Welcome to Morganton, Tennessee, a place where history flows as deeply as the waters of the Little Tennessee River. This once-thriving 19th-century community was a vital hub of commerce and trade, thanks to its strategic location along the river and the presence of a bustling flatboat port. Morganton’s story begins in 1796, when the first European-American settlers arrived at the mouth of Bakers Creek, an area still claimed by the Cherokee Nation. Just two years later, the land was ceded to the United States following the First Treaty of Tellico.
Named after Gideon Morgan, a Revolutionary War veteran and prominent merchant, Morganton quickly became a center of activity. By 1801, a ferry service was established to carry people and goods across the river, connecting the community to the broader region. The town thrived, with grist mills and plantations sprouting up, and by 1813, it was incorporated as Morganton.
However, the mid-19th century marked a turning point. The rise of railroads in East Tennessee led to a decline in river trade, and Morganton gradually fell into decline. By the late 1960s, the Tennessee Valley Authority began purchasing land in the area to prepare for the construction of Tellico Dam, a project that would ultimately submerge the town beneath the waters of Tellico Lake in 1979.
Today, all that remains of Morganton is its cemetery, a solemn reminder of the community that once thrived here. While the town itself has disappeared beneath the lake, its legacy lives on in the stories of those who called it home and the historical significance it holds as a key player in the region’s development.
