Timeline of Knoxville, Tennessee

Prior to 19th century

1786 – White's Fort built.

1791

Knoxville founded as the capital of the Southwest Territory, named for Henry Knox

Knoxville Gazette newspaper begins publication.

1792 – Blount Mansion built.

1793 – First Presbyterian Church established.

1794 – Blount College (later the University of Tennessee) established.

1796 – Knoxville becomes capital of new U.S. state of Tennessee.

19th century

1806 – Hampden and Sydney School incorporated.

1815 – City of Knoxville incorporated.

1816 – Thomas Emmerson becomes mayor.

1817 – Knoxville Hotel in business.

1818 – Craighead-Jackson House (residence) built.

1827 – Knoxville Female Academy established.

1828 – The Atlas becomes the first steamboat to reach Knoxville, having successfully navigated the lower Tennessee River

1834 – East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society founded.

1844 – Tennessee Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb established.

1845 – Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church congregation established.

1849 – Brownlow's Whig newspaper relocates to Knoxville.

1850

Old Gray Cemetery established.

Population: 2,076.

First Baptist Church built.

1854

James C. Luttrell becomes mayor.

Market Square established

1855

East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad begins operating.

William Graham Swan becomes mayor.

1863

Siege of Knoxville.

Battle of Fort Sanders.

Knoxville National Cemetery established.

1864 – E.J. Sanford and Company in business.

1868 – City Hall built on Market Square.

1869 – Knoxville Industrial Association founded.

1870

Ebenezer Mill built (approximate date).

Population: 8,682.

1871 – Cowan, McClung and Co. building constructed.

1872 – Staub's Theatre opens.

1873 – William Rule becomes mayor.

1874

Customs House built.

Peter Staub becomes mayor.

1875 – Knoxville College founded.

1885

Knoxville Fire Department and Lawson McGhee Library established.

Knox County Courthouse built.

1886 – Sentinel newspaper (later the Knoxville News Sentinel) begins publication.

1887

Knoxville Negro World newspaper begins publication.

Chamber of Commerce established.

1888

Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company in business.

Martin Condon becomes mayor.

1890

Peter Kern becomes mayor.

Population: 22,535.

Electric streetcar begins operating.

1891 – H. T. Hackney Company in business.

1892 – St. John's Cathedral rebuilt.

1896 - Flag of Knoxville, Tennessee is designed

1897

"Million Dollar Fire" destroys part of Gay Street.

Market House rebuilt on Market Square.

North Knoxville (modern Old North Knoxville) becomes part of city

1898

West Knoxville (modern Fort Sanders) becomes part of city.

Gay Street Bridge constructed.

20th century

1905

Knoxville Railway and Light Company established.

L&N Station (Knoxville) built.

1909 – Knoxville City Beautiful League organized.

1910

First Appalacian Exposition held.

Population: 36,346.

1911 – Second Appalachian Exposition held.

1912 – The city replaces its mayor-alderman form of government with a commission.

1913 – National Conservation Exposition held.

1914 – Candoro Marble Works in operation.

1917

Park City becomes part of the city.

South Knoxville becomes part of the city.

1919

Riot of 1919 takes place.

October: Streetcar strike.

1920 – Population: 77,818.

1921 – WNAV radio begins broadcasting.

1923 – The city replaces its commission with a city manager-council form of government; Louis Brownlow hired as first city manager

1925 – City government moves to City Hall on Summit Hill Drive.

1926

Knoxville News Sentinel in publication.

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church built.

1927 – Daylight Building constructed.

1928

Tennessee Theatre opens.

James Alexander Fowler becomes mayor.

1930

Andrew Johnson Building constructed.

Population: 105,802.

1931 – Henley Street Bridge constructed.

1932 – Church Street Methodist Episcopal Church built.

1933 – Tennessee Valley Authority headquartered in Knoxville.

1934 – United States Post Office and Courthouse built.

1938 – Park Theatre opens.

1940 – Population: 111,580.

1942 – Town of Oak Ridge developed near Knoxville.

1943 – Oak Ridge National Laboratory established near Knoxville.

1946

Cas Walker becomes mayor.

Journalist John Gunther dubs Knoxville the "ugliest city" in America, sparking beautification efforts

1947 – Office of City Manager merged with Mayor's office

1950 – Population: 124,769.

1951 - Municipal Zoo established.

1952 – George Roby Dempster becomes mayor.

1959 – John Duncan, Sr. becomes mayor.

1960

African-American civil rights protest.

Population: 111,827.

1962

Fountain City and Bearden become part of the city.

Highlander Research and Education Center relocates to Knoxville from Monteagle.

1970 – Population: 174,587.

1972 – Kyle Testerman becomes mayor.

1974 – Streaking occurs.

1976 – Randy Tyree becomes mayor.

1980 – Population: 175,045.

1981 – Knoxville Community Food Cooperative organized.

1982 – 1982 World's Fair held; Sunsphere built.

1983

Knoxville Opera Company active.

Halls Cinema in business.

1984 – Doyle Park established.

1985 – Riverview Tower built.

1987 – Victor Ashe becomes mayor.

1988

WCKS radio begins broadcasting.

Jimmy Duncan Jr. becomes U.S. representative for Tennessee's 2nd congressional district.

1990 – Population: 165,121.

1991 – City bicentennial.

1992 – Petro's Chili & Chips franchise headquartered in Knoxville.

1994 – Home & Garden Television headquartered in Knoxville.

1995 - City website online.

1996

Knoxville-Oak Ridge Regional Network online.

Adair Park built.

1998 - Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership organized.

21st century

2003 – Bill Haslam becomes mayor.

2005

Knoxville Marathon begins.

Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound and Three Rivers Market food co-op established.

2010 – Population: 178,874.

2011 – Daniel Brown becomes mayor, succeeded by Madeline Rogero.