Rocky Top, Tennessee

Rocky Top
(formerly Coal Creek and Lake City)
Rocky Top City Hall
Rocky Top City Hall
Location of Rocky Top in Anderson and Campbell counties, Tennessee.
Location of Rocky Top in Anderson and Campbell counties, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°13′27″N 84°9′21″W / 36.22417°N 84.15583°W / 36.22417; -84.15583
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountiesAnderson, Campbell
Founded1856[1]
Incorporated1939[2]
Named for"Rocky Top"
Government
 • Typecouncil-manager
 • MayorKerry Templin
 • City ManagerMichael Ellis
 • City Council
List of Councilmen
Area
 • Total
1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Land1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation869 ft (265 m)
Population
 • Total
1,628
 • Density1,005.56/sq mi (388.22/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
37769
Area code865
FIPS code47-40240[7]
GNIS feature ID1290479[5]
Websiterockytoptn.org

Rocky Top (formerly Coal Creek and Lake City) is a city in Anderson and Campbell counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, northwest of Knoxville. The population was 1,628 at the 2020 US Census.[8] Most of the community is in Anderson County and is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. On June 26, 2014, the city officially changed its name from Lake City to Rocky Top, after a last-ditch effort by the copyright owners of the song "Rocky Top" was denied by a federal court.[9]

  1. ^ Paul Hellman, Historical Gazetteer of the United States (Taylor and Francis, 2005), p. 1018.
  2. ^ Tennessee Blue Book, 2005–2006, pp. 618–625.
  3. ^ "Rocky Top". Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rocky Top, Tennessee
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. ^ 2020 US Census. https://data.census.gov/profile/Rocky_Top_city,_Tennessee?g=160XX00US4764668
  9. ^ Scott, Mary (June 26, 2014). "Home sweet home: Lake City changes name to Rocky Top". WBIR. Retrieved June 26, 2014.