Knoxville's History... Knoxville is located near the center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee. Its location, in the heart of the valley and at the headwaters of the Tennessee River, make the city a center for the region's economy, culture, and history. Before European settlement, the valley was the hunting grounds of the Cherokee Indians. James White, the founder of Knoxville, established his home here in 1786 as a fort and cluster of cabins. By 1791, the community was renamed Knoxville and enjoyed status as capital of the Southwest Territory. By 1794, the town was home to Blount College, known today as the University of Tennessee. In the 1800s, Knoxville took advantage of its river access, railroad connections, and geographical location to become one of the leading distributing centers in the south. These same assets would make Knoxville a prize to be fought for during the American Civil War. Like the rest of the state, Knoxville was divided between the blue and the gray. After the war, Knoxville rebuilt its economy through commerce, industry, and natural resources that included lumber, coal, and marble. Those natural resources and river-generated power helped establish Knoxville as an important "New Deal" city in the early 20th century, as a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and as headquarters to the Tennessee Valley Authority. In 1982, Knoxville was host to a World's Fair and 11 million visitors. The theme, "Energy Turns the World," reflects the city's prominent role in technology. The Sunsphere, a 266-foot steel truss structure topped with a gold-colored glass sphere, was built for the fair and remains one of Knoxville's most prominent buildings, along with the adjacent amphitheater. Knoxville's Present... Knoxville is home to the Tennessee’s largest university, pioneers in industry, leaders in the arts, and traditionalists working to preserve our heritage. Knoxville's culture and history can be explored and discovered in its downtown revitalization, twenty museums, numerous performing arts venues, and its historic neighborhoods. Ever since the World's Fair, Knoxville's downtown has been developing, with the opening of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Knoxville Convention Center, redevelopment of Market Square, a new visitors center, a regional history museum, a Regal Cinemas theater, several restaurants and bars, and many new and redeveloped condominiums. Knoxville's contributions to old-time, bluegrass and country music are numerous. For the past several years an award-winning listener-funded radio station, WDVX, has broadcast weekday lunchtime concerts of bluegrass music, old-time music and more from the Knoxville Visitor's Center on Gay Street, as well as streaming its music programming to the world over the internet. Knoxville is home to a rich arts community. The city hosts numerous art festivals, including the 17-day Dogwood Arts Festival in April, which features art shows, crafts fairs, food and live music. "Sundown in the City" showcases national and local artists in an outdoor summer concert series at historic Market Square, which has been revitalized with specialty shops and residences. There is also a monthly "First Friday" event, where galleries and shops stay open late to showcase new art. Knoxville has many organizations and neighboorhood associations dedicated to historic preservation. Some of the city's historic neighboorhoods are Historic Fort Sanders, Fourth and Gill, Old North Knoxville, Parkridge, North Hills, Island Home Park, among others. The city has a mild climate and four distinct seasons. From spring dogwood blooms to the brilliant colors of fall, residents and visitors enjoy the outdoors. Knoxville is close to six national parks, including the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It also has many parks and gardens within the city.
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