Last updated: April 18, 2026
- Type: Town
- Incorporated: 1976
- 2020 population: ~1,350
- Named for: Foster Powell, WWI veteran
Powells Crossroads sits on the eastern side of Marion County along Suck Creek Road (TN-27), the winding route that climbs from Chattanooga up over Walden's Ridge into the Sequatchie Valley. It is the valley's southeastern gateway.
Ancient corridor
The route that becomes Suck Creek Road has been used for centuries. It was traversed during the Cherokee Removal of the 1830s and during the Civil War by both Union and Confederate forces, and earlier still by native peoples moving between the river and the plateau.
Foster Powell and the crossroads (post-WWI)
After World War I, veteran Foster Powell built a small store, garage, and workshop cluster at a prominent crossroads in the area. The cluster grew into a small community, and the surrounding rural district took on his name.
Incorporation (1976)
The town was formally incorporated in 1976, making it one of the younger municipalities in the county.
The Starman connection (1984)
Parts of the 1984 science-fiction film Starman (directed by John Carpenter, starring Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen) were filmed in the Powells Crossroads area. The film's "Crater Lake", the body of water near which Karen Allen's character lives, is a real lake in nearby Prentice Cooper State Forest.
Landmarks
- Suck Creek Road / TN-27 corridor
- Prentice Cooper State Forest (bordering the town)
- Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway gateway