History:

Hawkins County lies in upper East Tennessee, and extends somewhat in the shape of a parallelogram from VA line to the northern boundries of Grainger and Hamblen Counties. It is divided into two almost equal parts by the Holston River, which traverses its entire length. It is one of the largest counties in the State, having an area of 570 square miles. The surface is much of it broken, but the uplands are more fertile than in many counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,833. Its county seat is Rogersville, Tennessee's second-oldest town.

The first permanent settlements within the limits of Hawkins county were made in 1772, very soon after the settlements on the Watauga were begun. They were made in Carter's Valley, a short distance west of New Canton.

Among these pioneers were Mr. Kincaid, Mr. Love, Mr. Long, and Rev. Mr. Mulkey. At about the same time Messrs. Carter and Parker established a store in the neighborhood. Soon after this store was robbed by a party of Cherokee, and when Henderson & Co.'s treaty was held with the Indians the proprietors of the store demanded as compensation all the lands in Carter's Valley, extending from Cloud Creek to Chimney Top Mountain of Beech Creek. This was granted upon payment of a small amount advanced by Robert Lucas, who then became a parter of Messrs. Parker and Carter. The firm leased their lands to the settlers much after the manner of the Patrons, in the early history of New York. this continued for a time, but when it became known that the lands lay in North Carolina instead of VA, the settlers refused to recognize the ownership of the firm, and the right and title to the territory acquired was denied by the former State. They were afterward included with the members of the Henderson Company, to whom a grant of 200,000 acres was given by the government of NC as a compensation for the trouble they had been to in obtaining these lands.