MCMINN COUNTY

County Seat: Athens

In 1946 there was open rebellion in McMinn County between hundreds of World War II veterans and the sheriff over what the veterans believed was a fraudulent election. For about six hours the streets of Athens were blazing with gunfire, although no one was killed in the incident. But by the time it was all over the incident drew national attention to emerging conflict between entrenched politicians and the veterans returning home from the war.

Also related to McMinn County: Normally, politicians who waver and change their vote unexpectedly are heavily criticized for doing so, but a McMinn County native once did just that and is now celebrated for it. On August 18, 1920, a little-known state representative named Harry Burn changed his mind at the last minute and decided to vote in favor of Tennessee's ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment (which granted the right to vote to women). Burn's vote resulted in Tennessee's ratification, and thus the passage into law of the suffrage amendment.

For a detailed account of this event, click here.

In McMinn County you will also find the community of Etowah. In 1902 the Louisville & Nashville Railroad this to be the site of a company headquarters between Atlanta and Cincinnati. The railroad created the town of Etowah for this purpose, and the handsome former train station here is the main remnant of the town's original identity. Today the structure houses a small railroad museum, the Chamber of Commerce and the office of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association.

We photographed the McMinn County Courthouse in Athens.