Cleveland was founded in 1836 after the forced removal of the Cherokee people from the region in 1835. The Cherokees were assembled and detained in Rattlesnake Springs and Blythe Ferry in Meigs County. The town was named after Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, a military leader at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The city was incorporated on February 1842, and the first mayor was elected on April 4, 1842.
Many of Cleveland's earliest citizens made a living from farming, but the establishment of the railroad in 1851 and the introduction of copper mining in Polk County in the 1840s brought new opportunities to the area. However, the town's growth was slowed when the Civil War began in 1861 and during the early Reconstruction years.
As of 2021, Cleveland had a population of 47,995, and its economy was driven primarily by agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The town is rich in history and has many attractions for residents and tourists, including the Cherokee National Forest through which the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers flow. You can enjoy rafting, canoeing, fishing, camping, and hiking in this scenic wilderness area.
The museum center, located at Five Points, downtown Cleveland, has exhibits about the town and its people. You can also head to the Ocoee Regional Nature Center to learn more about the various trees it contains. If you visit the city in early October, you can enjoy the Cleveland Apple Festival, held every year on the third Saturday of October. The festival provides entertainment and events for the whole family to enjoy. In addition, be sure to take a walk on the Red Clay State Historical Park, the grounds where the Cherokee converged following their forced removal.
Campgrounds Near Cleveland, Tennessee
Racoon Mountain Caverns & Campground is one of the region's best overnight camping options. It's located just 37 miles west of Cleveland. This site offers full hookups, back-in and pull-through sites, showers, cable TV, laundry services, a dump station, Wi-Fi, and a playground. The site also offers 144 RV sites, a gymnasium, and a store. You will enjoy amazing views of the Lookout and Racoon Mountains.
If you head 25 miles south of Cleveland, you will come across Camping World of Chattanooga. This campground provides picnic tables, Wi-Fi, full-hookup and pull-through sites, a dump station, a playground, and cable TV. You can also have your RV serviced here. Showers and laundry services are also available.
Chester Frost Park Campground, which is located 35 miles from Cleveland, is another excellent choice. It's situated near Lake Chickamauga, allowing you to enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming. Amenities include hot showers, Wi-Fi, a store, and laundry services. This campground also offers full hookups, pull-through and back-in sites, picnic tables, playgrounds, 30/50-amp services, and a dump station for your convenience.
State Parks Near Cleveland, Tennessee
Harrison Bay State Park is located 18 miles west of Cleveland. It covers 1,200 acres of land along the shores of Lake Chickamauga. The park features a golf course, 6.5 miles of hiking trails, and excellent fishing and swimming spots. You can enjoy watching the bald eagles and osprey as they soar high above the lake. Overnight camping is available nearby at Chattanooga Holiday Travel Park, which offers full hookups, back-in and pull-through sites, picnic tables, fire rings, and dump stations.
Driving 52 minutes southeast of Cleveland, you will come across Fort Mountain State Park. This park offers a great view of Fort Mountain and is close to the Cohutta Wilderness. The park features beautiful lakes, calm rivers, and a forest. The 855-foot-long wall built by the Cherokee people more than 100 years ago adds to the scenic beauty and history of the park. The park offers over 70 miles of hiking trails, and you can enjoy fishing, swimming, and canoeing on the lakes. The park is also home to various wildlife creatures, including deer, raccoons, bears, and bobcats. Amenities are available in the nearby communities of Cohutta, Cheoah, and Whitwell.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is located 56 miles southwest of Cleveland. This is a great destination to experience sandstone canyons and waterfalls. The rocky terrain is home to various birds, from warblers to herons. You can catch bass and trout in the streams that run through the canyon. The park has over 30 miles of biking trails, and you can enjoy the views from the overlooks located in the park. The golf course is a great location to enjoy your afternoon, and you can later explore the numerous caves that dot the area.
National Sites Near Cleveland, Tennessee
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail is a path that follows the route taken by the Cherokee tribe during their forced relocation to Oklahoma in 1838. The trail is marked by monuments, markers, and sites where the tribe lived along their way to Oklahoma. The Museum of the Cherokee Indians on this site can help you gain a deeper understanding of the history of the Cherokee people. You can also go hiking on the nearby Lake Trail, Mantle Rock Trail, and Military Road trail.
The Appalachian Trail is another excellent site near Cleveland, and it's the longest footpath in America. This path stretches through 14 states and connects Maine to Georgia. The trail is 2,190 miles long, and you can enjoy hiking it with your family. While hiking the entire route, you will pass through incredible natural environments, forests, and tracks. The Appalachian Trail Museum in Pine Grove Furnace State Park provides interesting information about the trail's history.
The Obed Wild and Scenic River is a 43-mile-long river that flows from the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee to the Emory River in Wartburg, Tennessee. This river flows through great forests and canyons, and it's an excellent spot to explore. Daddy Creek and Clear Creek are perfect spots to enjoy whitewater rafting. You can also go hiking on the Obed River Point and the Nemo Bridge Trail.
National Forests Near Cleveland, Tennessee
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is located 57 miles southeast of Cleveland. This forest includes two national woodlands. It covers over 886,468 acres of land, and you can explore the area by hiking, biking, and rock climbing. The park is home to fascinating wildlife, including deer, bears, turkeys, squirrels, and raccoons. If you enjoy fishing, you can catch some bass and trout in the streams flowing through this forest. You can also watch birds like the Carolina chickadee and the northern cardinal as they grace the forest. Various campsites in the forest, including Whispering Pines Campground, Vogel State Park, and Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Campground, offer full hookups, fire rings, and Wi-Fi.
If you head 54 miles east of Cleveland, you will come across Nantahala National Forest, which encompasses over 530,000 acres of land. This forest was founded in 1920 and provides a variety of recreational activities like camping, fishing, rafting, and rock climbing. You can hike through the Cable Cove Nature Trail, Cheoah Trail, Hooper Bald Trail, or Huckleberry Knob Trail and spot mountain lions, deer, and beavers. Wildflowers and ferns decorate the forest, and the water bodies in the woods are filled with trout. You can also watch peregrine falcons and ravens soar above the forest.
Pisgah National Forest is situated 150 miles east of Cleveland. It covers over 500,000 acres of land, where you can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, rafting, and paddling on the lakes. The forest is home to various wild animals, including bears, deer, bobcats, and foxes. Birds like the eastern bluebird, red-headed woodpecker, and peregrine falcons live in this forest. You can fish for trout in the streams flowing through this forest. The forest also has numerous campgrounds to accommodate you and your family. While touring the forest, you will also see oak, tulip, poplar, pine, and hickory trees. This forest is a great location for stargazing. You can also gaze at the spectacular views of the mountains when you wake up at one of the site's campgrounds.
