Knoxville Tennessee History

The Indians who inhabited the area before the arrival of European settlers, believed the land was sacred and that the broad wings of a great eagle created the valleys and mountains known today as the Appalachians. In the late 18th Century, General James White established his fort which he later renamed Knoxville in honor of George Washington’s Secretary of War, Henry Knox. Blount Mansion was built in 1792 for the new governor of the territory south of the Ohio River. In 1796, the territory became the state of Tennessee and Knoxville became its capital until 1812. During the Civil War, Knoxville was strategically located for Union and Confederate forces and the victory at the battle at Fort Sanders in 1863 was important for the north. In the 1930s, the Tennessee Valley Authority was formed to transform the entire valley with flood control and power-generating dams on the Tennessee River and creating low cost electricity. This brought an influx of new residents and economic opportunities to Knoxville. World War II brought the “Manhattan Project” to Knoxville, a highly secret nuclear power program. The area grew with the arrival of major air transportation and highways. The 1982 World’s Fair brought 22 countries, 90 corporations, and millions of visitors. It claims a “small town” charm with a big city capacity.