Washington County is a county in Tennessee, United States, forming part of the Tri-Cities region in the northeastern corner of the state. It had a population of 133,001 at the 2020 census and covers 330 square miles (855 km2), of which 326 square miles is land and 3.3 square miles is water, centred near 36°17′N 82°21′W.
Jonesborough is the county seat, and its postal code is 37659. The county contains two cities, one incorporated town, and a scatter of unincorporated communities and subdivisions. Washington County observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Washington County
Most of Washington County’s population lives in or around Johnson City, a city that spans Washington, Carter, and Sullivan counties and serves as the region’s medical, educational, and commercial hub. Jonesborough, the county seat, is Tennessee’s oldest town, chartered in 1779. Everything else on this list is an unincorporated community, subdivision, or crossroads — there is no separate CDP layer recognized in the 2020 census for Washington County.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | City | 71,046 | 37601–37615 |
| Jonesborough | Town · seat | 6,199 | 37659 |
| Boones Creek | Unincorp. | — | 37615 |
| Gray | Unincorp. | — | 37615 |
| Telford | Unincorp. | — | 37690 |
| Limestone | Unincorp. | — | 37681 |
| Watauga | Unincorp. | — | 37694 |
| Fall Branch | Unincorp. | — | 37656 |
| Embreeville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Austin Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bowmantown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Broylesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain Home | Unincorp. | — | 37684 |
| Sulphur Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Washington College | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Carmel | Unincorp. | — | — |
Several names on older lists of the county are subdivisions inside greater Johnson City rather than distinct places — North Johnson City, Forest Hills, Fairview, Oak Hill, Pine Ridge, and similar development names describe neighborhoods, not separate settlements, and are not listed as a separate row here. Boones Creek and Gray both lie along the Johnson City annexation corridor; Boones Creek was largely annexed into Johnson City in the early 2020s but the name is still in common local use for that end of the county.
ZIP Codes
- 37601, 37604, 37614 — Johnson City
- 37659 — Jonesborough
- 37615 — Gray / Boones Creek (also serves the county’s northern edge)
- 37690 — Telford
- 37681 — Limestone
- 37694 — Watauga
- 37656 — Fall Branch (shared with Sullivan County addresses)
- 37684 — Mountain Home (Veterans Affairs medical center)
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Embreeville, Austin Springs, and Bowmantown do not have their own post office and use the ZIP code of the nearest larger town.
Geography
Washington County sits at the western edge of the Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley province. The western part of the county lies in the Ridge-and-Valley itself, marked by long, narrow ridges running roughly northeast to southwest, while the Cherokee National Forest and the Unaka Mountains rise toward the eastern boundary. The Watauga River and Boone Lake, formed by a Tennessee Valley Authority dam, cross the northern part of the county.
Washington County borders Sullivan County to the north, Carter County to the east, Unicoi County to the southeast, Greene County to the south and southwest, and Washington County, Virginia, across the state line to the north.
Demographics
Washington County recorded 133,001 residents at the 2020 census. Johnson City and Jonesborough are its two largest communities by far, together accounting for the majority of the county’s population. Median household income in the county runs close to the Tennessee median of $67,631, with Jonesborough and the areas around East Tennessee State University trending somewhat higher than the county’s rural west. Population density is roughly 408 people per square mile, among the highest of any county in Northeast Tennessee.
Economy & Local Life
Healthcare and higher education anchor the local economy. East Tennessee State University, based in Johnson City, and the Ballad Health system, which grew out of the former Mountain States Health Alliance, are among the county’s largest employers. The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center at Mountain Home is a major regional veterans’ hospital and a National Historic Landmark district. Downtown Jonesborough is the base for the National Storytelling Festival, held every October and organized by the International Storytelling Center, which draws visitors from across the country to Tennessee’s oldest town.
History
Washington County is Tennessee’s oldest county, established in 1777 by the North Carolina legislature when the area was still part of North Carolina, and named for George Washington. It later formed the core of the short-lived Franklin breakaway movement of the 1780s, an unrecognized attempt at independent statehood centered on Jonesborough, before the region rejoined North Carolina and then became part of Tennessee when it was admitted to the Union in 1796. Jonesborough’s courthouse square and historic district still reflect this early frontier-era layout.
Getting There
Interstate 26 and U.S. Routes 11E and 321 are the main highways through the county, linking Johnson City to the rest of the Tri-Cities.
- Kingsport — 21 miles northwest
- Bristol — 24 miles northeast
- Greeneville — 22 miles southwest
- Asheville, North Carolina — 75 miles southeast
Tri-Cities Regional Airport, shared with Sullivan County, is the nearest commercial airport, roughly 20 minutes north of Johnson City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washington County, Tennessee?
It is in the northeastern corner of Tennessee, part of the Tri-Cities region along the Virginia state line.
What is the population of Washington County?
133,001 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Washington County?
330 square miles (855 km2), including 3.3 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Washington County?
Jonesborough is the county seat and the oldest town in Tennessee.
How many towns and cities are in Washington County?
Two cities — Johnson City and Jonesborough — plus a number of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Washington County?
ZIP codes include 37601 and 37604 for Johnson City, 37659 for Jonesborough, 37615 for Gray, and smaller codes such as 37690 (Telford) and 37681 (Limestone).
Why is Washington County called Tennessee’s oldest county?
It was formed in 1777, nearly two decades before Tennessee became a state, when the territory was still administered by North Carolina.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.