Rutledge High School (now the Board of Education offices); use the elevator from the lower lot · Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 AM–3:30 PM ET, except county holidays. ⓘ source
Rutledge Public Library ↗Books, internet and Wi-Fi, copying and faxing · Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri 9 AM–5 PM ET, closed 12:30–1:30 PM ET for lunch; closed Wednesday and weekends · (865) 828-4784. Source conflict: the library’s hours page places it on the lower level of Rutledge City Hall (parking in back), while its home page gives 8030 Rutledge Pike and the state library directory gives 7709 Rutledge Pike. All three addresses are inside the town limits. Call ahead. ⓘ source

Eat & drink

Down Home Restaurant & Catering ↗7755 Rutledge Pike · Southern comfort food, with country breakfasts and hearty midday meals · 865-828-3000. ⓘ source
Cup to Saucer – Coffee & More ↗7735 Rutledge Pike · a locally owned coffee shop with specialty drinks and light breakfast and lunch · 865-302-0777. ⓘ source
Hibachi Grill Express ↗8234 Rutledge Pike · a family-owned hibachi spot · 865-302-1008. ⓘ source

We could not confirm current hours on a first-party page, so call ahead.

Places to stay

We could not confirm a hotel or inn inside the town limits; Visit Grainger TN points travelers to hotels in Jefferson City, about 20 minutes from Rutledge. Lakeside campgrounds and cabins on Cherokee Lake:

Greenlee Campground ↗Not in Rutledge — 242 Vacation Way · a lakeside campground on Cherokee Lake with seasonal and nightly sites; no alcohol allowed · 865-828-8501. Source conflict: Visit Grainger lists 345 Vacation Way; the campground’s own site gives 242 Vacation Way, which we print. Both are outside the town limits. ⓘ source
Greenlee of May Springs ↗Not in Rutledge — 379 May Springs Rd. · cabins and RV sites on a 100-acre peninsula, with boat rentals · (865) 828-4802. ⓘ source
Wa-Ni Village Resort ↗Not in Rutledge — 1220 Wa-Ni Village Rd. · rustic lakefront cabins on Cherokee Lake · 865-828-5547. ⓘ source

Nearby: Cherokee Lake, Clinch Mountain & Tate Springs

Grainger County Park on Cherokee Lake ↗Not in Rutledge — the county park off Lakeshore Dr. (SR 375), south of town, with a lakeside walking trail, playground, picnic areas and shoreline access. Food Truck Fridays end for the season on Nov 6. ⓘ source
Cherokee Lake ↗Not in Rutledge — the TVA lake along the county’s south side, with fishing, camping and lake homes (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Lakeside campgrounds are listed under Places to stay. ⓘ source
Buffalo Springs Wildlife Management Area ↗Not in Rutledge — 329 Wildlife Way · wooded TWRA land with Buffalo Creek waterfalls and the state fish hatchery. ⓘ source
Veterans Overlook on Clinch Mountain ↗Not in Rutledge — a roadside memorial on US-25E (eastbound side) with a Bean Station mailing address and wide views over Cherokee Lake. ⓘ source
Tate Springs Springhouse ↗Not in Rutledge — near Bean Station · the 1888 springhouse is all that remains of the Tate Springs resort, which drew visitors from across the South. ⓘ source
Norris Lake ↗Not in Rutledge — north of Clinch Mountain at the county’s northern edge (Tennessee Encyclopedia). ⓘ 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 Rutledge

Thu Oct 29 — Last day of early voting8:30 AM–4:30 PM ET at the Election Commission office, 7701 Rutledge Pike · (865) 828-5132. ⓘ source
Thu Oct 29 — Downtown Rutledge Spooktacular6–8 PM ET at Friendship Park behind the Nance House, 103 Marshall Ave. · a free family night with costume and pet-photo costume contests, pumpkin painting, games and a bounce house. ⓘ source
Fri–Sat Oct 30–31 — Grim G Haunted House6–10 PM ET at The Exchange, 8030 Rutledge Pike · tickets in person only, sold 5:30–9:30 PM ET; adults $11, ages 12 and under $6.50. Wheelchair friendly; parking off Beets Ave. ⓘ source
Sat Oct 31 — Grim G sensory-friendly, low-scare hours3:30–5 PM ET at The Exchange · no strobes, lower music and no scares; costumes and strollers welcome. ⓘ source
Tue Nov 3 — Election DayPolls are open 9 AM–8 PM ET, and you must vote at your own precinct. Rutledge voters elect a mayor and aldermen for Wards 1 and 2, along with the state and federal races · (865) 828-5132. ⓘ source
Fri Nov 6 — Food Truck Friday (season finale)Not in Rutledge — 5–8 PM ET at Grainger County Park on Cherokee Lake · a rotating line-up of regional food trucks by the lake. ⓘ source
Sat Nov 7 — Downtown Rutledge Holiday Market10 AM–6 PM ET at the Nance House and Friendship Park, 103 Marshall Ave. · the first year of this handmade-gift market, with food trucks on Marshall Ave. and a soft opening for the new Tommy Toes coffee house inside the Nance House. ⓘ source
Sat Nov 7 — Hometown Grainger Christmas MarketThe sixth annual Christmas craft market opens at 9 AM ET; the full story is in the Grainger County Journal. ⓘ source
Sat Nov 7 — Blaine Farmers & Artisans MarketNot in Rutledge — 9 AM–1:30 PM ET at Blaine City Hall, 220 Indian Ridge Rd., Blaine · produce, eggs, cottage foods and handcrafted items; free. ⓘ source
Mon Nov 9 — Grainger County Commission7 PM ET in the courtroom at the Grainger County Justice Center. ⓘ source
Wed Nov 11 — Grainger County Veterans Day ceremonyThe county ceremony is set, but its time and place were not posted on a page we could open; check the Grainger County Journal. ⓘ source
Thu Nov 12 — Rutledge Board of Mayor & Aldermen7 PM ET at City Hall, 8655 Rutledge Pike. ⓘ source
Thu Dec 10 — Rutledge Board of Mayor & Aldermen7 PM ET at City Hall, 8655 Rutledge Pike. ⓘ source

More happenings are on the Grainger County Chamber calendar ↗ and Visit Grainger TN ↗. No 2026 Christmas parade date had been posted for Rutledge when we checked. We’ll refresh this list after the Dec 10 town board meeting.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · times Eastern (ET) · dates from the Grainger County Election Commission, the Grainger County Chamber of Commerce, Clinch-Powell RC&D, the Grainger County Commission, MTAS and the Grainger County Journal. More Grainger County events are on the county guide.

Area news

Headlines · Rutledge & Grainger County

Grainger County Journal · Oct 26, 2026
Twenty-six boats fished Cherokee Lake in the Grainger County Fishing Tournament out of Grainger County Park.
Read at Grainger County Journal →
Grainger County Journal · Oct 24, 2026
Rutledge-based Clinch-Powell RC&D is acting on a regional housing-needs study to tackle rural housing costs and supply.
Read at Grainger County Journal →
Grainger County Journal · Oct 24, 2026
A Grainger Rewind history feature looks at an old Rutledge cemetery and the forgotten stories buried there.
Read at Grainger County Journal →
Grainger County Journal · Oct 15, 2026
Utility finances, equipment purchases and town improvements topped the Rutledge board’s Oct 8 meeting.
Read at Grainger County Journal →
WBIR 10 · Jul 23, 2026
After July’s flash flood, Grainger County dispatchers handled 296 emergency calls in a day, and officials said replacing a single damaged bridge could cost $3 million to $5 million.
Read at WBIR 10 →

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

Tennessee’s legislature formed Grainger County in 1796 from parts of Hawkins and Knox counties. It is the only Tennessee county named for a woman: Mary Grainger Blount, wife of territorial governor William Blount. The county court moved from place to place until 1801, when a courthouse was built in Rutledge (Tennessee Encyclopedia).

The town was named for General George Rutledge of Sullivan County. Andrew Johnson ran a tailor’s shop in Rutledge before he became president, and a replica stands near the courthouse today (Tennessee Encyclopedia; Visit Grainger TN). Source conflict: the Tennessee Encyclopedia says Rutledge was founded in 1798, but MTAS lists the town’s incorporation as Feb. 1, 1797, under the Private Acts of 1797. We print both and leave the question open.

Grainger County tomatoes became a national trademark (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Since 1992 the Grainger County Tomato Festival has celebrated them every July at 7480 Rutledge Pike; the 33rd festival was July 17–18, 2026.

TVA’s lakes, Cherokee Lake to the south and Norris Lake to the north, revived the county’s recreation trade (Tennessee Encyclopedia). Downtown, Clinch-Powell RC&D is restoring the Nance House and the 1903 Rutledge Presbyterian Church, with its Tiffany-style windows (Clinch-Powell; Visit Grainger TN).

Today Rutledge is a town with a general law mayor-aldermanic charter. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 PM ET at City Hall, 8655 Rutledge Pike; the office is open Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM ET, and the town runs water and sewer service (MTAS). Source conflict: the Tennessee Encyclopedia says Rutledge has “a population approaching 2,500.” That is out of date or counts more than the town: the 2020 Census counted 1,321 people inside the town limits, the state’s certified 2026 estimate is 1,411 (MTAS), and the 2010 Census counted 1,122.

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

Town offices & local resources

Emergency (police · fire · EMS)911Call 911 for any emergency. Grainger County has no hospital.
Town of Rutledge · City Hall(865) 828-45138655 Rutledge Pike · Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM ET. ⓘ source
Grainger County 911 non-emergency dispatch865-828-3337County-wide dispatch. ⓘ source
Grainger County Sheriff’s Department865-828-3613270 Justice Center Dr., Suite 105. ⓘ source
Grainger County EMS(865) 828-3682270 Justice Center Dr., Suite 101 · for emergencies call 911. ⓘ source
Grainger County Health Department(865) 828-5247185 Justice Center Dr. · Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM ET. ⓘ source
Grainger County Schools865-828-36117850 Rutledge Pike · calendars and closings. ⓘ source
Rutledge Public Library(865) 828-4784Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri 9 AM–5 PM ET. ⓘ source
Grainger County Veterans Service Office865-828-34237707 Rutledge Pike · by appointment. ⓘ source
Grainger County Mayor’s Office865-828-3513Courthouse, 8095 Rutledge Pike, Suite 100. ⓘ source
Grainger County Election Commission(865) 828-51327701 Rutledge Pike · Election Day Tue Nov 3. ⓘ source
Highway emergency (cell)*THP (*847)Tennessee Highway Patrol. ⓘ source

Rutledge has no town website of its own; MTAS directory ↗ lists the town’s offices, meetings and charter. Rutledge has a mayor and aldermen under a general law mayor-aldermanic charter. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 PM ET at City Hall. Grainger County offices are in the Courthouse, 8095 Rutledge Pike, and the County Commission meets the second Monday at 7 PM ET in the Justice Center courtroom.

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 Grainger County

← Grainger County guide — Cherokee Lake, Clinch Mountain, Bean Station, Blaine and county resources.

Other Grainger County places: Bean Station · Blaine · Washburn · Thorn Hill · Powder Springs · Tate Springs · Avondale · Liberty Hill · Puncheon Camp · Richland. Census places: Rutledge town (1,321) · Bean Station town (2,967, also Hawkins) · Blaine city (2,084). Next door: Claiborne · Hamblen · Hancock · Hawkins · Jefferson · Knox · Union 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). Nearest seats: Morristown (Hamblen), Maynardville (Union), Tazewell (Claiborne), Rogersville (Hawkins) and Knoxville (Knox).

Sources

Checked Oct 29, 2026