Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg is a mountain resort town in Sevier County, in eastern Tennessee. It covers 10.1 sq mi (26.3 sq km) and has a population of 3,300 people (2011 estimate). Its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes it a choice vacation getaway.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gatlinburg2.jpg
Author: Zereshk


The Gatlinburg area was used by Cherokee hunters as their hunting ground before the arrival of Europeans, with some of the footpaths in the forest dating to this period. The first white men to arrive in this area were hunters and fur trappers in the 18th century. One of the earliest to settle here was William Ogle (1751-1803).

The name Gatlinburg came from that of Radford Gatlin, who operated a general store in the area. The store doubled as a post office in 1856. A relatively newcomer, Gatlin and his clan regularly bickered with the Ogles. Eventually Gatlin was ousted from the town, as he was a Confederate sympathizer while most of the people there supported the Union. The town however continued to be called Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg prospered from the lumber industry, particularly in the late 19th century. Lumber companies and sawmills were established here by the turn of the century. On the other hand, conservationists heightened their concern over the extensive logging, and in 1911, Congress passed the Weeks Act so that land can be purchased and made into national forests. It eventually gave birth to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Today Gatlinburg has tourism as the mainstay of its economy.

Visiting Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is located to the southeast of Knoxville. Take Interstate 40 to Exit 407, then continue south on Tennessee State Route 66 (Winfield Dunn Parkway). At Sevierville, continue on Tennessee State Route 71 (US-441 Scenic Parkway) until you reach Gatlinburg.

Viewpoint in Viewpoint in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gatlinburg-TN-overlook1.jpg
Author: Mountain Vacation Resorts

Places of Interest in Gatlinburg

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