The school would close in the mid-20th century, prompting residents to convert the building into a community center following the donation of the structure by the Union County Board of Education to the Plainview Community Club.

[6] In 1981, the nearby city of Luttrell would establish proposed plans to annex the Plainview community, prompting community members to form a activist group and file a lawsuit against Luttrell in the Union County Chancery Court.

[7] The city government has subsequently paved many local streets, installed street lighting, enacted zoning, provided a mass recycling location and developed a walking trail.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, Plainview has a total area of 6.4 square miles (17 km2), all land.

The Knox County line lies just to the south, and Luttrell borders the city to the northeast.

Tennessee State Routes 131 (Tazewell Pike) and 144 (Corryton Road) intersect in Plainview.

[9] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,060 people, 756 households, and 547 families residing in the city.

Plainview does not have its own post office or zip code, so locations in the city are divided between Corryton and Luttrell mailing addresses.