Dandridge, Tennessee, is named for America's first first lady – Martha Dandridge Washington. This turned out to be a good thing, because if it hadn’t been for another first lady, Dandridge wouldn’t be where it is today. 

During World War II, the Tennessee Valley Authority decided to build the Douglas Dam on the French Broad River. It was a very controversial project, opposed by then Senator Kenneth McKellar because of the amount of farmland it destroyed. But the people of Dandridge had their own reason for being concerned; under the original plans, Dandridge would have been flooded by Douglas Dam.

The citizens of Dandridge made a direct appeal to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, pointing out that this was the only place in the United States named for Martha Washington. Mrs. Roosevelt heard their appeal and made certain that a levee, or wall of dirt, was built protecting the town of Dandridge from flooding. To this day, you can still easily see the dike only a short walk from the Jefferson County Courthouse. (New York Times, Jan. 16, 1942; June 11, 1961.)