Timeline of Knoxville, Tennessee facts for kids

This is a timeline showing the important events in the history of Knoxville, a city in Tennessee, USA. A timeline helps us see how a place has changed over many years, from its early beginnings to today.

Knoxville's Early Days: Before the 1800s

• 1786: White's Fort, an early settlement, was built.
• 1791:
  • Knoxville was founded! It became the capital of the Southwest Territory and was named after Henry Knox.
  • The Knoxville Gazette newspaper started being published.
• 1792: Blount Mansion, an important historic house, was built.
• 1793: The First Presbyterian Church was established.
• 1794: Blount College was founded. This college later became the University of Tennessee.
• 1796: Knoxville became the capital of the new U.S. state of Tennessee.

Knoxville in the 1800s

• 1806: Hampden and Sydney School was officially started.
• 1815: The city of Knoxville was officially made a city (incorporated).
• 1816: Thomas Emmerson became the mayor of Knoxville.
• 1817: The Knoxville Hotel opened for business.
• 1818: The Craighead-Jackson House, a home, was built.
• 1827: The Knoxville Female Academy was established for girls' education.
• 1828: The Atlas was the first steamboat to reach Knoxville. This was a big deal for travel and trade!
• 1834: The East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society was founded to study the area's history.
• 1844: The Tennessee Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb was established to help deaf and mute people.
• 1845: The Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church started its congregation.
• 1849: The Brownlow's Whig newspaper moved its operations to Knoxville.
• 1850:
  • Old Gray Cemetery was established.
  • The city's population was 2,076 people.
  • The First Baptist Church building was constructed.
• 1854:
  • James C. Luttrell became mayor.
  • Market Square was established. This became a central gathering place.
• 1855:
  • The East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad began operating, improving transportation.
  • William Graham Swan became mayor.
• 1863:
  • The Siege of Knoxville took place during the American Civil War.
  • The Battle of Fort Sanders was fought.
  • The Knoxville National Cemetery was established.
• 1864: E.J. Sanford and Company started its business.
• 1868: City Hall was built on Market Square.
• 1869: The Knoxville Industrial Association was founded to help local businesses.
• 1870:
  • The Ebenezer Mill was built around this time.
  • The population grew to 8,682 people.
• 1871: The Cowan, McClung and Co. building was constructed.
• 1872: Staub's Theatre opened, offering entertainment.
• 1873: William Rule became mayor.
• 1874:
  • The Customs House was built.
  • Peter Staub became mayor again.
• 1875: Knoxville College was founded.
• 1885:
  • The Knoxville Fire Department and Lawson McGhee Library were established.
  • The Knox County Courthouse was built.
• 1886: The Sentinel newspaper, which later became the Knoxville News Sentinel, started publishing.
• 1887:
  • The Knoxville Negro World newspaper began publication.
  • The Chamber of Commerce was established to support local businesses.
• 1888:
  • Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company started its business.
  • Martin Condon became mayor.
• 1890:
  • Peter Kern became mayor.
  • The population reached 22,535 people.
  • Electric streetcars began operating, making it easier to get around.
• 1891: H. T. Hackney Company started its business.
• 1892: St. John's Cathedral was rebuilt.
• 1896: The Flag of Knoxville, Tennessee was designed.
• 1897:
  • A "Million Dollar Fire" destroyed part of Gay Street.
  • The Market House on Market Square was rebuilt.
  • North Knoxville (now Old North Knoxville) became part of the city.
• 1898:
  • West Knoxville (now Fort Sanders) became part of the city.
  • The Gay Street Bridge was built.

Knoxville in the 1900s

Map of Street Railway Lines of the Knoxville Railway and Light Company around 1912

• 1905:
  • The Knoxville Railway and Light Company was established.
  • The L&N Station (Knoxville) was built.
• 1909: The Knoxville City Beautiful League was organized to make the city prettier.
• 1910:
  • The first Appalachian Exposition was held, showcasing the region.
  • The population reached 36,346 people.
• 1911: The second Appalachian Exposition was held.
• 1912: The city changed its government system from a mayor-alderman form to a commission.
• 1913: The National Conservation Exposition was held, focusing on protecting nature.
• 1914: Candoro Marble Works began operating.
• 1917:
  • Park City became part of Knoxville.
  • South Knoxville also became part of the city.
• 1919:
  • The Riot of 1919 took place.
  • A streetcar strike happened in October.
• 1920: The population grew to 77,818 people.
• 1921: WNAV radio (now WCYQ) began broadcasting.
• 1923: The city changed its government again, this time to a city manager-council system. Louis Brownlow was hired as the first city manager.
• 1925: The city government moved to City Hall on Summit Hill Drive.
• 1926: The Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper was in publication.
• 1927:
  • WROL radio began broadcasting.
  • The Daylight Building was constructed.
• 1928:
  • The Tennessee Theatre opened, a beautiful place for shows and movies.
  • James Alexander Fowler became mayor.
• 1930:
  • The Andrew Johnson Building was constructed.
  • The population reached 105,802 people.
• 1931: The Henley Street Bridge was built.
• 1932: The Church Street Methodist Episcopal Church was built.
• 1933: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a major government agency, set up its main office in Knoxville.
• 1934: The United States Post Office and Courthouse was built.
• 1938: The Park Theatre opened.
• 1940: The population was 111,580 people.
• 1942: The town of Oak Ridge was developed near Knoxville.
• 1943: Oak Ridge National Laboratory was established near Knoxville.
• 1946:
  • Cas Walker became mayor.
  • A journalist named John Gunther called Knoxville the "ugliest city" in America. This led to efforts to make the city more beautiful.
• 1947: The jobs of City Manager and Mayor were combined.
• 1950: The population was 124,769 people.
• 1951: The Municipal Zoo was established.
• 1952: George Roby Dempster became mayor.
• 1953: WATE-TV and WTVK (television) began broadcasting.
• 1956: WBIR-TV (television) began broadcasting.
• 1959: John Duncan, Sr. became mayor.
• 1960:
  • African Americans held protests during the Civil Rights Movement.
  • The population was 111,827 people.
• 1962:
  • Fountain City and Bearden became part of the city.
  • The Highlander Research and Education Center moved to Knoxville.
• 1970: The population was 174,587 people.
• 1972: Kyle Testerman became mayor.
• 1974: A "streaking" event occurred.
• 1976: Randy Tyree became mayor.
• 1980: The population was 175,045 people.
• 1981: The Knoxville Community Food Cooperative was organized.
• 1982: The 1982 World's Fair was held in Knoxville, bringing many visitors. The Sunsphere was built for the fair.
• 1983:
  • The Knoxville Opera Company was active.
  • Halls Cinema opened for movies.
• 1984: Doyle Park was established.
• 1985: The Riverview Tower building was constructed.
• 1987: Victor Ashe became mayor.
• 1988:
  • WCKS radio (now WNOX) began broadcasting.
  • Jimmy Duncan Jr. became the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 2nd congressional district.
• 1990: The population was 165,121 people.
• 1991: The city celebrated its 200th birthday (bicentennial).
• 1992: The Petro's Chili & Chips franchise set up its main office in Knoxville.
• 1994: Home & Garden Television (HGTV) set up its main office in Knoxville.
• 1995: The city's website went online.
• 1996:
  • The Knoxville-Oak Ridge Regional Network went online.
  • Adair Park was built.
• 1998: The Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership was organized.

Knoxville in the 2000s

• 2003: Bill Haslam became mayor.
• 2005:
  • The Knoxville Marathon began.
  • The Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound and Three Rivers Market food co-op were established.
• 2010: The population was 178,874 people.
• 2011: Daniel Brown became mayor, and then Madeline Rogero became mayor.
• 2019: Indya Kincannon became mayor.
• 2020: The population reached 190,740 people.