Near Blountville in Sullivan County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Island Road

Oldest Wagon Road in Tennessee

— America’s First Road to the Southwest —

Island Road Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, July 19, 2011

1. Island Road Marker

Inscription. This military road from Chilhowee, Va. to present day Kingsport was completed September 1761 by Major Andrew Lewis under command of Col. Adam Stephen. Upon reaching the Long Island of the Holston, the militia erected Fort Robinson to treat for peace with Cherokees.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1A 99.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1761.

Location. 36° 33.436′ N, 82° 20.434′ W. Marker is near Blountville, Tennessee, in Sullivan County. It is at the intersection of State Highway 394 and Island Road on State Highway 394. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2799 Island Road, Blountville TN 37617, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee

and in the Tri-Cities Area.

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,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle of Blountville (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fain Law Office (approx. 1.8 miles away); King Ironworks Cabin (approx. 1.8 miles away); Slave Quarters (approx. 1.8 miles away); 1840 Smokehouse (approx. 1.8 miles away); Brick Kitchen

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(approx. 1.8 miles away); Sullivan County (approx. 1.8 miles away); James Brigham (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blountville.

Wide view of the Island Road Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, July 19, 2011

2. Wide view of the Island Road Marker

View of Island Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, July 19, 2011

3. View of Island Road

Looking northeast up the Island Road. It has been paved yet still winds and curves over the hills of the East Tennessee countryside.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2011, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,407 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 25, 2011, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.