Johnson City, also called “Little Chicago”, is located in Sullivan, Carter, and Washington counties.http://www.juggle.com/johnson-city However, most of the city is located in Washington County.http://www.juggle.com/johnson-city The city was founded in 1856 and is the eighth-largest city in the state of Tennessee.http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/henry.pdf Johnson City has a city population of 61,990 and a metropolitan area population of 195,849.http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2008/CBSA-EST2008-01.xls The metropolitan area covers Carter, Unicoi, and Washington counties.http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2008/CBSA-EST2008-01.xls

In 2009, Johnson City was ranked the 35th “Best Small Place for Business and Careers” in the United States by Forbes Magazine.http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/5/bizplaces09_Best-Small-Places-For-Business-And-Careers_Rank_2.html In 2008, Black Enterprise Magazine rated the city as the eight “Best Place for African-Americans to Retire in the United States."http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/johnson_city_8th_best_place_for_african_americans_to_retire/14781/ Johnson City is home to East Tennessee State University.http://www.juggle.com/johnson-city

Johnson City was established as a railroad station in 1856 by Henry Johnson.http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/henry.pdf During the Civil War, the name of the city was briefly changed to Haynesville in honor of Confederate Senator Landon Carter Haynes.http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/henry.pdf When the war was over in the late 1860s, the name was changed back to Johnson City.http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/henry.pdf The city began to grow due to the railroad station and the mining industry.

In the 1920s, the city became known as “Little Chicago” because of the bootlegging activities in the Appalachian Mountains.http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/chicago/chicago.htm Al Capone used the city as a distribution point for illegal alcohol during the Prohibition era.http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/chicago/chicago.htm Capone resided in a luxury apartment while in the Johnson City area.

Musical artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Jimmie Rodgers lived in the city, and in 1928 the “Johnson City Sessions” were recorded there. http://www.johnsonsdepot.com/oldtime/oldtime.htm

Johnson City is located at latitude 36°20′7″N and longitude 82°22′22″W.http://toolserver.org/~geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Johnson_City,_Tennessee¶ms=36_20_7_N_82_22_22_W_type:city(61990)_region:US-TN The elevation is 1,635 above sea level, and the city has a land area of 30.6 square miles.http://www.idcide.com/citydata/tn/johnson-city.htm The water area is 0.1 square miles and the annual average precipitation is 43.84 inches.http://www.idcide.com/weather/tn/johnson-city.htm The annual average temperature is 55F.http://www.idcide.com/weather/tn/johnson-city.htm Johnson City is located 113.3 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina and 90.9 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee.http://www.idcide.com/weather/tn/johnson-city.htm

• B. Carroll Reece Museum: Features art, history exhibits, and musical instruments that are from the region.http://www.etsu.edu/reece/
• Jonesborough History Museum: Features several artifacts of the area.http://www.jonesboroughtn.org/index.cgi?1008203125&CONTEXT=cat&cat=35
• Rocky Mount Living Museum: Offers information regarding the life of the pioneers.http://www.rockymountmuseum.com/
• Farmhouse Gallery and Gardens: Features wildlife and scenic views.http://www.johnsoncitytnchamber.com/mediaguide/pdf/at_2-Farmhouse.pdf
• Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium: Features animal habitats and provides areas for hiking and bicycle riding.http://www.baysmountain.com/

• Travis Sampson: Actorhttp://www.juggle.com/johnson-city
• David Cole: Songwriter and Record Producerhttp://www.juggle.com/johnson-city
• Joe Bowman: Actorhttp://www.juggle.com/johnson-city