House Mountain (Knox County, Tennessee)

House Mountain
View from the northwest, looking to the east-southeast. The tower barely visible between the two peaks is not on top of the mountain itself, but rather, about 50 feet (15 m) down the north slope, on the western end.
Highest point
Elevation2,064 ft (629 m)[1]
Coordinates36°06′42″N 83°46′00″W / 36.11167°N 83.76667°W / 36.11167; -83.76667[1]
Geography
Map
LocationKnox County, Tennessee, U.S.
Parent rangeRidge-and-valley Appalachians
Topo mapUSGS John Sevier

House Mountain is a mountain located in Corryton, Tennessee, United States, about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Knoxville.[2] Rising to an elevation of 2,064 feet (629 m) above sea level, House Mountain is the highest point in Knox County.

The House Mountain State Natural Area— designated in 1987— consists of 527 acres (2.13 km2), mostly on the south side of the mountain. House Mountain is known for its huge sandstone boulders, its wide variety of bird and plant life, and for the views from its two peaks. On a clear day, the Great Smoky Mountains and the upper Unaka Range are visible to the south and east, the Cumberland Plateau is visible to the west, and Powell Mountain and Clinch Mountain are visible to the north and northeast.

The origin of the mountain's name is unknown, though a local legend suggests early settlers thought the mountain was shaped like the roof of a house.[3]

  1. ^ a b "House Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  2. ^ "TDEC: DNH: House Mountain State Natural Area." Retrieved: 23 September 2010.
  3. ^ Jim Matheny, "Why do they Call it that? House Mountain Archived 2012-09-19 at archive.today," WBIR.com, 12 August 2011. Retrieved: 30 August 2011.