Jonesborough, also spelled as Jonesboro on older maps, is Tennessee’s oldest town. Founded in 1778, it has a population of nearly 6,000, and is known for its very older brick and stone architecture, lacy wooden Victorians and wide streets with beautiful trees. The downtown is so picture perfect it looks like an image torn from a history book about the Civil War. It is very right wing here so gay life is not overt.
This pretty well preserved place geographically sits where the watershed of the Watauga River meets the watershed of the Nolichucky River. It is surrounded by low hills and elongated cliff-like ridges that have lots with many old elegant homes and farmhouses built along the side.
Jonesborough draws thousands of people to its streets every year because of its great historical significance. The main street is an amazing stereotype of a US colonial town that seems frozen in time. Its oldest surviving building is the Christopher Taylor House built in 1777. It is home to the International Storytelling Center that cultivates the Appalachian cultural tradition of being a raconteur. A popular attraction is the Appalachian Ghost Walks that take people on a tour of the “haunted” history of the Appalachian Mountains. The city also boasts a very active Repertory Theater.
Other attractions in the area include the Jonesborough Farmer’s Market held every Saturday, the Jonesborough Butterfly Garden and the Adrianna Woods Arboretum. It also has a huge water attraction called The Wetlands Water Park that is open every summer. Jonesborough is also very near several wildlife refuges including the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge located in northwest Tennessee that runs all along the Tennessee River. This is a hotspot for reptiles, amphibian and fish.
It is best to consult with a Jonesborough gay realtor about your housing options as this is not an openly gay town and it is more traditional than progressive in attitude towards LGBTQ residents. However, there are some gay-friendly restaurants and bars in Jonesborough and nearby Johnson, which include the Old Town Dairy Bar, Happy Hour Liquor & Wine and Chrome Restaurant & Lounge.
Jonesborough is quite small so properties rarely come up but they do in nearby Johnson City and in the rural areas of Washington County. Johnson City and Jonesboro are the two largest residential areas in the area with Jonesborough being just west of Johnson, which is located on Interstate 23. If you like mid-century modern homes, almost fifty percent are in the seventies to 1980s style. Over one quarter of the homes here were built before 1950, which is what gives Jonesborough such a quaint, traditional feel.
There are nice little bed and breakfasts you can stay in while looking for a place including the Franklin House Bed & Breakfast, The Old Mill Bed & Breakfast and the Jonesborough Bed and Breakfast. For more information about this quaint place to settle down go to the Historic Jonesborough website at wwwjonesboroughtn.org.
Jonesborough, Tennessee offers a traditional lifestyle surrounded by forests. One of Tennessee\'s oldest towns, it is known for its lacy wooden Victorians and wide streets with beautiful trees. Lovingly restored, the downtown looks like an image torn from a history book about the Civil War.
