Lonsdale, Knoxville, Tennessee facts for kids
<mapframe latitude="35.9847" longitude="-83.9570" zoom="15" width="400" height="300" align="right" /> Lonsdale is a lively neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It's located northwest of the city's downtown area. Lonsdale started in the late 1800s as a plan to build homes. It became its own city in 1907. Later, in 1917, it joined Knoxville. After some tough times in the late 1900s, Lonsdale has been working hard to become a great place to live again.
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Exploring the Lonsdale Neighborhood
Lonsdale is designed with a clear grid of streets and sidewalks. At its heart are Lonsdale Elementary School and Lonsdale Park. This neighborhood is one of the most diverse places in Knoxville. People here speak more than 10 different languages!
Lonsdale Park: A Community Hub
Lonsdale Park is right in the middle of the neighborhood. It shares a block with the elementary school. Streets like Louisiana Avenue and Connecticut Avenue surround this central area. Third Creek flows through the park. While it used to have water all year, now it usually only flows when it rains. The park has two play areas for kids and a walking path. There are also two basketball courts and a large covered area with picnic tables and grills. Big grassy spots are perfect for soccer games and other fun activities!
Growing Food in Lonsdale: Urban Farming
Lonsdale is known for having many urban farms and gardens in Knoxville. Many people who live here come from farming backgrounds. So, it's common to see front yards filled with plants like corn and beans. The neighborhood also has several community gardens where people can grow food together.
Lonsdale International Food and Crafts Market
From April to October, on the second Saturday of each month, Lonsdale Park hosts a special market. It's called the Lonsdale International Food and Crafts Market. You can find it under the pavilion in the park. Neighbors come together to share their cultures by selling delicious food and unique crafts. You can find items from many different cultures, including Guatemala, Iraq, Honduras, and Mexico. It's a great way to experience the world right in Lonsdale!
Lonsdale's Past: A Look at Its History
In the late 1800s, the land that is now Lonsdale was a large farm. It belonged to a businessman named William Ragsdale. He saw how well the nearby Knoxville Iron Company was doing with its housing. So, Ragsdale decided to create a similar project on his land.
In 1890, he gathered many investors and started the Lonsdale Land Development Company. The name "Lonsdale" comes from his mother's maiden name, Lonas, and the "dale" from his father's last name, Ragsdale. In May of that same year, Ragsdale also started the Lonsdale Mill Company. This company made flour and provided jobs for the new community. They built a four-story mill that could produce 200 barrels of flour every day. They sold their flour under the names "White Rose" and "Sunrise."
Early Lonsdale grew much like other neighborhoods from that time. Many beautiful Queen Anne-style houses from this period are still standing in Lonsdale today. The streets in the new neighborhood were named after famous Civil War generals and Union states. In 1892, the Lonsdale-Beaumont Water Company secured water rights. This helped bring more businesses to the area. These new businesses, along with existing ones like Brookside Mills, offered steady jobs for the people living in Lonsdale.
After World War II, many long-time residents moved away. This led to many houses being owned by people who didn't live there. As a result, some of the neighborhood's homes started to get run down.
Bringing Lonsdale Back: Revitalization Efforts
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lonsdale faced challenges like rising crime and urban decay. However, in the 1990s and 2000s, several groups worked together to help the neighborhood. These groups included Lonsdale United for Change and the Knoxville Community Development Corporation.
Their efforts focused on improving the area. They worked to remove or fix damaged properties. They also restored public parks and completely updated Lonsdale Homes. This was a large housing complex built in 1952. Recently, new companies have opened businesses in the area. One example is SYSCO Food Services, which has a very large distribution center here.
Thrive Lonsdale: Supporting Youth
Thrive Lonsdale is a program that helps young people in the neighborhood. It offers after-school activities and mentoring. It is located at 1317 Connecticut Avenue. This non-profit organization serves over 130 young people from Lonsdale every day.
We Love Lonsdale: Community Togetherness
"We Love Lonsdale" is an effort started by Thrive Lonsdale. Its goal is to bring together everyone who cares about Lonsdale. This includes people, businesses, churches, and other groups. They all want to see the neighborhood succeed and grow.
Fellowship Church's "Camp Reach"
Every year, for one week in June and one week in July, Fellowship Church hosts a special summer camp. It's called "Camp Reach." Volunteers from the church travel to Lonsdale on buses each day. They pick up young people from Lonsdale to bring them to the day camp.
