Telford doesn't show up on most relocation lists. It's not a city with a chamber of commerce website and a "Top 10 Reasons to Move Here" brochure. It's an unincorporated community in Washington County, Tennessee — the kind of place people discover when they're looking for something specific: rural character, room to breathe, and a location that's genuinely accessible without being suburban. It sits right on TN-107 between Jonesborough and Limestone, part of the Johnson City metropolitan area but a world apart from it in pace and feel.
The community has a history that goes back to 1855, when Colonel George Whitfield Telford — a state senator — donated land to support the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, giving the community its name. It's been a quiet, working Washington County community ever since. Median age is 54, incomes are stable, and the people who live here tend to stay. That's the character of the place: settled, rural, and genuinely neighborly in the way that rural East Tennessee tends to be.
We're Mountaineer Storage LLC on TN-107 in Chuckey — just past Jackson Bridge heading west from Limestone, right on the route into Telford. People moving to the Telford area use our storage units near Telford to manage the transition when they move in. This guide covers what to expect when you relocate to Telford and the surrounding Washington County area.
What Telford, TN Actually Is — and What It Isn't
Rural Washington County between Jonesborough and Limestone
Telford is a census-designated place — unincorporated, no city government, no downtown to speak of. What it does have is Grandview Elementary School, a post office, a strong sense of community, and a location that puts you within easy reach of everything you need without being in the middle of it. That last part is what draws most people here.
Jonesborough — minutes west
Tennessee's oldest town, with a historic district, storytelling festival, restaurants, and the Washington County seat. Your closest small-town amenity hub — a quick drive on TN-107.
Johnson City — 14 miles
The major regional hub — hospitals, ETSU, shopping, dining, employment. Far enough to feel removed, close enough to reach without planning your day around the drive.
Limestone — east on TN-107
Neighboring Greene County community just across the county line. The Nolichucky River corridor and Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park are a short drive further east.
Tri-Cities metro — but rural
Telford is technically part of the Johnson City MSA, which means metro-area access to services, healthcare, and employment — without the suburban density of being inside it.
Who actually moves to Telford
People relocating to Telford typically fall into a few groups: retirees looking for rural Washington County living with proximity to Johnson City services; remote workers who want space and quiet but need to reach the Tri-Cities for occasional in-person work; and families priced out of Jonesborough proper who want the same character at a lower price point. The common thread is wanting genuine rural East Tennessee without being far from what they need.
Washington County, TN — What You're Actually Moving Into
The 12th most populated county in Tennessee — and growing
Telford sits in Washington County, which has a projected 2025 population of over 140,000 — the 12th most populated county in Tennessee. That scale matters because it's what backs the service infrastructure around Telford: the hospitals in Johnson City, the school system, the road network, the employment base anchored by East Tennessee State University and Ballad Health. Rural living in Telford doesn't mean rural access to services.
Healthcare
Johnson City Medical Center — a major regional hospital and Level I Trauma Center — is about 14 miles from Telford. Ballad Health operates facilities throughout the Tri-Cities region. For routine care, physicians and specialists in Jonesborough are even closer. Healthcare access from Telford is genuinely strong for a rural community.
Education
Grandview Elementary serves the immediate Telford area (PK-8, located on Hwy 11E in Telford). Older students typically attend Washington County middle and high schools. East Tennessee State University in Johnson City offers full four-year and graduate programs for families with college-aged students or residents looking to pursue continuing education.
Employment
The Tri-Cities region's major employers — ETSU, Ballad Health, manufacturing, and the full range of services supporting a 350,000-person metro area — are accessible from Telford within a reasonable commute. Many Telford residents work in Johnson City or Jonesborough. Remote workers have made Telford increasingly attractive as rural broadband coverage has improved across Washington County.
History & Community Character
Telford has roots going back to 1855, when the railroad came through and Col. George Whitfield Telford donated land for the depot — giving the community its name. A Civil War skirmish took place here in September 1863. Eliza McCardle Johnson, wife of President Andrew Johnson, was born in the area. This is a community with genuine history underneath the quiet rural surface — something you feel in the architecture, the churches, and the land.
Moving to Telford — What the Logistics Actually Look Like
And how a storage unit on TN-107 makes the transition easier
Most people moving to Telford are coming from somewhere else — another state, another part of Tennessee, or a more suburban area of the Tri-Cities region. The move almost always involves a gap: a period where the new place isn't quite ready, where belongings arrive before furniture decisions are made, or where a larger home's worth of contents needs somewhere to go while you figure out what fits in a smaller Telford property.
That's where a storage unit on TN-107 earns its place in the moving plan. Mountaineer Storage is just past Jackson Bridge heading east from Telford — close enough to make multiple trips without eating your weekend. Drive-up access means the furniture coming out of a moving truck can go straight to the unit without carrying it through hallways. 24/7 gate access means you retrieve what you need as the new place takes shape, not on a storage facility's schedule.
10×20 Drive-Up Units
200 sq ft — enough for a full household of furniture and belongings while you settle in. Pull your moving truck or trailer right to the door. See our 10×20 size guide.
24/7 Gated Access
Your gate code works any time — retrieve furniture as each room comes together, not when the office opens. Reserve online here.
Month-to-Month
No deposit, no contract. Rent through the transition period and leave when the new place is settled. No minimum term, no penalties.
RV & Trailer Storage
Outdoor spaces up to 42 feet for vehicles, campers, and trailers. Useful when the new Telford property isn't set up for them yet. All vehicles must be insured to store.
Locally owned, not a national chain. Call (423) 948-7724 and a real person picks up. Reserve a unit online and get your gate code the same day.
"Telford has been a Washington County community since 1855. The people who move here and stay are the ones who came looking for exactly what it is — not what it isn't. Get that right and the rest of the move takes care of itself."
FAQ: Moving to Telford, TN
What county is Telford, TN in?
Telford is in Washington County, Tennessee — on the western edge of the county near the Washington-Greene County line. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which covers Washington, Carter, and Unicoi counties. Jonesborough is the Washington County seat and is just a few minutes west on TN-107.
How far is Telford from Johnson City, TN?
Telford is approximately 14 miles from Johnson City — typically a 20-25 minute drive depending on route. Most Telford residents access Johnson City via Jonesborough for shopping, healthcare at Johnson City Medical Center, and employment at ETSU and other major employers in the region.
What schools serve Telford, TN?
Grandview Elementary School on Highway 11E in Telford serves Pre-K through 8th grade for the immediate Telford community. Older students typically attend Washington County middle and high schools. The area is served by the Washington County School District.
Is Telford a good place to retire?
Telford's median age of 54.3 suggests many residents are already there. Rural Washington County living, no state income tax on retirement income, low property taxes, and proximity to healthcare in Johnson City and Jonesborough make it a genuine option for retirees who want space and quiet without giving up access to services. See our full guide to retiring near Telford for the complete picture.
Is there storage near Telford, TN for moving?
Yes. Mountaineer Storage is at 2603 TN-107 in Chuckey — just east of Telford past Jackson Bridge. Month-to-month drive-up storage with 24/7 gated access. No contracts, no deposits. Reserve online here or call (423) 948-7724.
How far is Mountaineer Storage from Telford, TN?
Mountaineer Storage is at 2603 TN-107 in Chuckey — just east of Telford on the same highway. Head east on TN-107 past Jackson Bridge and you will find us on the left, across from the Shell station on the Washington and Greene County line. Get directions here.
Storage on TN-107 — Right on Your Route
Drive-up storage just east of Telford on TN-107 in Chuckey. Month-to-month, no contracts, no deposits, 24/7 access. Reserve online and get your gate code the same day.
Related Guides
📍 Mountaineer Storage LLC
2603 TN-107, Chuckey, TN 37641
(423) 948-7724
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mountaineerstoragellc.com