Brief Historical Sketch of Knoxville

The first survey of the site of this city was made in February, 1792.  Knoxville is, therefore, just one hundred years old this year.  The new town in the wilderness was given the name it bears in honor of General Henry Knox of revolutionary fame, and first U. S. Secretary of War.  Upon the establishment of the town it became the seat of government for the new " territory south of the Ohio," which Congress had established two years previously.  When Tennessee was admitted as the sixteenth member in the sisterhood of States, in 1796, Knoxville became its first capital and remained so until 1811.  The last session of the General Assembly of Tennessee was held here in 1817.  In its early days the town was the home of General John Sevier, the hero of King's Mountain, who, with his men turned the tide of battle in favor of the nearly despairing colonies; of General Andrew Jackson, who defeated the British at New Orleans and was, afterwards, President of the United States; of Davy Crockett, whose famous motto, "be sure you are right, then go ahead," has influenced the lives of millions, and of many other men of great strength of character, who have figured in National as well as local affairs.  The influence wielded by these es heroes and their associates has largely moulded the subsequent history and prosperity of the place.

From the very first the city acquired a certain prestige which has ever since remained hers alone.  From only a name in the wilderness, it became the objective point of interest far and wide.  To the pioneers it was the distributing point for all supplies, and this position it has maintained, increasing in power and wealth through subsequent generations.  It is today the recognized trade center for a territory reaching far into many of the Southern States.  It is the financial center for nearly all operations carried on in the Great Valley around it.  It is the educational and religious center for the whole of East Tennessee and for other parts of the State as well, and for the borders of the States around it.  From the establishment of Knoxville to the '50's, the growth was quite slow, but sure.  Up to this period, standing as the central point of an almost isolated country among the great mountains, its intercourse with the rest of the world was necessarily limited.  In 1856 the first railroad reached the town from Georgia, and in the following year connection through the same means was made with Virginia, on the Northeast.

Other railroads were projected about the same time, but the Civil War coming on in 1861 put an end to these projects for the time being.  During the war, especially in 1863, when possession of the town was contended for by the opposing armies of Generals Longstreet and Burnside, much of the town was destroyed by fire.  One of the hardest fought battles of short duration during the five years of civil strife was the battle of Fort Saunders, Sunday morning, November 29, 1863, in which nearly a thousand lives were lost.  This fort is now in the southwestern part of the city.

After the war had closed, Knoxville, like most Southern towns, for many years labored under the period of "Reconstruction."  During this time, however, she experienced a small but solid growth, many of the soldiers of both armies, charmed with the little town and its surroundings, having come and cast their lot here.

The Great Question of the Future

We have thus far seen, in a general way, how well suited is the city of Knoxville and the Great Valley of East Tennessee to satisfy the desire for a better land.  We have studied its remarkable geographical position; satisfied ourselves of the area and capabilities of supporting a dense population; we have noted the abundance and purity of its water supply, the power furnished by its streams for mill purposes, and as a means of transportation; we have touched upon the magnificent scenery of these hills and mountains and beautiful vales, and we have thoroughly analyzed the nature and healthiness of the climate.  In the next place we have discussed, in a limited way, its mineral resources of iron, coal, copper, lead, zinc and gold; we have spoken of its beautiful and imperishable marbles and building stones; of its great forests of hardwood timbers and of the productions of the soil.

We have next to speak of what has been done in Knoxville and what is being done now; to tell you or its people and whence they came; to show something of the advantages they enjoy, their social and moral standing, their avocations and wealth.

Before doing this, however, we wish to consider briefly, one question in which you are naturally interested, whether you be a capitalist looking for investment, or a homeseeker desiring to improve your condition, physically or financially.

Naturally, you ask:  What chances are there for me?

If you are a capitalist desiring to increase your wealth, we say no such field is open anywhere.  The resources of this section are unlimited; the country is practically a new one.  Through development, it is capable of producing stupendous results.  The field is wide, the resources varied, and the territory to be supplied immense.  The South is only beginning her growth in manufactures, and Knoxville, with the Valley around her, stands nearly in the center as a great store house of supplies.  In the resources at her command, no other part of the South, and only certain parts of the North and West, can ever become competitors.  The field is unique, and it matters little which line may engage one, for all are certain of success.  Blast furnaces, coke ovens, iron mills, wood-working mills of every kind, outfits and mining smelting furnaces, new railroads and steamboat lines, may all prove profitable investments.  Mineral and timberlands are cheap, and large returns may be realized through investments in these alone.

If you are a farmer, land suitable for your purposes may be purchased reasonable prices.  Land values have never reached a prohibitive limit here.  The average tax valuation in the Great Valley is less than seven dollars per acre, and this average includes all classes of acreage property.  Such land is sold at prices ranging from one dollar per acre and upwards, according to location and productiveness.  There are no public lands of any kind open for entry.  Fine lands, near the city, suitable for market gardening, may be had at prices at once reasonable and remunerative.  The value of town lots is low, but this will be spoken of more fully under the caption of City Real Estate.

If you are simply a home seeker desiring to pass your days in a more healthful and genial climate, no better place offers you than the City of Knoxville.  Here you are surrounded on all sides by the most magnificent scenery and are protected from the bitter cold winters of the North and the torrid summers of the South.  There is an abundance of food, the purest water, and the most exhilarating atmosphere.

If you are a young man on the eve of making a start for yourself in the world, we know of no section in the United States today that offers you such advantages.  The tide of immigration promises to be Southward in the future as it has been during the past decade, and wherever capital and population go the openings are plentiful and the chances good.  The nature of the country here is such that there is little or no danger of overcrowding.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, lead on to fortune."

Additional Proof of Growth

There is no more certain indication of a city's growth in population and business than that shown by the receipts at the Post Office.  The annual sale of stamps and stamped paper in Knoxville, since 1880, has been as follows:

These figures require no comment:

Cost of Buildings

A careful estimate of all the buildings erected in this city in the past ten years shows that there has been expended during this time, for buildings alone, nearly seven millions of dollars ($6,723,257).

Real Estate Transfers, building lots only, ending June 30th, each year:

The above figures are conclusive proof of Knoxville's growth and prosperity during the past ten years.  The present net worth of real estate in the city proper is at least thirty-five millions of dollars, while that of the city and suburbs together may be safely placed at fifty millions of dollars.

The text and HTML code of this page is copyright ©2003 to Billie R. McNamara.  All rights reserved.  Please direct all questions and comments to Ms. McNamara.  Background graphic image was borrowed from Fred Smoot. Used by permission.

This page was last updated December 11, 2003.
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