West Knoxville
Encyclopedia
West Knoxville is the section of Knoxville, Tennessee
, USA, that lies west of the city's downtown area
. It generally stretches from Sequoyah Hills
on the east to the city's border with Farragut
on the west. West Knoxville is concentrated around Kingston Pike (US-70
/US-11
), and along with Sequoyah Hills, includes the neighborhoods of Lyons View, Forest Hills, Bearden
, West Hills
, Westmoreland Heights, Cedar Bluff, and Ebenezer.
"West Knoxville" originally referred to the area immediately west of Second Creek, i.e., what is now Fort Sanders and the University of Tennessee
campus, which were incorporated as the City of West Knoxville in 1888. This city was annexed by Knoxville in 1897, and Fort Sanders and UT are now considered part of Downtown Knoxville. Continued improvements along Kingston Pike, namely the paving of the road to the county line in 1892 and the laying of trolley tracks to Lyon's View Pike in 1913, encouraged westward expansion. Sequoyah Hills and Lyon's View Pike were annexed in 1917, and Bearden and West Hills were annexed in 1962.
West Knoxville's first economic "boom" came in the 1920s and 1930s, when Kingston Pike was part of a merged section of two popular cross-country tourist routes, the Dixie Highway
and the Lee Highway
. In recent decades, the construction of dozens of shopping plazas in West Knoxville, beginning with Western Plaza in 1957, and the completion of West Town Mall
in 1972, caused Knoxville's primary retail corridor to shift from Downtown Knoxville to Kingston Pike, where it remains. West Knoxville's most recent major shopping complex, the 358 acres (144.9 ha) Turkey Creek
, opened in 2002.
Throughout the 20th century, West Knoxville was settled by affluent Knoxvillians and newcomers to the Knoxville area, many of whom held more liberal political views than residents in other parts of the city. The annexation of large parts of West Knoxville in 1962 brought into the city large numbers of voters who helped elect one of Knoxville's most progressive city councils in decades in 1964. West Knoxville is also known for aggressive neighborhood advocacy groups, such as the Kingston Pike Sequoyah Hills Association and the West Hills Community Association.
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 west 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 generally stretches from Sequoyah Hills
Sequoyah Hills, Tennessee
Sequoyah Hills is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located off Kingston Pike between the city's downtown area and West Knoxville. Initially developed in the 1920s, Sequoyah Hills was one of Knoxville's first suburbs, and today is home to some of the city's most affluent residents...
on the east to the city's border with Farragut
Farragut, Tennessee
Farragut is a town in Knox and Loudon counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and is generally a suburb of nearby Knoxville. Farragut's population was 20,689 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area...
on the west. West Knoxville is concentrated around Kingston Pike (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...
), and along with Sequoyah Hills, includes the neighborhoods of Lyons View, Forest Hills, Bearden
Bearden (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Bearden is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located along Kingston Pike in West Knoxville. Developed primarily as an agrarian community in the 19th century, this neighborhood now lies at the heart of one of Knoxville's major commercial corridors...
, West Hills
West Hills (Knoxville, Tennessee)
West Hills is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located just off Kingston Pike in West Knoxville. Initially developed in the 1950s, West Hills was Knoxville's first major post-World War II subdivision, and the first subdivision to consist primarily of modern ranch-style houses...
, Westmoreland Heights, Cedar Bluff, and Ebenezer.
"West Knoxville" originally referred to the area immediately west of Second Creek, i.e., what is now Fort Sanders and the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
campus, which were incorporated as the City of West Knoxville in 1888. This city was annexed by Knoxville in 1897, and Fort Sanders and UT are now considered part of Downtown Knoxville. Continued improvements along Kingston Pike, namely the paving of the road to the county line in 1892 and the laying of trolley tracks to Lyon's View Pike in 1913, encouraged westward expansion. Sequoyah Hills and Lyon's View Pike were annexed in 1917, and Bearden and West Hills were annexed in 1962.
West Knoxville's first economic "boom" came in the 1920s and 1930s, when Kingston Pike was part of a merged section of two popular cross-country tourist routes, the Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
and the Lee Highway
Lee Highway
The Lee Highway was a National Auto Trail in the United States connecting New York City and San Francisco, California via the South and Southwest. It was named after Robert E...
. In recent decades, the construction of dozens of shopping plazas in West Knoxville, beginning with Western Plaza in 1957, and the completion of West Town Mall
West Town Mall
West Town Mall is an upscale shopping mall located in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Opened in August 1972, this one-level mall is located in the western portion of Knoxville in the West Hills community. West Town Mall is located along Interstates 40/75 and Kingston Pike...
in 1972, caused Knoxville's primary retail corridor to shift from Downtown Knoxville to Kingston Pike, where it remains. West Knoxville's most recent major shopping complex, the 358 acres (144.9 ha) Turkey Creek
Turkey Creek (Tennessee)
Turkey Creek is a shopping complex and mixed-use commercial development located in west Knoxville, Tennessee, approximately three miles from the junction of Interstate 40 and Interstate 75. Turkey Creek comprises multiple developments, including the Pavilions at Turkey Creek, Colonial Promenade...
, opened in 2002.
Throughout the 20th century, West Knoxville was settled by affluent Knoxvillians and newcomers to the Knoxville area, many of whom held more liberal political views than residents in other parts of the city. The annexation of large parts of West Knoxville in 1962 brought into the city large numbers of voters who helped elect one of Knoxville's most progressive city councils in decades in 1964. West Knoxville is also known for aggressive neighborhood advocacy groups, such as the Kingston Pike Sequoyah Hills Association and the West Hills Community Association.
External links
- West City Sector Plan — Metropolitan Planning Commission site