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Knoxville is known as "The Valley". It is nestled between the Cumberland Plateau and the Great Smoky Mountains. Knoxville TN is a rapidly growing city accessible from an international waterway. Three Interstates run through the city. Knoxville is located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is home to The University of Tennessee Volunteer sports teams and the Knoxville Ice Bears.

Population
City: 186,173 (2019)
County: 470,313 (2019)

Population Profiles >>

Knoxville has a number of prominent features:

Market Square restaurant in downtown Knoxville; image by Jeaneane Payne

Downtown Knoxville is the hub of business and government activity. The City-County Building holds offices for both City and County government, courtrooms, and government clerk help desks. The City-County Building also contains a jail facility which houses female inmates.

Main Street runs from Henley Street to Gay Street. Located on Main Street is a modern hotel, a major bank, Medical Arts Building, U.S. Courthouse, Howard H. Baker, Jr. United States Courthouse, First Baptist Church Knoxville, the City-County Building, and the historic Knox County Courthouse.

Gay Street, developed in the 1790s, runs through the heart of downtown Knoxville. Gay Street has served as the city's principal financial and commercial thoroughfare, and has played a primary role in the city's historical and cultural development. The historic Bijou Theatre and the historic Tennessee Theatre are located on Gay Street and now serve as prominent venues.

The University of Tennessee campus is located just a few blocks from downtown Knoxville. Founded in 1794, UT has nine undergraduate colleges and eleven graduate colleges and has an enrollment of 28,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries.

Market Square District is situated in the heart of downtown and features modern-day businesses and restaurants. The district offers several entertainment venues.å

The Waterfront Development was established to protect, enhance, and develop the seven-mile stretch of the Tennessee River between the Forks of the River and the J.E. "Buck" Karnes Bridge.

The World's Fair Park is a state-of-the-art urban development that incorporates most of the major landmarks from the 1982 World's Fair held in downtown Knoxville. The infrastructure of the park is designed to efficiently support events from a small event to a huge outdoor concert. The park offers rich environmental features that are characteristic of the region. Water in its many forms is a central feature of the park.


Emergency Phone Numbers:
Universal Emergency 911
Ambulance Service 911 or (865) 521-2008
Knoxville Police Department (865) 521-1200
Knox County Sheriff (865) 215-2432
Emergency for DEAF (865) 637-3323
Fire Department - Knox County (865) 675-0500
Rescue Squad (865) 546-4821
Poison Control Center (865) 544-9400