East Knoxville
Encyclopedia
East Knoxville is the section of Knoxville, Tennessee
, USA, that lies east of the city's downtown area
. It is concentrated along Magnolia Avenue (US-70
/US-11
), Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard, Dandridge Avenue, and adjacent streets, and includes the neighborhoods of Parkridge
, Chilhowee Park
, Morningside, Five Points, and Burlington. East Knoxville is home to the Knoxville Zoo
, the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, and Chilhowee Park
.
"East Knoxville" traditionally refers to the part of Knoxville east of First Creek (this creek is roughly paralleled by the eastern portion of the Downtown Loop, namely Neyland Drive and James White Parkway). A portion of this area was incorporated as the City of East Knoxville in 1855, though it was annexed by Knoxville in 1868. The advent of streetcars and the development of what is now Chilhowee Park led to the establishment of residential areas in East Knoxville in the late 19th century. Two such residential areas, Park City (Parkridge and surrounding neighborhoods) and Mountain View (Morningside), were incorporated as separate cities in 1907, and annexed by Knoxville in 1917.
Urban renewal projects in Downtown Knoxville in the 1950s and 1960s displaced numerous African American residents, many of whom relocated to East Knoxville. Most East Knoxville neighborhoods remain mixed neighborhoods. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center, one of the primary repositories of black history and culture in East Tennessee, is located on Dandridge Avenue in East Knoxville.
Recent initiatives to revitalize East Knoxville have focused on improving Magnolia Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard, preserving historical buildings, eliminating blight, filling or demolishing vacant buildings, and improving sidewalks.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, USA, that lies east of the city's downtown area
Downtown Knoxville
Downtown Knoxville is the downtown area of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It contains the city's central business district and primary city and county municipal offices. It is also home to several retail establishments, residential buildings, and the city's convention center...
. It is concentrated along Magnolia Avenue (US-70
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
/US-11
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 is a north–south United States highway extending 1,645 miles across the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 90 in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at the United...
), Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard, Dandridge Avenue, and adjacent streets, and includes the neighborhoods of Parkridge
Parkridge (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Parkridge is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue east of the city's downtown area. Developed as a streetcar suburb for Knoxville's professional class in the 1890s, the neighborhood was incorporated as the separate city of Park City in 1907, and annexed by...
, Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park (neighborhood)
Chilhowee Park is a residential neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in the East Knoxville area. Developed as a streetcar suburb in the 1890s, this neighborhood was initially part of Park City, which was incorporated as a separate city in 1907, and annexed by...
, Morningside, Five Points, and Burlington. East Knoxville is home to the Knoxville Zoo
Knoxville Zoo
Knoxville Zoo is a zoo located just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee near exit 392 of Interstate 40. The zoo is home to about 800 animals and welcomes over 400,000 human visitors each year....
, the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, and Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park is a public park, fairgrounds and exhibition venue in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville. Developed in the late 19th century, the park is now home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, and hosts several dozen expositions annually...
.
"East Knoxville" traditionally refers to the part of Knoxville east of First Creek (this creek is roughly paralleled by the eastern portion of the Downtown Loop, namely Neyland Drive and James White Parkway). A portion of this area was incorporated as the City of East Knoxville in 1855, though it was annexed by Knoxville in 1868. The advent of streetcars and the development of what is now Chilhowee Park led to the establishment of residential areas in East Knoxville in the late 19th century. Two such residential areas, Park City (Parkridge and surrounding neighborhoods) and Mountain View (Morningside), were incorporated as separate cities in 1907, and annexed by Knoxville in 1917.
Urban renewal projects in Downtown Knoxville in the 1950s and 1960s displaced numerous African American residents, many of whom relocated to East Knoxville. Most East Knoxville neighborhoods remain mixed neighborhoods. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center, one of the primary repositories of black history and culture in East Tennessee, is located on Dandridge Avenue in East Knoxville.
Recent initiatives to revitalize East Knoxville have focused on improving Magnolia Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard, preserving historical buildings, eliminating blight, filling or demolishing vacant buildings, and improving sidewalks.
External links
- Magnolia Avenue Corridor Plan — Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission report