The county seat of Knox County, Knoxville is one of the largest and most famous cities in the state of Tennessee. The city is located in the eastern part of the state and has various nicknames, including 'Queen City of the Mountains' due to its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 'The Marble City' due to its prosperous marble quarries. Knoxville covers an area of 104.2 square miles and has a population of approximately 186,000 people, with over 860,000 in the surrounding metropolitan area.
Knoxville
The first settlers arrived on the land that would become Knoxville in 1786 and the city was founded a few years later, in 1791. It became the first state capital of Tennessee and thrived when the railroad arrived in town in the mid-19th century. The city played its part in the American Civil War as well, with Knoxville's population supporting both the Union and Confederate sides of the conflict. When the war was over, the city began to develop even more quickly than before, with marble production being one of the most unique and important industries, along with manufacture and textiles.
The city's growth slowly declined over the years, but it hosted the World's Fair in 1982, which provided a big boost to the local economy and led to strong redevelopments and renovations throughout Knoxville. Nowadays, Knoxville is a great location for people looking for a slice of Tennessee culture, as well as housing the main campus of the University of Tennessee and offering the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachian region.
Elevation of Knoxville
Elevation is the term used to denote how high or low an area is in relation to sea level and is most commonly measured in feet or meters. It’s an important geographical statistic for many different reasons and can directly affect a city’s weather conditions, with higher elevations resulting in lower temperatures on average. The elevation of Knoxville is 886 feet (270 m), which is much lower than the national average of 2,500 feet (760 m), but still higher than many of the biggest cities of the United State like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
On a state-wide level, Tennessee is relatively low in general, with a mean elevation of just 900 feet. The state does, however, have quite a high elevation span of 6,466 feet (1,971 m) between its highest and lowest points. The highest point in the state of Tennessee is Clingmans Dome, a mountain located among the Great Smoky range and situated at an elevation of 6,643 feet (2,025 m). The lowest point in the state of Tennessee is part of the Mississippi River located near the Tennessee-Mississippi border which has an elevation of just 178 feet (54 m).
The highest unincorporated community in Tennessee is called Trade and can be found in Johnson County at an elevation of 3,100 feet (955 m), while the highest incorporated town or city is Mountain City, which has an elevation of 2,418 feet (737 m). Elsewhere in Tennessee, major cities around the state include Nashville, which has an elevation of 597 feet (182 m), Memphis, which is situated at an elevation of 337 feet (103 m), Chattanooga, which has an elevation of 676 feet (206 m), and Clarksville, which is located at an elevation of 476 feet (145 m).
Climate and More
The city of Knoxville has a humid subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and quite mild winters. The hottest period of the year is from June to August, with July being the hottest month of the year and enjoying daily average highs of 88°F (31°C), while the coldest month of the year is January which has average lows of 29°F (-2°C). The city of Knoxville sees over 47 inches of precipitation each year, with several inches of rain falling each month. Some snow can also fall from December through to March.
Knoxville is a lively city with a lot to offer both residents and visitors. The Downtown district is filled with 19th century architecture, while the city is also home to key museums and art centers like the Museum of East Tennessee History and Knoxville Museum of Art. The city also has a zoo and nature center, as well as various green areas for fishing, hiking, scenic trails, cycling, and more. Knoxville also has a lot of live shows and cultural events running throughout the year, including the popular Christmas in the City event in December and the Knoxville Marathon.
