Editing Polk County, Tennessee (section)

==Economy==
For most of its history, the mines in the Copper Basin were the largest source of employment in Polk County.<ref>{{cite thesis|last=Brooks|first=Jeanne M.|date=April 17, 1990|title=Polk County: An Appalachian Perspective
|publisher=University of Tennessee Honors Thesis Projects|url=https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=utk_chanhonoproj|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> As the copper mining industry began to decline, tourism associated with the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers began to overtake the copper mines as the largest industry in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://questexpeditions.com/the-history-of-the-ocoee-river-blog/|title=Copper Mines to Whitewater Rafting: Some River History in Polk County Tennessee|date=June 19, 2015 |publisher=Quest Expeditions|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> The first rafting company on the Hiwassee was established in 1969.<ref name=blueway>{{cite web|url=https://www.hiwasseeblueway.com/2016/04/one-tamest-waterways-southeast-tennessee-beginners-experience-whitewater-fun/|title=One of the Tamest Waterways in Southeast Tennessee for Beginners to Experience Whitewater Fun|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=April 29, 2016|website=hiwasseeblueway.com|publisher=Hiwassee River Blueway|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> The shutdown of Ocoee Dam No. 2 to repair the flume line in September 1976 first made possible the rafting of the river's rapids, and several rafting companies were established during this time up until 1983, when the reconstruction was complete.<ref name=blueridge>{{cite web|url=https://theblueridgehighlander.com/history/tennessee_mountains/ocoee_river/index.php|title=The History of Ocoee River in Polk County Tennessee|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=<!--Needed-->|website=Blueridgehighlander.com|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> Before the reconstruction project was complete, a struggle ensued between TVA and the rafting companies over usage of the river, which culminated in a 1984 agreement with TVA to schedule periodic releases of water through the dam at certain times of the year to allow for whitewater rafting. This agreement, set to expire in 2019, was renewed in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ahillen|first=Steve|date=July 4, 2017|title=Ocoee celebrates new contract to keep whitewater flowing|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2017/07/04/ocoee-celebrates-new-contract-keep-whitewater-flowing/444297001/|work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> During the same time, commercial rafting of the Hiwassee also greatly increased. Today, tourism associated with rafting, kayaking, and canoeing the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers is the largest sector of Polk County's economy, drawing more than 250,000 people to the area annually.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 12, 2016|title=Ocoee River draws throngs of thrill-seeking rafters|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/environment/2016/11/12/ocoee-river-draws-throngs-thrill-seeking-rafters/90839398/|work=[[The Tennessean]]|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> The Ocoee River is now the most rafted river in the United States, with about 250,000 visitors annually,<ref>{{cite news|last=Coco|first=Claudia|date=June 6, 2019|title=Rafting on the Ocoee River brings millions in revenue for Polk County|url=https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/40606983/rafting-on-the-ocoee-river-brings-millions-in-revenue-for-polk-co|work=[[WRCB-TV]]|location=Chattanooga, Tennessee|access-date=June 29, 2020}}</ref> and more than 100,000 people raft the Hiwaseee River each year.<ref name=blueway/> Both rivers are ranked as two of the most visited tourist attractions in Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-ten-places-tennessee-100050.html|title=Top Ten Places to Go in Tennessee|first=Johnny |last=Kampis|work=USA Today |access-date=August 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812153205/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-ten-places-tennessee-100050.html|archive-date=August 12, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>