Lick Creek (Greene County)

Lick Creek is a stream in Greene County, Tennessee. It is the largest creek in the county. Beginning north of Greeneville, the creek runs through the northern and western sections of the county before spilling into the Nolichucky River near the Hamblen County line. The creek is often a source of flooding, and usually rises after rounds of heavy rain. The creek is also the site of Civil War-related history. During the East Tennessee bridge burnings, a series of guerrilla operations carried out during the war by Union sympathizers, a bridge over Lick Creek was burned.

According to Tennessee regulations, the use of Lick Creek is designated as a domestic water supply, industrial water supply, and supporting fish and aquatic life. While children once played in the water in the 1920s and 1930s as a source of recreation, Lick Creek is now deeply contaminated, due in large part to poor agricultural practices. A portion of Lick Creek can be used by hunters and is presently managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.