I'd Like to know more about Knoxville history

by Mac B
(Knoxville)

Knoxville history is actually pretty interesting stuff. There's a lot to cover...I'll just try to do justice to the basics.

Knoxville History: Our Founding

Knoxville was founded in 1786 and was named by William Blount after President George Washington's Secretary of War, Henry Knox. Since that time, Knoxville has played a very significant role in the history of our nation.

Knoxville History: Our Founding

When Tennessee joined the union, Knoxville was the first capital of the state from 1796 to 1815, when Nashville became the capital.

In the antebellum period, The Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church of Knoxville was a station on the Underground Railroad that led to freedom for countless African-Americans.

Knoxville History: The Civil War

During the Civil War, the Battle of Campbell's Station took place just outside Knoxville on November 16, 1863, when Confederate troops under General James Longstreet were not successful in their attack on Union forces led by General Ambrose Burnside.

Gen. Longstreet's two week long Siege of Knoxville began the next day and concluded in failure with the Battle of Fort Sanders, leading to Longstreet returning with his troops to General Robert E. Lee.

The Confederacy had never truly established control over most of East Tennessee unlike the rest of the state. The citizens of this part of the state were primarily pro-Union and Republican, thus were at odds with the rest of Tennesseeans, who had been in favor of secession from the United States.

Knoxville History: The Great Depression

During the Great Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority was founded in Knoxville in 1933 to create much needed jobs and attract industry. TVA has since become a source of inexpensive and plentiful electrical supply that attracts businesses of all varieties to the Knoxville area. The TVA Twin Towers were built in the 1970s as the city's first modern high rise buildings.

Knoxville History: World's Fair

In 1982 Knoxville hosted the World's Fair, which is still one of the most popular world's fairs ever held in the USA, with more than 11 million visitors. The soaring Sun Sphere, which was built for the World's Fair, still marks Knoxville's skyline.

Knoxville History: Women's Basketball

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened in Knoxville in 1999 to commemorate the amazing achievements of The University of Tennessee's Lady Volunteers.

The Lady Vols are universally regarded as being the most powerful women's basketball team in the country, and Head Coach Pat Summitt is the all-time number one coach in NCAA history with more than 900 victories.

Fun Fact

Knoxville is also famous for being the place where the Mountain Dew soft drink was first marketed in 1948, and interestingly it was originally intended to be a whiskey mixer!