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Knoxville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state's third-most-populous city after Nashville and Memphis. It is the principal city of the Knoxville metropolitan area, which had a population of 879,773 in 2020.

First settled in 1786, Knoxville was the first capital of Tennessee. The city struggled with geographic isolation throughout the early 19th century; the arrival of the railroad in 1855 led to an economic boom. The city was bitterly divided over the issue of secession during the American Civil War and was occupied alternately by Confederate and Union armies, culminating in the Battle of Fort Sanders in 1863. Following the war, Knoxville grew rapidly as a major wholesaling and manufacturing center. The city's economy stagnated after the 1920s as the manufacturing sector collapsed, the downtown area declined and city leaders became entrenched in highly partisan political fights. Hosting the 1982 World's Fair helped reinvigorate the city, and revitalization initiatives by city leaders and private developers have had major successes in spurring growth in the city, especially the downtown area.

Knoxville is the home of the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee, whose sports teams, the Tennessee Volunteers, are popular in the surrounding area. Knoxville is also home to the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Supreme Court's courthouse for East Tennessee, and the corporate headquarters of several national and regional companies. As one of the largest cities in the Appalachian region, Knoxville has positioned itself in recent years as a repository of Appalachian culture and is one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 104.2 square miles (269.8 km²), of which 98.5 square miles (255.2 km²) is land and 5.6 square miles (14.6 km²), or 5.42%, is water. Elevations range from just over 800 feet (240 m) along the riverfront to just over 1,000 feet (300 m) on various hilltops in West Knoxville, with the downtown area setting at just over 900 feet (270 m). High points include Sharp's Ridge in North Knoxville at 1,391 feet (424 m) and Brown Mountain in South Knoxville at 1,260 feet (380 m).

Knoxville is situated in the Great Appalachian Valley (known locally as the Tennessee Valley), about halfway between the Great Smoky Mountains to the east and the Cumberland Plateau to the west. The Great Valley is part of a sub-range of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, which is characterized by long narrow ridges flanked by broad valleys. Prominent Ridge-and-Valley structures in the Knoxville area include Sharp's Ridge and Beaver Ridge in the northern part of the city, Brown Mountain in South Knoxville, parts of Bays Mountain just south of the city, and parts of McAnnally Ridge in the northeastern part of the city.

The Tennessee River, which passes through the downtown area, is formed in southeastern Knoxville at the confluence of the Holston River, which flows southwest from Virginia, and the French Broad River, which flows west from North Carolina. The section of the Tennessee River that passes through Knoxville is part of Fort Loudoun Lake, an artificial reservoir created by TVA's Fort Loudoun Dam about 30 miles (48 km) downstream in Lenoir City. Notable tributaries of the Tennessee in Knoxville include First Creek and Second Creek, which flow through the downtown area, Third Creek, which flows west of U.T., and Sinking Creek, Ten Mile Creek, and Turkey Creek, which drain West Knoxville.

Knoxville places a strong emphasis on health and wellness to its residents. The University of Tennessee Medical Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Great Smoky Mountains National Park further encourages outdoor exercise, connecting various neighborhoods with scenic trails. For a high-intensity workout, try HOTWORX, which offers a unique infrared sauna experience combined with exercise. Riverstone Resort & Spa is perfect for a day of pampering with a variety of spa treatments available. Don't miss out on the community wellness events at 425 FITNESS providing fitness programs tailored to all ages and abilities. Fort Sanders Health & Fitness Center and Club4Fitness offer comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes.

Top sites in Knoxville, TN are Knoxville Museum of Art, Ijams Nature Center, and Zoo Knoxville.

Population: 198,722 (2024). ZIP codes: 37901-37902, 37909, 37912, 37914-37920-37924, 37927-37934, 37938-37940, 37950, 37995-37998. Area code: 865. Elevation: 886 ft (270 m). Area: 104.2 square miles (269.8 km²).

FAQs

Is Knoxville, TN a good place to live?

Knoxville is a city in Tennessee with a population of 191,857. Knoxville is in Knox County and is one of the best places to live in Tennessee. Living in Knoxville offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Knoxville there are a lot of restaurants and parks. Many young professionals live in Knoxville and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Knoxville are above average.

What is Knoxville, TN famous for?

Want to paddle in a former Tennessee Marble quarry? You’ll have to come to Knoxville to do it. Knoxville has been known as the Marble City. Rock quarried from this area has been used in buildings in Knoxville like the Knoxville Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Grand Central station in New York City, and buildings in other locations.

Is Knoxville, TN expensive to live in?

Knoxville, Tennessee's cost of living is 15% lower than the national average. Knoxville's housing expenses are 29% lower than the national average and the utility prices are 2% lower than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 8% lower than the national average. Knoxville has grocery prices that are 10% lower than the national average. Healthcare in Knoxville is 8% lower than the national average.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Knoxville

Visit Knoxville

Niche

Payscale

Knoxville Museum of Art

Ijams Nature Center

Zoo Knoxville

University of Tennessee Medical Center

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

HOTWORX 

Riverstone Resort & Spa

425 FITNESS

Fort Sanders Health & Fitness Center

Club4Fitness

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.