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Top of the World, Tennessee facts for kids

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Top of the World
Overlook from Foothills Parkway, July 2013
Overlook from Foothills Parkway, July 2013
Top of the World, Tennessee is located in Tennessee
Top of the World, Tennessee
Top of the World, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Blount
Founded 1965
Elevation
2,024 ft (617 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
37878
Area code(s) 865
GNIS feature ID 1272776

Top of the World is a small, quiet community in the countryside of Blount County, Tennessee. It is also known as Top O' the World or Top of The World Estates. This area is not a city or town with its own government. It is an unincorporated community, meaning it is part of the larger county.

History of Top of the World

Early History and Land Ownership

Long ago, the land where Top of the World now sits was home to the Cherokee people. In 1838, many Cherokee people were forced to move from their homes to Oklahoma. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears.

Later, in 1837, a large piece of land, about 5,000 acres, was given to a person named Daniel D. Foute. This land included the area that would become Top of the World.

Building the Community

In the early 1960s, a developer bought this land. Construction of the Top of the World Estates began in June 1965. Roy and Charles Headrick were the builders of this new community.

A big part of the community was Lake in the Sky. This was a large, artificial lake, about 52.5 acres in size. It was created in 1966 by building a dam. The lake was a central feature of the area for many years.

Geography and Nature

Location and Surroundings

Top of the World is located in an area called The Flats. This area is on a part of Chilhowee Mountain in East Tennessee. The land around the community is very rugged and has many hills and valleys.

The Foothills Parkway runs just to the northwest of Top of the World. This scenic road offers beautiful views. The edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is very close, just to the southeast.

Local Wildlife and Environment

The nearby national park has a natural forest. You can find many yellow pines and hardwood trees there. Park rangers use controlled burns to help prevent large, uncontrolled forest fires.

The area is also home to a healthy population of black bears. It is important for residents and visitors to be aware of the wildlife.

Getting Around

Top of the World is quite isolated. The Foothills Parkway is the main road that connects the community to other places. It is the only road that school buses can use. Other roads leading to Top of the World are often steep and winding.

Community Life

Local Organizations

Many residents in Top of the World are part of the Top of the World Landowners' Association (TOWLA). This group helps manage community matters.

Fire Protection

The Blount County Fire Protection District has a fire station, Station #8, located at 5714 Flats Road. This station is on the east side of the lake. The fire station officially started serving the community on March 23, 2012. This happened after TOWLA and the Blount County Fire Protection District signed an agreement.

Schools and Services

There is no school directly in Top of the World. Children living in the community take a bus along the Foothills Parkway to attend school in nearby Walland.

Also, there is no post office in Top of the World. The closest post office for mailing letters and packages is also in Walland.

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