[3] Hampton was established in the late 1860s by Elijah Simerly, a state legislator and president of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad.

Simerly built an elaborate, Italianate-style house which still stands at the corner of Main Street and 1st Avenue, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The trail traverses Dennis Cove and follows the upper Laurel Fork Valley before ascending to the crest of Pond Mountain.

Hampton's economy is mainly based on tourism from the Cherokee National Forest (In which it is located) and the Appalachian Trail.

On the southern outskirts of town, one will find Doe River Gorge, a Christian retreat and Summer camp featuring its own 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge[6][7] railroad laid on a segment of former East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad roadbed.