Best Web Design in Knoxville, TN (2026)

Web Design for Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville hugs the Tennessee River at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, a former marble-quarrying and railroad town that grew into the home of the University of Tennessee and its orange-clad Volunteers. The 1982 World's Fair, dismissed in advance as a 'scruffy little city,' left behind the gold-globed Sunsphere and a downtown that locals proudly rebranded 'Scruffy City.' Market Square, the Old City, and the historic Tennessee Theatre anchor a lively food and music scene.

AppWT works with Knoxville, TN businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Knoxville

Also known as. The Marble City. Scruffy City. Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. K-Town.

History. In 1786 Revolutionary War veteran James White built White's Fort on the Tennessee River, the settlement that became Knoxville. Laid out in 1791 and named for Secretary of War Henry Knox, it became capital of the Southwest Territory and then the first capital of the State of Tennessee. Geographic isolation slowed early growth until the arrival of the railroad in 1855 triggered an economic boom. In the late 19th century, quarries producing 'Tennessee marble' supplied stone for monumental buildings nationwide, earning the 'Marble City' nickname. In the 1930s the Tennessee Valley Authority was established with headquarters in Knoxville, and the University of Tennessee expanded dramatically. In 1982 the city hosted a World's Fair themed on energy, drawing more than 11 million visitors and reinvigorating downtown.

Local economy. The Tennessee Valley Authority, headquartered downtown, is a major federal employer. The University of Tennessee's flagship campus is a central employer and economic engine. Nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Manhattan Project legacy site, supports a regional research and energy economy. Healthcare is a leading sector, anchored by systems such as Covenant Health and the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The historic marble industry gave the city both its 'Marble City' name and stone used in landmark buildings across the country.

Culture and community. University of Tennessee football fills Neyland Stadium, seating about 101,915, one of the largest stadiums in the world. The 'Vol Navy' tailgates by boat on the Tennessee River before games, a tradition dating to the 1960s when broadcaster George Mooney boated to the stadium to beat traffic. Market Square has been a downtown gathering place since the 1860s, hosting concerts, outdoor movies, and Shakespeare on the Square. The 1928 Tennessee Theatre, the official state theatre, and the Bijou Theatre host Broadway tours, films, and concerts. Festivals include the avant-garde Big Ears music festival, Rhythm N' Blooms, the Knoxville Film Festival, and the tongue-in-cheek International Biscuit Festival. The Old City nightlife district and a strong downtown dining scene round out the city's culture.

What makes Knoxville distinct. The Wall Street Journal called Knoxville a 'scruffy little city' in 1980; after the fair succeeded, locals embraced the insult with 'The Scruffy Little City Did It!' merchandise and the enduring 'Scruffy City' nickname. Mountain Dew was created in Knoxville by bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman around 1940 as a bourbon mixer; the name is old slang for moonshine. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born in Knoxville in 1963. Fans of the Volunteers arrive at home games by boat as the 'Vol Navy,' a floating tailgate on the river. The city collects an unusual number of nicknames, from Marble City and K-Town to Knox Vegas and Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Knoxville is the county seat of Knox County and the largest city in East Tennessee, home to the University of Tennessee and set on the Tennessee River in the Appalachian foothills.

Knoxville Landmarks and Local Life

• Sunsphere - 266-foot gold-globe tower built for the 1982 World's Fair and the city's best-known structure
• Market Square - Historic downtown square lined with restaurants, shops, and a public performance stage
• Neyland Stadium - Home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and one of the largest stadiums in the country
• World's Fair Park - Downtown park on the 1982 World's Fair site, home to the Sunsphere and Tennessee Amphitheater
• Ijams Nature Center - South Knoxville nature center and gateway to the city's Urban Wilderness trail network

Knoxville at a Glance

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023.

• Median household income: About $50,994
• Adults with a bachelor degree or higher: About 34%
• Housing: Under half of occupied homes (46.6%) are owner-occupied, reflecting a large student and renter population
• Housing: About 53% of housing units are single-family detached homes