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Knoxville, Tennessee

Knox County’s seat on the Tennessee River: the Sunsphere and World’s Fair Park, Market Square and Gay Street, the territorial-era Blount Mansion and James White’s Fort, the University of Tennessee, and 50-plus miles of Urban Wilderness trails across the river.

City · founded 1786 · named 1791Seat of Knox County →Pop. 190,740 (2020)Eastern time (ET)Things to do ↓Eat & drink ↓Places to stay ↓Events ↓A short history ↓City hall & resources ↓

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · all times Eastern (ET) · sources at the bottom

In 30 seconds
  • Why stop: start at the Sunsphere and the free Knoxville Museum of Art in World’s Fair Park, walk Gay Street past the Tennessee Theatre to Market Square, then cross the river for the Urban Wilderness and Ijams. Blount Mansion and James White’s Fort tell the 1790s story a few blocks away.
  • Before you go: Knoxville is on Eastern time (ET). On UT home football Saturdays (Nov. 7 and Nov. 21), expect heavy traffic and paid parking. The tree lighting is Friday, Nov. 27, at 6 PM ET, and the WIVK Christmas Parade is Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 PM ET.
  • Don’t confuse: the city of Knoxville is the county seat, but much of Knox County is outside it — Farragut is a separate town, and Karns, Powell, Halls and Mascot are unincorporated even with “Knoxville” addresses. Here we label those Not in Knoxville.

Visitor directory

Things to do in and around Knoxville

In town

  • The Sunsphere & World’s Fair Park ↗810 Clinch Ave. · the gold glass ball built as the signature structure of the 1982 World’s Fair is 266 feet tall, with 26 stories; the ball itself holds five levels (City of Knoxville). The 4th-floor observation deck is open Mon–Fri 10 AM–5 PM ET, Sat 9 AM–5 PM ET and Sun noon–4 PM ET, closed 12:30–1:30 PM ET Monday through Saturday · tickets $10, $5 for kids 12 and under, about 30 minutes. The park itself is open daily from 6 AM ET to midnight (World’s Fair Park); the tower has no parking of its own, so use the Fort Kid lot or the Locust Street Garage (Visit Knoxville). ⓘ source
  • Knoxville Museum of Art ↗1050 World’s Fair Park Dr. · free admission · Tue–Sat 10 AM–5 PM ET, Sun 1–5 PM ET, closed Monday. Its long-running shows include Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee (Visit Knoxville). Free parking in the lot across World’s Fair Park Dr. ⓘ source
  • Market Square & Krutch Park ↗Downtown’s outdoor living room, with two water-play fountains, concerts and Shakespeare on the Square, next to Krutch Park. Source conflict: Visit Knoxville’s Market Square page says “since the 1860s,” while its own Market Square guide says “since 1854.” The producer-only Market Square Farmers Market runs Saturdays 10 AM–2 PM ET from Nov. 7 through March (closed the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s), and the Holidays on Ice rink opens Nov. 27. ⓘ source
  • Gay Street & the Tennessee Theatre ↗604 S. Gay St. · the movie palace opened Oct. 1, 1928, designed by Chicago architects Graven & Mayger with a Spanish-Moorish interior, and reopened Jan. 15, 2005, after a $25.5 million restoration. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the Official State Theatre of Tennessee. Gay Street has been the main street since the 1790s; the Bijou Theatre, the 100-block arts district and the Visitors Center (301 S. Gay St.) are on it too (Visit Knoxville). ⓘ source
  • Museum of East Tennessee History ↗601 S. Gay St., across from the Tennessee Theatre · free admission June 1, 2026 – Feb. 14, 2027 for the nation’s 250th · Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM ET, Sat 10 AM–4 PM ET, Sun 1–5 PM ET. The feature exhibition Lines Were Drawn: The Treaty of Holston and Its Legacy runs through Feb. 14, 2027. ⓘ source
  • Blount Mansion & James White’s Fort ↗Blount Mansion (200 W. Hill Ave.) is a National Historic Landmark: the circa-1792 home of William Blount, governor of the Southwest Territory · Tue–Sat 10 AM–4 PM ET, Sun noon–4 PM ET, last tour 3 PM ET · adults $15. James White’s Fort (205 E. Hill Ave.) marks the 1786 settlement · Mon–Sat 9:30 AM–5 PM ET through November, then Mon–Fri 10 AM–4 PM ET from December; closed on UT home football game days · adults $10. ⓘ source
  • Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame ↗700 Hall of Fame Dr., across the street from James White’s Fort · free on-site parking; most visitors spend one to two hours. ⓘ source
  • Urban Wilderness & Ijams Nature Center ↗South of the river, the Urban Wilderness links about 1,000 acres and more than 50 miles of trails and greenways (Visit Knoxville). Ijams (2915 Island Home Ave.) opens its grounds every day from 8 AM ET until dusk, with a River Boardwalk over the Tennessee River and Mead’s Quarry · parking $5 per car, free on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Black Friday (Nov. 27). ⓘ source
  • Zoo Knoxville ↗3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr. in East Knoxville · the Smoky Night Lights show runs select nights Nov. 13, 2026 – March 28, 2027; all November and December shows are 6–9 PM ET, and gates open an hour before. ⓘ source
  • The Old City & the Beck Cultural Exchange Center ↗The Old City, at Central and Jackson avenues, was the 1890s wholesale district (Tennessee Encyclopedia) and is now galleries, music venues and breweries. In East Knoxville, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center (1927 Dandridge Ave.) shares African American history and culture in a 1912 mansion · free · self-guided tours Tue–Fri 10 AM–2 PM ET; call ahead. ⓘ source
  • The University of Tennessee & Neyland Stadium ↗UT began in 1794 as Blount College, moved to “the Hill” in 1826 and took the University of Tennessee name in 1879. On home football Saturdays, downtown garages charge, James White’s Fort closes, and KAT runs $10 football shuttles from Market Square (Krutch Park). ⓘ source

Nearby: outside the city limits

  • Marble Springs State Historic SiteOutside town — 1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Hwy., in South Knox County with a Knoxville mailing address. This was John Sevier’s farm, built when he came to the state capital in 1796; the restored main cabin is furnished with Sevier family items · Wed–Sat 10 AM–5 PM ET, Sun noon–5 PM ET (March–December). ⓘ source
  • Farragut & the west endNot in Knoxville — Farragut is a separate town in west Knox County (Census). Karns, Powell, Halls and Mascot are unincorporated Census places, and many of their addresses say “Knoxville.” ⓘ source
  • Oak Ridge, Norris Lake & the SmokiesNot in Knoxville — see our Oak Ridge and Norris Lake guides to the north, and Townsend, Cades Cove and Pigeon Forge for the mountains to the south.

Eat & drink

  • Market Square ↗Visit Knoxville lists the Tomato Head, Stock & Barrel and Tupelo Honey among a dozen places on the square.
  • Gay Street ↗Bistro at the Bijou, Phoenix Pharmacy and Fountain and rooftop bars along the street’s historic blocks.
  • The Old City ↗Breweries and distilleries such as Pretentious Beer Co. and Knox Whiskey Works, plus restaurants on Central and Jackson.

Knoxville has hundreds of restaurants, so we point to the three walkable downtown districts rather than list them. Full list: downtown dining (Visit Knoxville) ↗.

Places to stay

  • The Oliver Hotel ↗On Market Square, in a renovated 1876 building (Visit Knoxville).
  • Downtown hotels ↗Visit Knoxville keeps the full downtown list, including hotels near the convention center and World’s Fair Park.

Hotels fill up on UT home game weekends — book early.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · in or out of the city checked against Census city limits. Call ahead — hours change. All hours Eastern (ET).

Coming up in Knoxville

  • Thu Oct 29 — Last day of early votingFor the Nov. 3 state and federal general election: 10 AM–6 PM ET at most Knox County sites, including the City County Building (400 Main St.); the Karns Senior Center is open 9 AM–6 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Thu Oct 29 — Scare on the Square6–10 PM ET on Market Square · a free family Halloween night with live music, supporting the Empty Stocking Fund. ⓘ source
  • Sat Oct 31 — Market Square Farmers MarketThe last Saturday on summer hours: 9 AM–1 PM ET. From Nov. 7 the market moves to Saturdays 10 AM–2 PM ET, and the Wednesday market closes until spring. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 3 — Election DayPolls are open 8 AM–8 PM ET; vote at your own precinct. No city offices are on this ballot; Knoxville’s next city election is Nov. 2, 2027 (MTAS). ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 7 — UT football: Kentucky (Homecoming)6:15 PM ET kickoff at Neyland Stadium, which is sold out. Expect game-day traffic and paid parking downtown. ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 10 — City Council6 PM ET in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main St. Agendas are posted the Wednesday before. ⓘ source
  • Wed Nov 11 — Veterans Day ParadeUnits line up at James White’s Fort (E. Hill Ave. at Hall of Fame Dr.) and start moving at 10:40 AM ET up Gay Street. ⓘ source
  • Fri Nov 13 — Smoky Night Lights opensZoo Knoxville’s light show, 6–9 PM ET on select nights through March 28, 2027. ⓘ source
  • Fri Nov 20 — Christmas at Chilhowee6–9 PM ET at Chilhowee Park (parking entrance at 401 Lakeside St.). ⓘ source
  • Sat Nov 21 — UT football: LSUAt Neyland Stadium; kickoff not yet set (UT lists 3:30–4:30 PM ET or 6–8 PM ET). ⓘ source
  • Tue Nov 24 — Beer Board & City CouncilBeer Board at 5 PM ET, then City Council at 6 PM ET, City County Building. ⓘ source
  • Fri Nov 27 — Regal Celebration of Lights & Holidays on IceThe city lights its 42-foot Christmas tree in the Krutch Park Extension at 6 PM ET (music from 5:15 PM ET, activities until 9 PM ET; free). Gay Street closes at 4:30 PM ET. The Market Square ice rink opens the same day and runs through Jan. 3, 2027 · $12 adults, $9 kids 12 and under, skates included. ⓘ source
  • Fri Dec 4 — 53rd WIVK Christmas Parade7 PM ET along Gay Street to Jackson Avenue, finishing past Covenant Health Park. ⓘ source
  • Sun Dec 6 — Chanukah in the City3:30–5:30 PM ET on Market Square: live music, crafts and the menorah lighting. ⓘ source
  • Sat Dec 12 — Tour de Lights3:30–7:30 PM ET at Delaney Plaza at Covenant Health Park; the lighted bike ride starts at 5:30 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Thu Dec 31 — New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere9 PM–12:15 AM ET on the Festival Lawn at World’s Fair Park. ⓘ source

More: Christmas in the City ↗ · Visit Knoxville events ↗.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · times Eastern (ET) · dates from the City of Knoxville, Knox County Election Commission, UT Athletics, Zoo Knoxville, Nourish Knoxville, American Legion Post 2 and WIVK. More Knox County events are on the county guide.

Area news

Headlines · Knoxville & Knox County

  • City of Knoxville · Oct 28, 2026

    City Council approved a $3.4 million energy-savings contract to put efficient lighting in 75 city buildings, which the city says will pay for itself in 12 years. Council also approved replacing broken sidewalk at 27 sites and $750,000 toward 100 affordable apartments on Lovell Road.

    Read at City of Knoxville →
  • City of Knoxville · Oct 28, 2026

    Chapman Highway safety redesign: a community open house is Thu., Nov. 5, 4–7 PM ET at Graystone Presbyterian Church, 139 Woodlawn Pike. The early concept has shared-use paths and landscaped medians between Blount Ave. and Woodlawn Pike.

    Read at City of Knoxville →
  • City of Knoxville · Oct 27, 2026

    The upstairs bus platform at KAT’s Knoxville Station (301 E. Church Ave.) closes from 6 PM ET Fri., Oct. 30, for repairs and reopens for the first buses Mon., Nov. 2. Buses board on E. Church Ave. in the meantime; service continues.

    Read at City of Knoxville →
  • City of Knoxville · Oct 21, 2026

    The Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability is looking for one or two more churches to serve as overnight warming centers this winter, after a fire put North Knox Baptist Church out of the network.

    Read at City of Knoxville →

Short summaries in our words — tap through to read the full story at the source. All area news → · Outlet requests: [email protected]

A short history

The land between First and Second Creeks, above what was then called the Holston River, was Cherokee country. In 1786 James White, a Revolutionary War veteran, built a fort there (Tennessee Encyclopedia). On July 2, 1791, Territorial Governor William Blount and Cherokee leaders signed the Treaty of Holston at the mouth of First Creek — the first formal agreement between the United States under its new Constitution and the Cherokee Nation (East Tennessee Historical Society). That year Blount made White’s Fort the capital of the Southwest Territory and renamed it for Secretary of War Henry Knox, and White laid off 64 half-acre lots with street names borrowed from Philadelphia and Baltimore. MTAS dates the town’s incorporation to Feb. 1, 1791. Four lots were set aside for Blount College, chartered in 1794 and now the University of Tennessee. In 1793 Creek and Cherokee fighters killed 13 settlers at Alexander Cavet’s station west of town but did not attack Knoxville itself.

Knoxville was an early state capital, but it grew slowly; there were 730 residents in 1810 and 2,076 in 1850. The East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad arrived in 1855. In the June 1861 referendum most Knoxville voters chose secession, unlike most of East Tennessee. Union troops under Gen. Ambrose Burnside took the town in 1863 and ringed it with forts. On Nov. 29, 1863, Gen. James Longstreet’s Confederates attacked Fort Sanders; the assault lasted under 30 minutes and cost them 813 casualties, and Knoxville stayed in Union hands for the rest of the war.

After the war the railroad made Knoxville a wholesale hub. By 1896 it called itself the South’s third-largest wholesaling center, after Atlanta and New Orleans, with many warehouses on Jackson and Depot in today’s Old City. Many newcomers were African Americans who came seeking freedom and work after 1863; by 1880 more than 32 percent of residents were Black, and Knoxville College opened for Black students in 1875. The 1890s also brought a political gerrymander that shut Black voters out of power (1894), an 1897 fire on Gay Street, and, in 1919, a race riot. The population reached 32,637 by 1900.

The Tennessee Theatre opened in 1928. In 1982 the city hosted a World’s Fair, whose Sunsphere still marks the skyline. Knoxville had 173,890 residents in 2000 and 178,874 in 2010. The 2020 Census counted 190,740 inside the city limits, and the state’s certified estimate for 2026 is 202,021 (MTAS).

Visit: Lines Were Drawn (East Tennessee History Center) ↗ · Knoxville’s historic house museums ↗

Knox County’s history → · Full Knox County history → · The Lost State of Franklin → · East Tennessee history hub →

City hall & local resources

  • Emergency (police · fire · EMS)911Call 911 for any emergency.
  • City of Knoxville 311865-215-4311Dial 311 inside the city, or use the My Knoxville app · Mon–Fri 7 AM–5 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • City County Building (city main line)865-215-2000400 Main St. · city offices Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM ET. City and Knox County government share the building. ⓘ source
  • City Council (City Recorder’s Office)865-215-2075Room 467. Sign up to speak by 4 PM ET on meeting day. ⓘ source
  • Knoxville Police Department (main number)865-215-7000For emergencies, call 911. ⓘ source
  • KUB — electric, gas, water & wastewater865-524-2911Representatives Mon–Fri 7 AM–6 PM ET; outages and gas leaks 24 hours. ⓘ source
  • Knoxville Area Transit (KAT)865-637-3000Customer service; Knoxville Station is at 301 E. Church Ave. ⓘ source
  • Knox County Election Commission865-215-2480Early voting sites and Election Day polling places. ⓘ source
  • Knox County Constituent Services865-215-4357City County Building, Suite 615 · Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Lawson McGhee Library (Knox County Public Library)865-215-8750500 W. Church Ave. · Mon–Thu 9 AM–8 PM ET, Fri 9 AM–5:30 PM ET, Sat 10 AM–5 PM ET, Sun 1–5 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • Knoxville Visitors Center (Visit Knoxville)865-523-7263301 S. Gay St. · Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM ET, Sat 9 AM–5 PM ET, Sun noon–4 PM ET. ⓘ source
  • UT Medical Center865-305-90001924 Alcoa Hwy. — emergency and trauma care. ⓘ source

City of Knoxville official site ↗ — 311, agendas, permits, parking, trash and city news. Knoxville has a home-rule charter (MTAS), an elected mayor and a nine-member City Council: six members elected from districts and three at large, each for a four-year term. The council picks a vice-mayor from its members for two years and also sits as the city’s Beer Board. Regular meetings are held about every other Tuesday at 6 PM ET in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main St. They air live on Knoxville Community Media, Channel 12. KUB, the Knoxville Utilities Board, provides electric, gas, water and wastewater service. Knox County government shares the City County Building.

Checked Oct 29, 2026 · official sites only · numbers copied from each agency’s own page — tap ⓘ to confirm. Times Eastern (ET). Emergencies: call 911.

Around Knox County

← Knox County guide — Farragut, the north Knox communities, Fort Loudoun Lake and county resources.

Other Knox County places: Farragut (town) · Census places Halls, Karns, Powell, Mascot and John Sevier · communities Hardin Valley, Concord and Corryton. Next door: Anderson · Union · Grainger · Jefferson · Sevier · Blount · Loudon · Roane county guides.

Other county-seat guides: Wartburg (Morgan County) · Kingston (Roane County) · Huntsville (Scott County) · Jamestown (Fentress County) · Crossville (Cumberland County) · Clinton (Anderson County) · Dayton (Rhea County) · Decatur (Meigs County) · Athens (McMinn County) · Cleveland (Bradley County) · Madisonville (Monroe County) · Loudon (Loudon County) · Maryville (Blount County) · Sevierville (Sevier County).

Sources

Checked Oct 29, 2026