Fort Blount

An important and well-documented historic site in Jackson County is Fort Blount.  Located on the Cumberland River in the west central section of the county, only the site remains of the fort built in 1791 as protection for the settlers moving westward who were threatened by the Cherokee Indians.  The fort consisted of four block houses which were situated one on each corner of a square of land that measured approximately one and one half acres.  The fort had a picket fence of logs which connected the block houses, and the gate faced the mouth of a creek about fifty yards distant.  The fort was manned by a militia of fifteen to thirty men.  As settlers traveled the Avery Trace toward French Lick (Nashville), they stayed at the fort until approximately twenty or twenty-five were assembled at which time they were escorted by some of the militia through the dangerous terrain.

 Governor William Blount authorized the building of the fort and thus it was named for him.  Fort Blount was not maintained as a military fort after 1796, but it was used by travelers of the Avery Trace as a stopover and place of refuge on their journey westward.  Some of the militia remained in Jackson County after the fort was decommissioned, and many of the present residents are descended from that group.

 Plans and hopes for the reconstruction of Fort Blount have abounded in Jackson County for many years, and although nothing is presently being done about reconstruction, there is still hope for Fort Blount's development as a tourist site to be open for visitation in the future.