South Knoxville
Encyclopedia
South Knoxville is the section of Knoxville, Tennessee
, USA, that lies south of the Tennessee River
. It is concentrated along Chapman Highway (US-441
), Alcoa Highway (US-129
), Maryville Pike (TN-33), Sevierville Pike, and adjacent roads, and includes the neighborhoods of Lindbergh Forest
, Island Home Park
, Old Sevier, Vestal, Lake Forest, and Colonial Village. South Knoxville is connected to Downtown Knoxville via four vehicle bridges: the James White Bridge, the Gay Street Bridge
, the Henley Street Bridge
, and the J. E. "Buck" Karnes Bridge. South Knoxville was annexed by Knoxville in 1917.
South Knoxville remained sparsely populated for most of the 19th century due to a lack of bridges spanning the river. Two notable early residents were Governor John Sevier
, who established a farm at Marble Springs
in the 1790s, and entrepreneur Perez Dickinson, who built a mansion known as "Island Home" on what is now the TSD
campus in the 1850s. During the Civil War, a string of forts— Fort Higley, Fort Dickerson, Fort Stanley, and Sevierville Hill— were erected by Union forces in 1863, and played a major role in forcing General James Longstreet
to attack the city from the west rather than from the south during his siege of the city
later that year.
Major outcroppings of Tennessee marble
in South Knoxville led to the development of several marble quarries and finishing facilities in the late 19th century, most notably the Ross-Republic quarries at what is now the Ijams Nature Center, and the Candoro Marble Works
in Vestal. The completion of the Henley Bridge in 1931 and the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
shortly afterward led to an explosion of commercial development along Chapman Highway, the primary route connecting Knoxville with the park.
As of the 2000 census, South Knoxville had a population of 18,516 residents. Economic initiatives in recent years have centered around improving the waterfront for recreational and commercial uses, development of the James White Parkway extension, and improving the aesthetics and accessibility of Chapman Highway and Maryville Pike. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is one of South Knoxville's largest employers.
. Other noted schools in the area are Bonny Kate Elementary and Mount Olive Elementary. South Knoxville is also home to the Tennessee School for the Deaf
, the campus of which is located adjacent to the Island Home Park neighborhood.
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 south of the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
. It is concentrated along Chapman Highway (US-441
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441 is a spur route of U.S. Route 41. It currently runs for 939 miles from U.S. Route 41 in Miami, Florida to U.S. Route 25W in Lake City, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee...
), Alcoa Highway (US-129
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 129 is an offshoot route of U.S. Route 29, which it intersects near Athens, Georgia. US 129 currently runs for 582 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Chiefland, Florida, at U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 98. It passes through the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida...
), Maryville Pike (TN-33), Sevierville Pike, and adjacent roads, and includes the neighborhoods of Lindbergh Forest
Lindbergh Forest
Lindbergh Forest is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, located off Chapman Highway in South Knoxville, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district...
, Island Home Park
Island Home Park
Island Home Park is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located in the southeastern part of the city along the Tennessee River. Developed as a streetcar suburb in the early 1900s, the neighborhood retains most of its original houses and streetscapes, and is home to the city's largest...
, Old Sevier, Vestal, Lake Forest, and Colonial Village. South Knoxville is connected to Downtown Knoxville via four vehicle bridges: the James White Bridge, the Gay Street Bridge
Gay Street Bridge
The Gay Street Bridge is a vehicle bridge that crosses the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. Completed in 1898, the bridge is the oldest of four vehicle bridges connecting Downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville, the other three being the Henley Street Bridge, the Buck Karnes Bridge , and...
, the Henley Street Bridge
Henley Street Bridge
The Henley Street Bridge, or Henley Bridge, is a vehicle bridge that crosses the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. Completed in 1931, the bridge is one of four vehicle bridges connecting Downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville, the other three being the Gay Street Bridge, the Buck Karnes...
, and the J. E. "Buck" Karnes Bridge. South Knoxville was annexed by Knoxville in 1917.
South Knoxville remained sparsely populated for most of the 19th century due to a lack of bridges spanning the river. Two notable early residents were Governor John Sevier
John Sevier
John Sevier served four years as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years as Governor of Tennessee. As a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death...
, who established a farm at Marble Springs
Marble Springs
Marble Springs, also known as Gov. John Sevier Home, is a state historic site in south Knox County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. The site was the home of John Sevier — a Revolutionary War and frontier militia commander and later the first governor of Tennessee— from...
in the 1790s, and entrepreneur Perez Dickinson, who built a mansion known as "Island Home" on what is now the TSD
Tennessee School for the Deaf
The Tennessee School for the Deaf is a state-operated residential and day school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students ranging from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. It is located in Knoxville, Tennessee within the historic Island Home Park neighborhood....
campus in the 1850s. During the Civil War, a string of forts— Fort Higley, Fort Dickerson, Fort Stanley, and Sevierville Hill— were erected by Union forces in 1863, and played a major role in forcing General James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
to attack the city from the west rather than from the south during his siege of the city
Knoxville Campaign
The Knoxville Campaign was a series of American Civil War battles and maneuvers in East Tennessee during the fall of 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside occupied Knoxville, Tennessee, and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet were detached from Gen...
later that year.
Major outcroppings of Tennessee marble
Tennessee marble
Tennessee marble is a type of crystalline limestone found primarily in East Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. Long esteemed by architects and builders for its pinkish-gray color and the ease with which it is polished, this stone has been used in the construction of numerous notable...
in South Knoxville led to the development of several marble quarries and finishing facilities in the late 19th century, most notably the Ross-Republic quarries at what is now the Ijams Nature Center, and the Candoro Marble Works
Candoro Marble Works
The Candoro Marble Works is a marble cutting and polishing facility located in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Established as a subsidiary of the John J. Craig Company in 1914, the facility's marble products were used in the construction of numerous monumental buildings across the United States during...
in Vestal. The completion of the Henley Bridge in 1931 and the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
shortly afterward led to an explosion of commercial development along Chapman Highway, the primary route connecting Knoxville with the park.
As of the 2000 census, South Knoxville had a population of 18,516 residents. Economic initiatives in recent years have centered around improving the waterfront for recreational and commercial uses, development of the James White Parkway extension, and improving the aesthetics and accessibility of Chapman Highway and Maryville Pike. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is one of South Knoxville's largest employers.
Schools
South Knoxville's main high school is South-Doyle High SchoolSouth-Doyle High School
South-Doyle High School is a high school located at 2020 Tipton Station in Knoxville, Tennessee, operated by the Knox County Schools school district....
. Other noted schools in the area are Bonny Kate Elementary and Mount Olive Elementary. South Knoxville is also home to the Tennessee School for the Deaf
Tennessee School for the Deaf
The Tennessee School for the Deaf is a state-operated residential and day school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students ranging from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. It is located in Knoxville, Tennessee within the historic Island Home Park neighborhood....
, the campus of which is located adjacent to the Island Home Park neighborhood.
See also
- AlcoaAlcoa, TennesseeAlcoa is a city in Blount County, Tennessee, United States, south of Knoxville. Its population was 7,744 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- RockfordRockford, TennesseeRockford is a city in Blount County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 798 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
- SeymourSeymour, TennesseeSeymour is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Blount and Sevier counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, United States. The CDP population was 8,850 at the 2000 U.S. census...
External links
- South City Sector Plan — Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission report