Del Rio has long had a reputation for moonshining and cockfighting. The former is shared by much of Appalachia, but the latter is not. A raid by federal agents on a cockfighting operation in 2005 led to the arrest of 143 and the confiscation of more than $40,000 in cash. Authorities described the operation as the "largest and oldest illegal cockfighting pit" in the United States.
By coincidence, Del Rio is located in Cocke County, named for William Cocke, one of Tennessee's first two U.S. Senators. Cocke has the distinction of having served in the legislatures of four different states: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Don't know much about this little place; but I do have a friend that produces some excellent honey there!
ReplyDeleteWhole areas in ruins is something we don't see too much of here. They may stay derelict for a while but then usually get bulldozed to make way for something else. I guess you have a bit more space than we have!
ReplyDeleteWell know your friend's product well, Christine. We buy regularly at a fruit & vegetable stand in Jamestown. Jim
ReplyDeleteI guess that has its good points and its bad, Jenny. Once it gets bulldozed there's no hope of restoration, although in all honesty there's usually only the hope otherwise. Jim
We've been told by NC law enforcement that Del Rio is where a lot of stolen chainsaws etc. end up. The place has quite a reputation.
ReplyDeleteJim, Thanks for reminding me of Del Rio. I have met the Strange family who keep bees there. I have also spent quite a few wonderful hours in the company of my good friend, Jimmy Morrow. The drive from Del Rio to Marshall, NC, is one of my favorite trips in all of Appalachia. I need to write about Jimmy and Del Rio sometime soon. I attended the July 4 event there once.
ReplyDeleteI will also say that Cocke County, or more appropriately a few Cocke County public officials, have done an awful lot to impair 1st Amendment Rights in their battles against religion.
ReplyDeleteDel Rio is home to a small valley known as Houston Valley where our farm is located. Most folks in Del Rio are hard working Christians who would help hikers and strangers if needed. Only takes a few bad people to give the area a bad name. It should also be noted that most COCKE Fighters were not from Del Rio but for Knox County Scott county etc only did there bidding in other counties so not to ruin their reputation. Most people there treasure their animals chickens included and do not fight them. Try Paint Creek in the Spring or the Brush Creek pond for a picnic.
ReplyDeleteOriginally named Big Creek, Del Rio is a geographically large but thinly populated area/community. It is located surrounding the confluence of the French Broad River and Big Creek waterways.
ReplyDeleteIntersetingly, it was renamed Del Rio (meaning of or by the river, depending on the speaker's opinion) when the Postal Service took issue with there being 2 postal areas named "Big Creek" in Tennessee, causing confusion in mail delivery.
It is in a beautiful County and is the type of bucolic destination we once had to travel for hours simply to reach. Now, simply walking out our front or back doors is akin to being on a scenic vacation.
Until recent years a large majority the familes of and around Del Rio had lived here for several to many generations, and while most are by no means wealthy in monetary terms, they are exemplars of faith and charity. Family is very important here.
As outsiders we were cautioned about being liable to be greeted by a clannish, very insular populace. This has NOT been our experience.
Residents here for "only" 25 years now, and living in a sparsely populated section of Del Rio (tself sparsely peopled), we have from day one been welcomed and befriended by more neighbors than we even KNEW while living in several larger communities. We have found it to be home to some of the most honest, generous, and selfless people we've ever encountered. Over the years its not been unusual for us to have been invited to visit homes of people we have only just met.
Its a sad commentary on modern life when those with the least are very people most willing to, (and who actually do) unstintingly give and do the most help to others-the very essence of the "Volunteer State".
As everywhere, people are people, most good, some not so good. We have been extraordinarily lucky to find home to an abundance of the former.
The preceeding has been subjective.
One non-subjective observation of concern for others.
Cocke County as a whole consistently has the highest % of participants in the organ donor program of any County in Tennessee.