to
Update
is an unincorporated community in Morgan and Scott counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Founded in 1880 by English author Thomas Hughes, Rugby was built as an experimental utopian colony. While Hughes' experiment largely failed, a small community lingered at Rugby throughout the 20th century. In the 1960s, the residents of Rugby began restoring the original design and layout of the community, preserving surviving structures and reconstructing others. Rugby's architecture and picturesque setting have made it a popular tourist attraction. In 1972, Rugby's historic area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
Rugby is located atop the Cumberland Plateau near the junction of Morgan, Scott, and Fentress Counties. While it straddles the two former counties, the majority of it lies in Morgan County. The Clear Fork River, which passes just north of Rugby, joins with New River to form the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River a few miles northeast of the community.
State Route 52 passes through the town, connecting it with Jamestown to the west and U.S. Route 27 and the community of Elgin to the east. The area is relatively remote, with the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area dominating the area to the north, and sparsely-populated rolling hills stretching for miles to the south. Most of the historic district is located on or just off TN-52. A more modern residential area is located in the Beacon Hill section on the North side of the community.