Clinton

The Clinton neighborhood is located along the Clinch River and directly downstream to the part known as Melton Hill Lake. Clinton is surrounded by a long series of narrow ridges to the west known by locals as the Appalachian Ridge, northwest is the Walden Ridge, and to the east by the Cumberland Plateau. The heart of the Clinton neighborhood is located at the junction of Highway 61 and Route 25 West.

Clinton was originally named Burrville, but on November 8, 1809 was renamed to Clinton in honor of George Clinton and due to the disgrace of the duel between Burr and Hamilton in which Alexander Hamilton died. George Clinton was the Vice President for Thomas Jefferson during his second term as the President of the United States as well as the Vice President for James Madison. In fact, he was the first Vice President to ever serve for two different presidents.

When segregationists opposed the desegregation back in 1956 of the Clinton High School, which followed a decision passed down by the Supreme Court, there were twelve African-Americans who enrolled that fall. These twelve individuals were the first to desegregate a state supported public school in the Southeast. However, this did not go without incident as riots began breaking out in the early part of September, which called for the National Guard to be called in. For the next two years, violence and threats did not cease. Then on October 5, 1958, Clinton High School was bombed, but was quickly rebuilt.