George L. Carter

Home » George L. Carter
Clinchfield Railroad

George L. Carter: Father of the Clinchfield Railroad

George L. Carter provided the vision, the drive, and the perseverance that lead to the development and success of the Clinchfield Railroad. Carter also truly made a tremendous difference in the prosperity and growth of the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia region. There is probably no one in the past century who has done more to establish the Mountain Empire Region as a thriving center of commerce with an excellent quality of life. At the time of his death in 1936, no one truly knew the final success and financial growth of his investments and business ventures, or the economic growth of the region.

George L. Carter

George L. Carter: Prosperity for the Region

Several examples of how his leadership and entrepreneurial drive led to so many successful ventures for the region include:

  • The Clinchfield Railroad which became one of the most well-designed and profitable railroads in America. Much of that truly became apparent in the last half of the 1900s.
  • The hundreds of thousands of acres of coal fields that Carter developed and owned produced energy and heat for millions of people for decades
  • His initial railroad development efforts led to the creation of Eastman Chemical Company and the largest ammunition plant in America.
  • And as the primary benefactor of a new institution of higher education, 100 years later East Tennessee State University is excelling in academics, enrollment, and now includes a Medical School.

Carter’s initial vision was coal, but now over 100 years later, Johnson City has transitioned to a regional center for higher education and health care. In many ways, George Carter’s biography and legacy continues to grow, to flourish, and to be written.

George L. Carter Biography

George L. Carter - The Last Empire Builder

The title of George L. Carter’s excellent biography is entitled ‘The Last Empire Builder.’ The book was written by Ned Irwin and Ray Stahl. That moniker is true, but so are these adjectives and descriptive phrases I’ve come across while reading more about this fascinating man:

  • ‘Mountain Industrialist’
  • Entreprenuer
  • Visionary
  • Eccentric
  • Private
  • Shrewd
  • Risk-Taker

George L. Carter Railroad Museum

As a testament to the success and iconic legacy of the Clinchfield Railroad, a wonderful museum was established and now thrives in Johnson City in Carter’s honor. In addition to preserving history, the model train displays are tremendous. Even if it means a drive or a vacation, I urge everyone to plan a visit…… or to support the effort.

George L. Carter Railroad Museum

As I expand on this site and page over the coming months, I hope to create a worthy picture of the man and his legacy, especially as it relates to the railroads of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

If you have edits or content to share, please drop me a note in the form below.

To be continued…….

Links for Additional Information

http://www.mtnlaurel.com/mountain-people/1585-george-l-carter-mountain-capitalist-part-1-of-2.html

Carter, George Lafayette

Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Clinchfield Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Clinchfield.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Clinchfield Railroad

Contact Us at Clinchfield.org

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the Clinchfield or Model Railroads.

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org