Discover Hancock County • 2022 23 The quiet little town of Sneedville is Hancock County’s county seat
A Brief History of
Hancock County
By Randy Ball
Discover Hancock County Contributor
H
ancock County has a rich and colorful history. Hancock County was formed from parts of Hawkins and Claiborne Counties. The act to
create Hancock County was introduced in 1844, but some Hawkins County residents protested and Hancock County finally came into being in 1846. The county was named for Revolutionary War patriot John Hancock. Knoxville attorney William Sneed represented those interested in forming the new county in the litigation, and the county seat was named Sneedville. continued to page 24
Hancock County is mountainous and remote
