Tennessee’s First Capital
Where the U.S. Constitution Crossed the Mountains
From 1790 to 1792, Rocky Mount served as the first seat of government for the Southwest Territory—laying the foundation for Tennessee statehood and giving today’s visitors a rare place to stand inside that moment.
Original 13 States
Established
Census
16th State (1796)
The Birth of Federal Government on the Frontier
In 1790, a bold experiment began: Could American democratic governance successfully extend beyond the Appalachian Mountains? Rocky Mount would provide the answer.
We acknowledge with respect that this valley was—and remains—ancestral homeland to the Cherokee and other Indigenous peoples, whose stewardship and stories continue today.
Key Events in the Establishment of Governance
A summary of the rapid establishment of federal authority.
North Carolina's Land Cession
December 22, 1789 marked a pivotal moment: North Carolina ceded 43,000 square miles to the federal government, creating the opportunity for organized territorial governance.
"The said territory so ceded shall be laid out and formed into a State or States...and shall enjoy all the privileges, benefits, and advantages"
— NC Cession Act, 1789The Southwest Ordinance
May 26, 1790: Congress creates the Southwest Territory, adapting the Northwest Ordinance model while permitting slavery as North Carolina required.
"An Act for the Government of the Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio"
— US Congress, 1790William Blount: Constitution Signer Turned Frontier Governor
President Washington chose wisely: A man who helped create the Constitution would now implement it on the frontier.
Presidential Commission
June 8, 1790: Washington appoints Blount as Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, combining civil and diplomatic authority in one office.
- ❖ Unanimous recommendation from NC congressional delegation
- ❖ Constitutional Convention delegate (1787)
- ❖ One million acres owned in the territory
I arrived in this country and was received with every mark of attention and gladness I could have wished. I am very well accommodated with a room with glass windows, fireplace, &c., at this place.
— William Blount, letter from Rocky Mount, 20 October 1790 The Blount Papers, Tennessee State Library & ArchivesThe Journey to Rocky Mount
Building a Government from a Log House
From October 1790 to early 1792, the Cobb house at Rocky Mount served as the nerve center of territorial administration.
Executive Authority
▼Establishing the machinery of government
Key Actions from Rocky Mount:
- Declared all North Carolina appointments void
- Issued new federal commissions to officials
- Organized territorial militia structure
- Established communication with President Washington
- Coordinated with federal judges and territorial secretary
Primary Source: "The Blount Journal, 1790-1796" documents these actions with entries datelined "Mr. Cobb's" and "Rocky Mount"
County Organization
▼Creating local government infrastructure
Counties Organized:
- • Washington
- • Sullivan
- • Greene
- • Hawkins
- • Davidson
- • Sumner
- • Tennessee
Knox and Jefferson counties created in 1792, just before capital relocation
1791 Census
▼Documenting readiness for statehood
Population Count:
Exceeded the 5,000 free adult males required for an elected legislature
The 1791 enumeration recorded 35,691 residents across the entire Southwest Territory—including 3,417 enslaved people and 361 free people of color. Rocky Mount itself housed only a handful of enslaved workers, but these numbers remind us that freedom and bondage co-existed on the early frontier.
Native Diplomacy
▼Managing complex tribal relations
As Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Blount managed relations with:
- Cherokee: Primary focus, Treaty of Holston (1791)
- Creek: Tensions over hunting grounds
- Chickasaw: Generally peaceful relations
- Choctaw: Distant but important
Washington's Directive:
"Establish a firm peace...on principles of justice and moderation"
Land negotiations—and later the Treaty of Holston—carried profound consequences for the Cherokee Nation and neighboring peoples. Their perspectives are an active part of our ongoing research and interpretation.
Judicial Framework
▼Establishing rule of law
Federal Judges Appointed:
- ⚖️ John McNairy - Later mentored Andrew Jackson
- ⚖️ David Campbell - Virginia veteran
- ⚖️ Joseph Anderson - Future US Senator
Courts handled everything from land disputes to regulating frontier commerce (ferries, taverns, mills)
Notable Visitors
▼Rocky Mount's distinguished guests
Rocky Mount became a networking hub for frontier leaders, attorneys, and land speculators:
- ❖ Daniel Boone - Frontier legend
- ❖ John Sevier - First TN Governor
- ❖ Andrew Jackson - Lodged 6 weeks awaiting law license
- ❖ William Campbell - Revolutionary War hero
- ❖ Richard Henderson - Land speculator
The Cobb family's hospitality made Rocky Mount a crossroads of frontier leadership
The Historical Record Speaks
Primary sources and scholarly consensus establish Rocky Mount's role as the Southwest Territory's first capital.
📜 Primary Documents
Blount's Correspondence
Letters datelined "Mr. Cobb's" and "Rocky Mount" (1790-1792)
The Blount Journal
Official record of governmental actions, 1790-1796
Territorial Papers, Vol. IV
National Archives documentation of Rocky Mount operations
1791 Census Returns
Submitted to Secretary of State Jefferson from Rocky Mount
📚 Scholarly Authority
Walter T. Durham
"Before Tennessee: The Southwest Territory, 1790-1796"
Definitive scholarly work on the territorial period
Lisa T. Souder
"Cherokee–U.S. Relations in the Southwest Territory"
Journal of Early Southern History (2021)
Tennessee Encyclopedia
Confirms Rocky Mount as first territorial capital
East Tennessee Historical Society
Multiple publications documenting governmental activities
Journal of East Tennessee History
Peer-reviewed articles on Rocky Mount's significance
Why Rocky Mount is Tennessee's First Capital
First Federal Authority
Where U.S. governance was first established in the territory that became Tennessee
Full Governmental Functions
Executive, judicial, and administrative operations conducted for 14+ months
Foundation for Statehood
Governmental framework established here enabled Tennessee's admission as 16th state
"The distinction is clear: Rocky Mount was the first territorial capital (1790-1792), Knoxville became the second territorial and then first state capital (1792-1817)"
A Legacy That Shaped America
Rocky Mount's story illuminates how American democracy expanded westward, establishing precedents that guided the nation's growth to the Pacific.
Rocky Mount & America's 250th Anniversary
As our nation approaches its semiquincentennial, Rocky Mount represents a crucial chapter in the American story: the moment when constitutional governance proved it could transcend the original thirteen states and flourish on the frontier. It proved a young republic could expand without abandoning its principles.
- ❖ First Federal Capital beyond the original states
- ❖ Proving Ground for territorial governance model
- ❖ Bridge between democratic ideals and westward expansion
Your visit—and your support—helps us uncover more stories and share them as America approaches its 250th birthday.
Experience History Where It Happened
Visit Rocky Mount State Historic Site and walk where Governor Blount established the first American government west of the mountains.