Unicoi is a town in Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,519 at the 2000 census and 3,632 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Erwin, Tennessee, Flag Pond, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the “Tri-Cities” region.

Unicoi was originally known as “Greasy Cove.” In 1851, the Swingle brothers opened a make known office in the community, and named it “Swingleville.” In 1876, Dr. F.H. Hannum obtained rule of the reveal office, and untouched its publicize to “Limonite.” When the railroads arrived in the valley in the late 1880s, the read out was tainted to “Unicoi City,” and later condensed to its current form. The town developed in the in the future 20th century as a shipping dwindling for Place mining and logging operations. In 1994, the municipal dispensation of Johnson City would purchase the Buffalo Valley Golf Course located in upper Unicoi County for $1.52 million. Residents of Unicoi speculated that the purchase was a sign of Johnson City seeking to start annexations into Unicoi. As a result, a community charity gathered to incorporate Unicoi into a town by public referendum vote the similar to year to prevent potential annexation.

Unicoi is located at 36°13′12″N 82°20′17″W / 36.22000°N 82.33806°W / 36.22000; -82.33806 (36.220028, -82.338138). The town is situated in the North Indian Creek Valley (known locally as “The Valley Beautiful”), at a lessening where North Indian Creek emerges from the mountains to the southeast and bends to the southwest toward Erwin and its eventual confluence bearing in mind the Nolichucky River. The northern portions of Unicoi are located in the headwaters of Buffalo Creek, which flows northeastward (in the opposite supervision from North Indian Creek) and eventually empties into the Watauga River.

Unicoi is amongst the Cherokee National Forest. Buffalo Mountain rises prominently to the west of Unicoi, and a series of rugged hills and ridges that comprise the outer Unaka Mountains rise to the east. Erwin, the county seat, is located further down the valley to the southwest. Johnson City is located opposite Buffalo Mountain to the north.