Powell, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Powell
formerly Powell Station
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The railroad tracks running through the heart of Downtown Powell.
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 Powell
Location in Tennessee
Powell
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Knox |
| Settled | 1792 |
| Named for | Columbus Powell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.54 sq mi (22.12 km2) |
| • Land | 8.54 sq mi (22.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,060 ft (320 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,802 |
| • Density | 1,615.97/sq mi (623.94/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
37849
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| Area code(s) | 865 |
| FIPS code | 47-60480 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2804641 |
Powell, once called Powell Station, is a community in Knox County, Tennessee. It's a special kind of place called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a recognized community but doesn't have its own city government.
Powell is located along Emory Road (State Route 131). You can find it just north of Knoxville. It's also southeast of Clinton and east of Oak Ridge. In 2020, about 13,802 people lived there. It's part of the larger Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Powell
Even though Powell isn't an official city, it feels like its own small town. This is partly because it was settled way back in 1789. That's two years before Knoxville was even founded! Early settlers were traveling through East Tennessee to new lands.
One famous early settler was Stockley Donelson. He was the brother-in-law of President Andrew Jackson. Donelson's old home, now called the Alexander Bishop House, is still standing today. Another settler, John Manifee, built a small fort and trading post in the late 1780s.
The community got its name from the Powell Station train stop. This train stop was named after a local important person, Columbus Powell. The old train station is still in the "downtown" area, but trains don't stop there anymore.
In the early 1900s, the railroad was very important for Powell's economy. Bricks were made from the mud of Beaver Creek. These bricks were then loaded onto trains and sent to many different places. The train tracks were originally part of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway. Today, they are part of the Norfolk Southern line.
For many years, from 1951 to 2012, Powell had a small airport called the Powell STOLport. It was next to the I-75 highway and Emory Road. After the city of Knoxville took over the airport land in 2013, plans were made for a new shopping center. This center now has a supermarket, a movie theater, and other stores.
Geography of Powell
Powell is located in the Beaver Creek Valley. This valley sits between two narrow ridges called Copper Ridge and Beaver Ridge. These ridges are common in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians area.
Powell is found along Emory Road (SR 131). It's about halfway between Halls and Karns. The community stretches from Interstate 75 on the east to Clinton Highway (U.S. Route 25W) on the west. Knoxville is just southeast of Powell, on the other side of Beaver Ridge.
Population of Powell
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 13,802 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, Powell had a population of 13,802 people.
Economy of Powell
Powell is home to several important businesses.
- The Weigel's chain of convenience stores started in Powell. Their main office is still located here.
- The biggest employer in Powell is DeRoyal Industries. This company makes and sells medical products.
- Powell used to have a Levi's jeans factory. It closed in 2002. The land where the factory was is now home to Crown College.
Infrastructure in Powell
The Hallsdale-Powell Utility District provides wastewater services to Powell. The Knoxville Utilities Board supplies municipal water and electricity.
Education in Powell
Students in Powell attend schools run by Knox County Schools.
- Powell High School
- Powell Middle School
- Powell Elementary School
- Brickey-McCloud Elementary School
- Copper Ridge Elementary School
There are also religious schools in the community:
- First Baptist Academy
- Crown College
- Temple Baptist Academy
Powell is well-known in Knox County for its strong support of Powell High School sports. The Powell High School Panthers football team even built a new stadium in 2009. The team is sponsored by Nike and was the Tennessee State Runners-Up in 1991 and 2011.
Religion in Powell
Several churches serve the Powell community.
- Temple Baptist Church is located on Beaver Creek Drive.
- First Baptist Church is on Ewing Road.
- Other smaller churches include One Life-North, Powell Presbyterian, and Bells Campground Baptist.
Notable People from Powell
Many interesting people have connections to Powell:
- John Bruhin, a former football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Archie Campbell, a comedian famous from the show Hee Haw. He is buried near Powell.
- John Cooper, a college football analyst for ESPN. He is also in the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Walter Nolen, a football player.
- Lee Smith, an NFL tight end.
Powell in Literature
The main story of James Agee's book, A Death in the Family, takes place in Powell. This book won a Pulitzer Prize.
