White Pine is a town in Jefferson and Hamblen counties in Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown metropolitan area. The population was 2,471 at the 2020 census.
History
Before the settlement of the area by European settlers, the White Pine area was inhabited by an early group of Woodland Indians. The area was used by the group as a site for several large burial grounds and a trail used later by settlers of the community. After the American Civil War, a railroad route was constructed in the area, crossing a prominent stagecoach path. Twenty years later, White Pine was officially incorporated.
The Southern and Southeastern border of White Pine runs along the Douglas Lake.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+White Pine racial composition
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)
| 1,998
| 80.86%
|-
!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
| 31
| 1.25%
|-
!scope="row"| Native American
| 4
| 0.16%
|-
!scope="row"| Asian
| 21
| 0.85%
|-
!scope="row"| Pacific Islander
| 8
| 0.32%
|-
!scope="row"| Other/Mixed
| 97
| 3.93%
|-
!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino
| 312
| 12.63%
|}
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,471 people, 852 households, and 509 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census
White Pine is also home to the Walters State Community College Great Smokies Mountain Expo Center. The Expo Center includes a 98,000 square-foot pavilion with a 300' x 150' show ring, seating for 3,900. Opened in 1996, the Expo Center hosts over 60 events each year, including horse and livestock shows, BMX racing, boat and RV shows, concerts, high school and college graduation ceremonies and rodeos.
Arts and culture
From 2019 to 2022, the town hosted the annual Lakeside of the Smokies Balloonfest, a hot air balloon festival dedicated to promoting the sport of hot air ballooning and the area's significant agriculture and heritage. It is considered to be the largest hot air balloon festival in Tennessee. Beginning in 2023 it moved to Dandridge.
Education
Public school
White Pine School (K-8) in White Pine is operated by the Jefferson County Schools District. White Pine high school students attend Jefferson County High School in neighboring Dandridge along with other students in the Jefferson County Schools District.
Private school
White Pine is also the location of Lakeway Christian Academy, a private Christian academy for students in grades 6–12. It opened in the summer of 2020.
Transportation
White Pine has two exits on Interstate 81 (Exits 4 and 8). I-81 leads northeast to Bristol and southwest to its southern terminus at Interstate 40. Via I-81 and I-40, Knoxville is southwest of White Pine.