History
Follow the winding roads to scenic Hancock County, Tennessee. At one time, Hancock County was part of Hawkins County, North Carolina, which later became Hawkins County, Tennessee. During the brief rule of the State of Franklin, Hancock was part of Spencer County. The creation of Hancock County in Tennessee was a complicated process. The 1844 act creating the county from parts of Hawkins and Claiborne Counties violated some provisions of the state constitution. A second act passed in 1846, and commissioners were appointed to organize the county and fix boundary lines. When some Hawkins County residents filed a bill enjoining commissioners from further action, all county business was suspended from 1846 to 1848, when the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hancock County. W. H. Sneed, a Knoxville attorney, represented Hancock County in the court action, and commissioners named the new county seat (at the site of Greasy Rock) Sneedville in his honor. The county name honored John Hancock, the Revolutionary War patriot. Hancock County reported a 2000 population of 6,786 in 230 square miles. Traditionally, its economy has been based on agriculture and small businesses. In the 1950s zinc was discovered at Treadway. Mining operations continued until 1971, and at its peak, the mine employed more than 220 men. Present industries include a trailer factory, a laminated desktop factory, a roof truss factory, a concrete plant, and a wholesale craft manufacturer. A number of family-owned businesses operate alongside modern franchise establishments. The county has two banks with combined assets of over $112 million. Hancock County Demographics
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**This photo was retrieved from the Hancock/Sneedville Chamber & Community Partners website...**