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Carter is one of the extreme eastern counties of the State, and is very mountainous, having only a small proportion of arable land, lying along the streams, which is generally very fertile. Elizabethton is the county seat and has a population of 362. Other towns are, Hampton and Carter's Depot. The Watauga, Doe and Buffalo rivers are navigable in favorable stages. The water power in Carter county is excellent. The timber is abundant, consisting of white pine, oak, hickory,
poplar, hemlock, chestnut and many other varieties. The minerals are iron, lead, silver, and manganese. Considerable iron was formerly made in the county, but the furnaces are now out of blast in consequence of litigation. The principal agricultural products are corn, wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat and potatoes. There are two woolen mills at Elizabethton, which is situated at the junction of the Doe and Watauga rivers, and is reached by the Western North Carolina Railroad. The East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia
Railroad passes through the county. The principal religious denominations are Methodists and Baptists.
["Revised Hand-book of Tennessee" By Tennessee Bureau of Agriculture, Statistics, and Mines, Prepared by Andrew Jackson McWhirter; pub. 1885]
Cherokee Native Americans originally populated the area.
During its early history, the area was part of the Clarendon settlements in Carolina. In its early history, Carter County was part of:
New Hanover Precinct (1729-1734)
Bladen County (1734-1749)
Anson County (1749-1753)
Rowan County (1753-1775)
The county was established in 1796
The county is named in honor of General Landon Carter (1760-1800), treasurer of the Washington Hamilton Districts; speaker of the first State of Franklin Senate, later becoming its secretary of state; also lieutenant colonel of the Washington District Militia.
Its county seat is Elizabethton, and was named after Carter's wife, Elizabeth MacLin Carter.
Cities
Elizabethton
Johnson City (mostly in Washington County and a small portion in Sullivan County)
Watauga (small part in Washington County)
Census-Designated Places
Central ~ Hunter ~ Pine Crest ~ Roan Mountain
Unincorporated Communities
Big Spring ~ Bitter End ~ Butler ~ Fish Springs ~ Hampton
Milligan College ~ Stoney Creek ~ Tiger Valley ~ Valley Forge
Shell Creek
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