Rocky Top in Anderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Convict Lease System

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

1. Convict Lease System Marker

Inscription. After the Civil War, southern states leased convicts to private industry to cope with a growing number of convicts and dwindling state budgets. The system degenerated to where primarily young African-Americans were being arrested and forced to work at mines, plantations, and railroads.

Coal companies learned that convicts lacked mining skills and were a fixed costs, whereas miners were skilled and could be laid-off during economic downturns. The increased cost of providing troops and guards during the Coal Creek War hastened the demise of the convict lease system in Tennessee.

Erected by Coal Creek Watershed Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation series list.

Location. 36° 12.883′ N, 84° 10.017′ W. Marker is in Rocky Top, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is on Vowell Mountain Lane, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rocky Top TN 37769, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee and in Greater Knoxville. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ghosts of Convict Miners (here, next to this marker); Fort Anderson (here, next to this marker); Why Miners Fought

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(here, next to this marker); Coal Creek War (here, next to this marker); Militia Hill (here, next to this marker); Breastworks (here, next to this marker); American Chestnuts (here, next to this marker); Fire on Coal Creek (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rocky Top.

More about this marker. Marker is located on Militia Hill.

Also see . . . Convict lease. (Submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

2. Convict Lease System Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 730 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 11, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.