History of Knoxville Tennessee begins with Cherokee homelands, James White’s settlement, territorial government, river trade, railroads, and industry. Its Knox County location along the Tennessee River shaped transportation and commerce.
Cherokee communities lived throughout East Tennessee before European American settlement. The rivers, valleys, and trading paths supported travel, agriculture, and established towns.
James White built a fortified settlement near the Tennessee River in 1786. Later, surrounding land developed into the community that became Knoxville.
The town was formally laid out in 1791 and named for Henry Knox. He served as the first United States secretary of war.