Mascot is a small town located in Knox County, Tennessee. It is considered a part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is home to approximately 2,500 residents and covers an area of about 3 square miles. Mascot is located along the banks of the Holston River, providing its residents with beautiful natural scenery and recreational opportunities. Despite its small size, Mascot has a rich history and a strong sense of community. The town was founded in the late 19th century and was originally an agricultural community.

Mascot, Tennessee

According to our research of Tennessee and other state lists, there were 10 registered sex offenders living in Mascot, Tennessee as of January 11, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Mascot is 277 to 1.

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Ancestries: American (17.3%), Italian (7.1%), German (4.5%), English (4.4%), Irish (3.9%), British (3.6%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 953 feet

Land area: 6.95 square miles.

Population density: 347 people per square mile (very low).

223 residents are foreign born (9.0% Latin America).

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2021: $642 (0.4%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2021: $570 (0.5%)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Knoxville, TN (12.4 miles , pop. 173,890).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Fayette, KY (141.7 miles , pop. 260,512).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Chicago, IL (451.6 miles , pop. 2,896,016).

Nearest cities:

Latitude: 36.07 N, Longitude: 83.75 W

Area code: 865

• Construction (10.4%)
• Health care (6.2%)
• Chemicals (6.2%)
• Accommodation & food services (5.9%)
• Educational services (5.1%)
• Food & beverage stores (5.1%)
• Truck transportation (4.4%)

• Construction (18.2%)
• Administrative & support & waste management services (6.8%)
• Miscellaneous nondurable goods merchant wholesalers (4.8%)
• Chemicals (4.8%)
• Truck transportation (4.6%)
• Public administration (4.1%)
• Health care (3.9%)

• Accommodation & food services (9.5%)
• Health care (9.2%)
• Food & beverage stores (8.3%)
• Chemicals (8.0%)
• Educational services (8.0%)
• Publishing, motion picture & sound recording industries (4.3%)
• Truck transportation (4.0%)

• Other production occupations, including supervisors (6.7%)
• Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6.6%)
• Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6.5%)
• Laborers and material movers, hand (4.6%)
• Cashiers (4.4%)
• Secretaries and administrative assistants (4.0%)
• Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (3.8%)

• Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (11.4%)
• Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (9.8%)
• Laborers and material movers, hand (5.3%)
• Construction traders workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (5.3%)
• Sales representatives, services, wholesale and manufacturing (5.0%)
• Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5.0%)
• Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (3.9%)

• Other production occupations, including supervisors (11.3%)
• Cashiers (10.2%)
• Secretaries and administrative assistants (9.2%)
• Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (6.6%)
• Cooks and food preparation workers (5.7%)
• Waiters and waitresses (4.5%)
• Health technologists and technicians (3.8%)

Average climate in Mascot, Tennessee

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 70.2. This is about average.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) [ppb] level in 2000 was 12.6. This is significantly worse than average. Closest monitor was 2.8 miles away from the city center.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) [ppb] level in 2006 was 2.32. This is worse than average. Closest monitor was 2.8 miles away from the city center.

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 27.2. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 2.8 miles away from the city center.

Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) [µg/m 3 ] level in 2018 was 17.0. This is about average. Closest monitor was 10.9 miles away from the city center.

Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) [µg/m 3 ] level in 2018 was 9.06. This is about average. Closest monitor was 7.4 miles away from the city center.

Lead (Pb) [µg/m 3 ] level in 2015 was 0.00868. This is about average. Closest monitor was 6.4 miles away from the city center.

Tornado activity:

Mascot-area historical tornado activity is significantly below Tennessee state average. It is 43% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 2/21/1993, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 12.2 miles away from the Mascot place center injured 3 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On 2/21/1993, a category F3 tornado 25.9 miles away from the place center killed one person and injured 55 people and caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity:

Mascot-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Tennessee state average. It is 71% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 21.9 miles away from Mascot center
On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 148.2 miles away from Mascot center
On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi) earthquake occurred 151.1 miles away from Mascot center
On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 151.8 miles away from the city center
On 12/12/2018 at 09:14:43, a magnitude 4.4 (4.4 MW, Depth: 4.9 mi) earthquake occurred 63.2 miles away from the city center
On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 168.0 miles away from the city center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters:

The number of natural disasters in Knox County (13) is near the US average (15).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8
Emergencies Declared: 2

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 9, Storms: 7, Tornadoes: 6, Winds: 3, Winter Storms: 2, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Landslide: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowfall: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Mascot:

• HOLSTON HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)
• TOTAL RENAL CARE (Dialysis Facility, about 10 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)
• PROFESSIONAL REGISTER OF NURSING SVCS (Home Health Center, about 10 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)
• FMC N KNOXVILLE DIALYSIS CNTR (Dialysis Facility, about 11 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)
• MERCY HOMECARE SERVICES (Home Health Center, about 11 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)
• ST MARY'S HOSPICE (Hospital, about 11 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)
• KINDRED HEALTH AND REHABILITATION-NORTHHAVEN (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; KNOXVILLE, TN)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Mascot:

• The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (about 13 miles; Knoxville, TN; Full-time enrollment: 25,483)
• Pellissippi State Community College (about 25 miles; Knoxville, TN; FT enrollment: 7,271)
• Walters State Community College (about 30 miles; Morristown, TN; FT enrollment: 4,359)
• Lincoln Memorial University (about 36 miles; Harrogate, TN; FT enrollment: 3,706)
• Roane State Community College (about 51 miles; Harriman, TN; FT enrollment: 4,302)
• University of the Cumberlands (about 52 miles; Williamsburg, KY; FT enrollment: 3,585)
• Tusculum College (about 56 miles; Greeneville, TN; FT enrollment: 2,070)

Public elementary/middle school in Mascot:

• EAST KNOX ELEMENTARY (Students: 511, Location: 9315 RUTLEDGE PK, Grades: PK-5)

Mascot tn county

Photo by Mike Steely
Teenagers hang out at Mascot’s Park, in the center of the small community. Their classes at Carter High School are over and they’re thinking about what to do this summer.

It may be the most unique neighborhood in Knox County. Isolated in the eastern corner, separated by distance and the river, Mascot is also separated by history and culture.

About 2,000 people call the Mascot community home. Founded by the American Zinc Company as a company town the community is much like many of the other old East Tennessee mining company towns except that instead of coal fuelling the boom back then it was zinc.

Most of the homes in Mascot were originally company-owned homes. When the company pulled out in the early 1960s the homes were sold to former employees. Some still remain in those families and others have been repurchased by later residents.

To reach Mascot you can take Rutledge Pike to Old Rutledge Pike and follow it to the Mascot Road. You pass a few houses and eventually drive under an overpass and you’re there. An alternate route is to take Andrew Johnson Road almost to Strawberry Plains and turn left on Mascot road and head east. Just after the Industrial Park take a left across the tracks and you’re in the historic little community.

Rutledge Pike begins in East Knoxville at Magnolia Avenue and shoots northeast at Highway 11W. The four-lane highway eventually passes through Rutledge in Grainger County and continues its northwest route to Rogersville, Kingsport, and Bristol. While most of us probably know Grainger County for its tomatoes, the small town of Rutledge is the county seat. Beside the courthouse sits a small cabin said to have been a tailor shop of a young and future president, Andrew Johnson.

Rutledge Pike in Knox County begins as an industrial area for several miles. The Pike is home to Bridges Funeral Home and nearby Holston Middle School. Further up is Kinsey Gardens, Pull-A-Part, and RV’s For Less. Just north is the Skaggtown community and, to the west, House Mountain State Natural Area.

When Rutledge Pike reaches the Blaine Community it is crossed by Emory Road, one of the oldest routes in the state.

Along Old Rutledge Pike toward Mascot, there is a huge railroad yard, several farms, some mom-and-pop stores, as well as storage and scrap yards. You really don’t get a feeling of the community until you take the Mascot Road and go beneath the overpass.

Suddenly you are back in time.

Living in Mascot

Mack Walker, who lives in the two-story white house on the edge of the Mascot Park, told the Focus that his house had been a men’s boarding house and later a women’s boarding house back when the mining company owned the community. He said that American Zinc had its own law enforcement and pointed to the library just up the street, which was used as a company jail.

Ralph McGee, the librarian, said the right side of the current library was used as a small jail and the other part of the library was added later. Now a part of the Knox County Library System McGhee and Jackie McSwain were busy preparing books to be sent to other libraries around the county.

McSwain, a native of Mascot, spoke of the many photos there of the former mining community, the former school, and many other historic features of the area.

Ms. McSwain also helps out with a Mascot charity known as Year-Round Santa. She runs a flea market every weekend at the Four Way Market on the Andrew Johnson Highway. She explains that the $10 set-up fee all goes to the charity. Ronnie Greene, a retired truck driver, and his wife Kathy, founded Year-Round Santa to provide toys and relief to local children and families in need. His wife has passed away and Ronnie, along with volunteers, continues to warehouse and distribute items. The charity is well known in East Knox County and Greene’s home atop the park is stocked with needed items. The effort has been featured on national and local television and in various newspaper and magazine articles. Everything donated is given away. You can donate to Year-Round Santa at 1821 Santa Claus Lane, Mascot, TN. 37806.

Over at the post office Tonya Gass, the “officer in charge” as she puts it, says that many of the Mascot people were zinc company employees. The post office and library tend to serve as the gathering place for locals. The internet is available at the library and patrons can order any book that is not on the shelves. Gass said that if someone doesn’t come in to get or post mail the community becomes concerned and goes to check on them. She knows all her patrons by name and often the locals stay around for some conversation and to catch up on local news.

Just east on Mascot Road is a former residence that is now the Mascot Senior Citizens Center. It is named for former Sunday School teacher, Barbara Abernathy.

Thomas Talmage Morell, known as Tam, grew up in Mascot and said that the old home was pretty run down when the local citizens were able to buy it.

“Lots of people donated their money and time,” he said. At first it was used as a community center and was used for birthday parties and gatherings. Then it was turned over to Knox County and the seniors meet there.

Morell said most of the houses in the center of Mascot and along Staff Drive are original mining town structures, along with those on Sailor’s Ford Lane.

“When we were growing up the company funded the houses, the park, tennis courts, a community hall, a drug store, and the doctor’s office. We had Little League baseball teams, went fishing and swimming in the Holston River,” he said.

Over at what is now the Industrial Park, Morell said the company owned a large farm and dairy operation and the milk was delivered to the homes.

“It is not the close knit community it once was. We never locked our doors,” he said, adding that “To this day those people from Mascot agree they loved it.”

Some of the current home owners live in the “company” houses but newer arrivals have bought or rented homes there.

“The older folks have either retired or passed away,” he said.

Both Morell and Mack Walker agreed that there should be better law enforcement in Mascot. Morell said that he rarely sees a sheriff’s cruiser there.

Memories flow to Morell.

“Over in the area of the rock piles and mills, on top of a tower, was once a red light. There were few phones at that time. My uncle was the local (company) law enforcement and someone would notify the mill of a problem and the mill would turn the red light on. That informed my uncle to get over there,” he said.

He added that the company had a whistle and would blow it in different sequences to tell people about fires or other emergencies; the last of the whistles would tell the residents which section of the town the emergency was located.

“People then know to either get themselves to safety or get over to help with the call,” he said.

I have a warm place for Mascot. I grew up in a little mining town, ours was coal and not zinc based, but when the mines closed the town almost vanished. Like Mascot some of the mining families bought the mining houses and stayed there for generations.

But Mascot hung on. Several of the houses there are modern and well maintained, expanded beyond what they once were. Generations grew up there. Many of the older folks love small communities like Mascot but most of the young people can’t wait to graduate and leave.

Yet, like me, they will hit that time in their life when they want to return to their home town. Some will and find it that it has not changed from when they left.

Sometimes you can go home again.

Mascot, TN

Mascot is located in east Tennessee. Mascot is between the Knox, Grainger county. Mascot has 6.96 square miles of land area and 0.22 square miles of water area. As of 2010-2014, the total Mascot population is 2,592, which has grown 22.32% since 2000. The population growth rate is much higher than the state average rate of 13.40% and is much higher than the national average rate of 11.61%. Mascot median household income is $33,095 in 2010-2014 and has grown by 11.37% since 2000. The income growth rate is much lower than the state average rate of 22.72% and is much lower than the national average rate of 27.36%. Mascot median house value is $96,600 in 2010-2014 and has grown by 52.37% since 2000. The house value growth rate is about the same as the state average rate of 50.43% and is higher than the national average rate of 46.91%. As a reference, the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate for the same period is 26.63%. On average, the public school district that covers Mascot is much better than the state average in quality. The Mascot area code is 865.

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The town was founded in the late 19th century and was originally an agricultural community. Over the years, Mascot has evolved into a residential area with a mix of older homes and newer developments. One notable feature of Mascot is its close proximity to the Tennessee Smokies Minor League Baseball Stadium.

The stadium is located just a few miles away in nearby Kodak, Tennessee. This provides residents of Mascot with easy access to professional baseball games and other events. Mascot is also home to several parks and outdoor recreational areas. The town has a community park that offers playgrounds, picnic areas, and walking trails. There are also nearby hiking and biking trails along the Holston River for those who enjoy outdoor activities. In terms of education, Mascot is served by the Knox County School District. There are several public schools in the area that provide education from kindergarten through high school. The town is also close to several colleges and universities, including the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Pellissippi State Community College. Overall, Mascot is a small but vibrant community with a strong sense of pride in its history and natural beauty. It offers residents a peaceful and close-knit environment while also being conveniently located near larger cities and cultural attractions..

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The Best Places to Stay in Mascot TN County: Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts