Maryville, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maryville
City
Skyline with Greenbelt Park below
Flag Logo
Motto(s):  "People are the Key"
Location of Maryville in Blount County, Tennessee.
U.S. Census map
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Blount
Settled	1785
Incorporated	1795
Named for	Mary Grainger Blount
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	17.27 sq mi (44.72 km2)
• Land	17.27 sq mi (44.72 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	981 ft (299 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	31,907
• Density	1,847.86/sq mi (713.48/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	37801-37804
Area code(s)	865
FIPS code	47-46380
GNIS feature ID	2405036

Maryville is a city in Tennessee, located in Blount County. It's also the main town, or county seat, of Blount County. In 2020, about 31,907 people lived there.

History of Maryville

The area around Maryville was once used by Native Americans. An old trail, called the Great Indian Warpath, passed through here. This trail was later used to build US-411. A Cherokee village named "Elajay" was located where Ellejoy Creek meets the Little River. This spot is now near Heritage High School.

Monument marking the spring that once supplied water to Fort Craig

In 1785, a veteran from the American Revolutionary War, John Craig, built a wooden fence around cabins. This place was known as Fort Craig. These forts were built to protect settlers from attacks by the Cherokee. For example, in 1793, many people gathered at Fort Craig when they thought attacks were coming.

John Craig gave 50 acres of land next to his fort to start a new town. On July 11, 1795, the settlement officially became a city. It was named Maryville to honor Mary Grainger Blount, who was the wife of the area's governor, William Blount. Blount County was named after him.

Sam Houston's Time in Maryville

The family of Sam Houston moved to Maryville from Virginia in 1808, when he was 15 years old. His older brothers made him work in their store in town. But Sam ran away and lived with the Cherokee people for a few years. He learned their language and appreciated their culture.

Sam Houston Schoolhouse in Maryville

Around 1811, Sam Houston returned to Maryville and started a small, one-room schoolhouse. He joined the army during the War of 1812 and quickly rose in rank. This was the start of his military and political career. The old schoolhouse can still be seen today near Wildwood.

Maryville and the Civil War

Maryville was a center for people who wanted to end slavery, known as abolitionists, in the early 1800s. Many of these people were part of the Society of Friends. When Tennessee voted on whether to leave the Union in 1861, most people in Blount County voted to stay.

During the American Civil War, Maryville supported the Union. In August 1864, Confederate soldiers attacked the courthouse where Union troops were hiding. To try and force the Union soldiers out, the Confederates set fire to several buildings. Polly Tool, an African-American slave, bravely saved most of the city's important records. She was later honored with a statue. After the war, Maryville became a place where people worked to rebuild the South. The city even elected William Bennett Scott Sr., one of the country's first African-American mayors, in 1869.

Modern Maryville

In the 1970s, Maryville tried to improve its downtown area. They spent a lot of money to change traffic routes and clear old buildings. They also created the Bicentennial Greenbelt Park. However, many stores had already moved to new shopping centers. The downtown area struggled until the 2000s, when the city started to reverse some of those changes.

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander was born in Maryville in 1940. He served as Governor of Tennessee and as Secretary of Education. He also ran for president.

In 2015, a train carrying dangerous materials derailed in Maryville. More than 5,000 people had to leave their homes for a short time.

Geography and Climate

Maryville is located in the middle of Blount County, at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains. Chilhowee Mountain, a part of the Smokies, can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Maryville is next to its twin city, Alcoa, to the north. There are also smaller towns like Wildwood and Ellejoy nearby.

The city covers about 43.5 square kilometers (17.27 square miles) of land.

Main Roads

• Broadway: This is the main street downtown. It's part of U.S. Route 411 and U.S. Route 129.
• Lamar Alexander Parkway: This road is part of U.S. Route 321. It connects Maryville to Lenoir City and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Maryville-Alcoa Bypass: This road is part of U.S. Route 129 and is a main route between Maryville and Knoxville.

Parks in Maryville

Bicentennial Greenbelt Park

Maryville has several parks for outdoor fun:

• Maryville Alcoa Greenway
• Bicentennial Greenbelt Park
• Amerine Park
• Everett Park
• John Sevier Park
• Pearson Springs Park
• Sandy Springs Park
• Jarvis Park

Sandy Springs Park

Climate

Maryville has pleasant weather for most of the year. In July, temperatures usually range from 69 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit. In January, temperatures are typically between 29 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

Population Information

Maryville has grown steadily over the years. Here's how its population has changed:

2020 Census Data

The 2020 census showed that 31,907 people lived in Maryville. There were 10,719 households and 7,132 families.

2010 Census Data

In 2010, Maryville had 27,465 people. About 92% of the population was White, 3.2% Black, and 1.55% Asian. About 3.2% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.

The average household had about 2.41 people. About 24.2% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 39.1 years.

Economy

Maryville has many different businesses that provide jobs for its residents.

Top Employers in Maryville

Here are some of the biggest employers in the Maryville area, based on a 2020 report:

Education

Maryville has a good education system, with public and private schools, and colleges.

Public Schools

Maryville City Schools runs the public schools in the city:

• Coulter Grove Intermediate School
• Foothills Elementary School
• John Sevier Elementary School
• Maryville High School
• Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School
• Maryville Junior High School (formerly Maryville Middle School)
• Sam Houston Elementary School

Private Schools

• Maryville Christian School
• Apostolic Christian Academy
• Clayton Bradley Academy

Maryville College

Maryville is home to Maryville College, a private four-year college. It was started in 1819 by Isaac L. Anderson, a Presbyterian minister. He wanted to help people learn and do good things. It is one of the oldest colleges in the United States. About 1,103 students attend Maryville College. Their sports teams are called the Scots and they compete in NCAA Division III athletics.

Other Colleges

• A branch campus of Pellissippi State Community College is also in Maryville.

Weekend Programs

The East Tennessee Japanese School, a weekend program for Japanese education, holds its classes at Maryville College.

Notable People from Maryville

Many interesting people have come from Maryville:

• Charles McCallon Alexander, a gospel singer from the 1800s.
• Lamar Alexander, a former U.S. senator for Tennessee, governor, and Secretary of Education.
• Isaac L. Anderson, who founded Maryville College.
• Candace Barley, a young rugby player who played for the U.S. national team.
• Randall Cobb, an NFL football player.
• Phillip Fulmer, a former football coach for the Tennessee Volunteers football team.
• Jack Greene, a country music singer.
• Sam Houston, a famous figure in Texas history and former governor of Tennessee and Texas.
• Melanie Hutsell, a television and movie actress.
• Doc Severinsen, a famous trumpet player.

See also

In Spanish: Maryville (Tennessee) para niños