What Knoxville is known for

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular spot to visit in the area. The park is located in parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. The park offers hiking trails, wildflowers, fishing streams, and an observation tower.[1] The national park has some of the highest mountains in North America. The park has more visitors annually than any other national park.[1] The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for the diversity of species seen in the area.[7] The Island in Pigeon Forge is an amusement park with an arcade, laser tag, and various rides, including a Ferris wheel and carousel. The Island in Pigeon Forge serves multiple treats, including different flavors of pretzels, homemade sweets from scratch, Byrd's Famous Cookies, and fresh lemonade. Shops around the island include a boutique with apparel and accessories, a beef jerky, candy, and winery shop.[2] 

Dollywood is an amusement park in the area named after and owned by Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton was raised in the area and opened Dollywood in 1986. The amusement park has rides, water slides, and shows.[3] The Gatlinburg Space Needle takes visitors up in a glass elevator to a 407 feet observation tower and offers views over the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg. Tickets range from $10 to $16.[4] The Apple Barn is a popular store to visit that is located next to an apple orchard and offers various apple-based treats, including apple pies and apple cinnamon donuts.[5] The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the biggest draws to the region and averages around 12,000,000 visitors a year. Visiting the national park is free, and the park is the most visited national park in America.[10] 

There are two peak seasons for visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, that being the summer months, June through August, as well as weekends in October.[11] 53% of visitors that visit the park are ages 46-70 years old, 11% are 15 years old and younger. Most visitors are in family groups and come from different areas in the United States. One of the primary reasons reported for coming to the area is because of the mountain scenery.[12]

Geography

The Great Smoky Mountains Region covers various cities in Tennessee, including Knoxville, Jefferson City, and Pigeon Forge. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the parks that draws the most visitors into the destination. The most famous species of animal in the area is the black bear. More than 1,500 bears are in the area, and they are most active in the late spring and summer months. Other animals frequent to the area include white-tailed deer, elk, groundhogs, chipmunks, and squirrels. Over 200 species of birds are frequently cited and are in the area. The streams are full of fish, including the brook trout. The park has over 50 native fish species. Douglass Lake is a popular spot for fishing in the territory and offers bass and crappie fishing. The national park provides trout and smallmouth bass fishing.[13] The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been called the "Salamander Capital of the World." There are 30 different species of salamander species.[7] 

Local goods that the area is known for include apples from the surplus of apple orchards in the area, knives from the Smoky Mountain Knife Works, and distilleries. The Smoky Mountain Knife Works prides itself on the vast amount of knives that can be found at the shop, from antique knives to hunting knives.[8] 

The hottest month of the year in the region is during the month of July. In July, the high tends to be around 80 degrees (Fahrenheit) and the low being around 57 degrees. The other summer months reach the mid to high 70s. These summer months are the peak season for tourists. The coldest months of the year in the area are December, January, and February, reaching a low of around 43 degrees. July is the month that gets the most amount of rain, typically raining for 12 days out of the month. March, May, and June are also generally high when it comes to rainfall.[9]

History

Native Americans from the Cherokee tribe were some of the first to settle in the Great Smoky Mountains Region. The Cherokee tribe set up settlements mostly along the Little Tennessee River. During the mid-18th century, Europeans arrived in the area. Isaac Thomas was one of the Europeans who arrived in the area. The Cherokee tribe well respected him. As settlers continued to come into the area, the Cherokee tribe became much more aggressive. This eventually led to the defeat of the Cherokee tribe. The county was established in 1794 and was named after the first governor of the town of Tennessee, John Sevier.[10] 

The county grew, and eventually, many different farms were established in the area. In the early 19th century, distilleries brought in an income for the city, and by the year 1850, 6,000 gallons of whiskey were produced each year. Slavery wasn't particularly common in the area. A large portion of residents supported the freedom of African Americans. In the 1880s, the population of Sevierville grew exponentially. The first railroad was finished in 1910 and offered service from Knoxville to Sevierville. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened in 1934 and was one of the first significant attractions to bring many visitors from around the country to the area. Dolly Parton is a singer and songwriter who was born in the territory in 1946. There is now a statue of Dolly Parton, as well as a theme park that is owned by Dolly Parton called Dollywood.[6] 

Around 15,000 people are living in the area. The majority are white citizens, about 1.5% are African Americans, .6% are Native Americans, 1.3% are Asian, 6.1% are from other races, 1.7% are mixed races, and 10.3% are Hispanic or Latino.