Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knoxville_TN_skyline.jpg
Author: Nf utvol


Knoxville is the third biggest city in Tennessee. It covers 98.09 sq mi (254 sq km) and has a population of 179,000 (2011 estimate) and a metropolitan population of 655,000. Knoxville is the county seat of Knox County. It is also the second biggest city in the Appalachia region after Pittsburgh, and the second oldest city in Tennessee after Nashville.

The Knoxville area were originally inhabited by the Cherokee tribe of Native Americans. The earliest Europeans to arrive there were traders and explorers - there is however persuasive evidence that Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto passing through the area in 1540. The first recorded presence of European was that of the expedition led by Henry Timberlake in 1761.

St John's Cathedral, Knoxville
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St-johns-cathedral-knoxville-tn1.jpg
Author: Brian Stansberry


The first settlement of Knoxville was established by Revolutionary War officer James White in 1786. It was a fortification called White's Fort located at the mouth of First Creek. The town of Knoxville was incorporated in 1791. When Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796, Knoxville served as an early capital until 1817, when the state capital was relocated to Murfreesboro.

By the 20th century, Knoxville has built an economy based on marble quarrying and textile. With some 20 textile factories in its vicinity, it earned the title of "Underwear Capital of the World". The textile industry began to decline under fierce international competition, and the city now diversity into other industries.

Old City, Knoxville
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knoxville-old-city-s-central-tn1.jpg
Author: Brian Stansberry

Visiting Knoxville, Tennessee

Interstate 40 and 75 are the two main highways connecting Knoxville with the rest of the country. I-40 runs east-west, connecting it with Nashville to the west and Greensboro to the east. The I-75 runs north-south connecting it with Lexington and Cincinnati to the north and Atlanta to the south.

Places of Interest in Knoxville, Tennessee

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