Poor Farm

The date when Jefferson County's workhouse, also known as the Poor Asylum, was established is not known for certain.  From County Court Minutes, it appears the facility was in place before 1840.  The County Workhouse, as it was also called, was located where the Jefferson County Nursing Home (Dandridge) is today.  In the 20^th Century, the term "Workhouse" was used in reference to the County's facility for long-term incarceration of prisoners.

Records of payments made from the county's general fund as early as 1825 include payments made to individuals who cared for the poor or built coffins for the indigent dead.  These records indicate that Jefferson County had a concern for its indigent residents and the citizens were quite active in caring for the poor.  Records relating to the poor are part of Jefferson County's public records.