About Iron City, Tennessee

Incorporated: 1886
Population: Approx. 365
Location: South Central Tennessee, near the Alabama state line
Government: Mayor/City Manager Charter
Industry: Two casket plants, one sawmill

Iron City was first settled in the 1830’s. Its rich concentration of iron ore helped it to become one of the wealthiest towns in southern Tennessee.

Through the Civil War and into the early 1900’s, Iron City prospered, boasting a newspaper, a grand hotel and even a college.

Then, during the Great Depression, the mining company left Iron City for Michigan where they could mine a better grade of ore more cheaply.

The loss of the iron mines struck a devastating blow to Iron City’s economy from which it has yet to recover.