In the past ten years, Cocke County has experienced some economically troublesome times. But out of this adversity and depression, the inborn mountain spirit, grit, and inventiveness of its people has spawned a truly new beginning. A perceptible atmosphere of increased cooperation, determination, and an awareness of heritage and selfworth exists.
Through community development programs such as CC/Neat, a comprehensive county-wide recycling program, and the numerous Chamber committees involved in infrastructure development, Cocke County has reached the point of being able to compete with other locations throughout the country for economic development. New industries are steadily developing to overcome high unemployment. New emphasis also has been put on the quality of education through improvement of physical buildings and innovations in instructional methods. With easy access to the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), Eastern Tennessee State University (Elizabethton), Walters State College (Morristown), and Carson Newman College (Jefferson City), individuals and industries find the skills needed in today's technological world. The new and intense efforts to promote tourism and retirement accommodations is bearing fruit. Local arts and crafts are getting new impetus, and once-dying native crafts like quilting and log home constr uction, among many, are being recognized and appreciated, providing a source of pride and income for our craftspeople. With agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and retirement being the four major economic driving forces in the county, the economy of Cocke County is far more diversified than most realize.
Agriculture
In and around hillsides, in the shadows of mountains and among fertile
river valleys of Cocke County, are the beef cattle, dairy farms, tobacco
and vegetables so well suited to this type of terrain. The four leading
agricultural products for the county are (in order) Tomatoes, Tobacco,
Dairy, and Beef. Together they account for over 75% of the income producers
in the agricultural sector, which consist of 84,029 acres of farm land.
Local producers have the advantage of regional Farmers Markets for their
crops located in nearby White Pine (Jefferson County), Knoxville, TN, and
Asheville, NC. A little known fact is that Cocke County is the largest
producer of apples in the state of Tennessee. Most of the orchards are
located in the Cosby area.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing comprises large part of Cocke County's economy and it
continues to grow. The roster of companies that have chosen Cocke County
their home is impressive. Ace Products, Inc., American Appliance Products,
Detroit Gasket, Electro-Voice, Inc., Falcon Products, GLI, Inc., Great
Lakes Chemical, Homemakers of Tennessee, LaGrange Molded Products, Legacy
Furniture, Lisega, Inc., Hunt's Food Processing, Rhyne Lumber Co., Sonoco
Products, Co., Spring Arbor Distributors, Tennessee Engine Works, Wood
Products and others. With Cocke County's strategic location in East Tennessee,
near the junction of Interstates 40 & 81 (where 70% of the US. population
is within one (1) day's delivery time), railroad access, low utility costs,
the best labor force and low taxes. . .manufacturers can maximize their
investment opportunity here. The Douglas Cooperative, Inc., a private,
non-profit corporation thru their Douglas Chore Service, assist many local
industries by performing labor int ensive work. At present, the County
has several choice sites available in their industrial park.
Tourism & Retirement As we have mentioned early, tourism is growing at a tremendous rate as a result of the outward expansion of the Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge / Sevierville area. With the emergence of whitewater activities on the French Broad and Pigeon Rivers, Cocke County see more river development with recreational facilities, camp grounds, lodging and retail shops. Tourism has created already new motels, restaurants, shopping centers and medical facilities producing more jobs recently than any other economic sector. In fact the County is seeing some of the tourist return as residents upon retirement. Cocke County is almost half-way between Chicago, IL and Tampa, FL. With our location and temperate climate, many active retirees find Cocke County a great place to centrally locate themselves.
Cocke County has won the Governor's Three Star Award for preservation of existing employment, creation of new job opportunities, improvement of family income, and development of healthier local business for 1994-1995.
If you or your business is looking to relocate, Cocke County, Tennessee is the place many have found to have the balance between nature, industry, and services preferred by both companies and individuals!
As Robert Frost's poem on page 1
ends, "Won't you come too?"