The city of Knoxville is the 3rd biggest city in Tennessee State, USA, coming in after the cities of Memphis and Nashville. It was founded during 1786 and has a rich history. Knoxville forms the county seat of Knox County. Knoxville had a population of about 173,900 based on the United States Census taken during the year 2000. The population grew to around 183,550 during the month of July of 2007. The city of Knoxville was named for Henry Knox, the first Secretary of War.
In the whole Appalachia area, the city of Knoxville is the 2nd largest city and is the largest in the eastern part of Tennessee State. It also serves as the principal city within the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. This includes a metro population of 655,400 and forms the central portion of the Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette Combined Statistical Area that has around 1,029,155 residents.
Within the state of Tennessee, the city of Knoxville is among the 4 major cities and is the 2nd oldest to the city of Nashville. Only seven years prior to Knoxville's founding, Nashville was established. The state of Tennessee was admitted into the Union the same year Knoxville was founded during the year 1786. The City became first capital of Tennessee. In capacity it served until 1819. The capital was transferred to Murfreesboro before the city of Nashville received the honor.
In the start of the 20th century, there were numerous quarries which were active within Knoxville. These quarries provided Tennessee pink marble, which is actually Ordovician limestone from the Holston Formation and thus the nickname "The Marble City" was born. Many structures all around the USA are constructed out of Knoxville marble such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The fountains of the gallery were made by the Candoro Marble Company, who once ran the biggest marble lathes within the United States.
One more interesting truth about Knoxville is that the city was once regarded as the "Underwear Capital of the World." During the 1930s, there were at least 20 textile and clothing mills in operation in Knoxville, making this particular business the largest employer. The mills began to decline and close in the 1950s. During 1960, Knoxville experienced a population loss of 10 percent.
The city is located within the heart of the Tennessee Valley Corridor, that is a region famous high-tech industry. The overall economy of the city is somewhat diversified. Like for example, the nearby United States Department of Energy facility, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley Authority headquarters have various economic roles in the region. These institutions each partake in a technology transfer program which has enabled the start of several companies. There are a large number of incubator facilities within the area also.
There are a variety of manufacturing businesses in the city of Knoxville along with distribution and warehousing companies. Knoxville is likewise home to numerous telemarketing divisions of large businesses. The city of Knoxville has a thriving tourist trade as Knoxville is located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as different famous spots. Other specific economic elements are livestock, zinc mining, coal mining, dairy products and food crops.
The main growing sectors for the economy are the the professional, scientific services sector and the food services business. Major employment for Knoxville City is provided by companies which make products such as aluminum products, motor vehicle supplies, pleasure boats, processed foods, plastics, clothing, and manufactured housing.