Clinch Mountain is named after the
Clinch River, which in turn was named after an 18th-century explorer. The earliest known reference to the name appears in the 18th-century journal of
Thomas Walker: "Clinch's River, from one Clinch a hunter." The
Wilderness Road to the
Cumberland Gap crossed Clinch Mountain at Moccasin Gap. Signal Point peak, near Kitts Point, the southern terminus of Clinch Mountain, was used to signal troops during the Civil War. The mountains along the Clinch Mountain ridge played an important role in the
Battle of Bean's Station. In the late 19th century, the mountains in
Grainger County, Tennessee became known for their mineral springs, which attracted visitors from around the world.
Tate Springs, the name of the town and resort, featured a hotel, golf course, and mineral baths. The seasonal resort even had its own spur on the railroad, allowing easy access for visitors from across the country. Notable guests included the Fords, Studebakers, Mellons, Firestones, and Rockefellers. Due to a fire and the Great Depression, only a few buildings remain today. In the 1970s and 1980s, plans were proposed for a 75-mile-long hiking trail system called the Trail of the Lonesome Pine, which would run along the ridgeline of Clinch Mountain from the Tennessee-Virginia state line in
Hancock County to its terminus in Grainger County. These plans were met with
extreme opposition from unwilling property owners, particularly from Grainger County, as the project was nearing completion in the
Hawkins and Hancock portions of the trail system. Due to the unwillingness of Grainger County property owners, the trail system was abandoned altogether in 1981, despite construction being completed outside of Grainger County. ==In popular culture==