Sevier County, Tennessee

Sevier County (/səˈvɪər/ "severe") is a county of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,889.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Sevierville.[3]

Sevier County
U.S. county
County of Sevier
Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°47′N 83°31′W
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedSeptember 28, 1794
Named forJohn Sevier[1]
SeatSevierville
Largest citySevierville
Area
 • Total598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Land593 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Water5.2 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
98,250
 • Density152/sq mi (59/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.seviercountytn.gov

Sevier County comprises the Sevierville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Knoxville-Morristown-Sevierville, TN Combined Statistical Area.

History

Prior to the arrival of white settlers in present-day Sevier County in the mid-18th century, the area had been inhabited for as many as 20,000 years by nomadic and semi-nomadic Native Americans. In the mid-16th century, Spanish expeditions led by Hernando de Soto (1540) and Juan Pardo (1567) passed through what is now Sevier County, reporting that the region was part of the domain of Chiaha, a minor Muskogean chiefdom centered around a village located on a now-submerged island just upstream from modern Douglas Dam. By the late 17th-century, however, the Cherokee— whose ancestors were living in the mountains at the time of the Spaniards' visit— had become the dominant tribe in the region. Although they used the region primarily as hunting grounds, the Chicakamauga faction of the Cherokee vehemently fought white settlement in their territory, frequently leading raids on households, even through the signing of various peace treaties, alternating short periods of peace with violent hostility, until forcibly marched from their territory by the U.S. government on the "Trail of Tears".[4]

Sevier County was formed on September 18, 1794 from part of neighboring Jefferson County, and has retained its original boundaries ever since. The county takes its name from John Sevier, governor of the failed State of Franklin and first governor of Tennessee, who played a prominent role during the early years of settlement in the region.[5] Since its establishment in 1795, the county seat has been situated at Sevierville (also named for Sevier), the eighth-oldest city in Tennessee.

Sevier County was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War. When Tennessee held a vote on the state's Ordinance of Secession on June 8, 1861, Sevier Countians voted 1,528 to 60 in favor of remaining in the Union.[6] In November 1861, William C. Pickens, Sheriff of Sevier County, led a failed attempt to destroy the railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains as part of the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy.[7]

Prior to the late 1930s, Sevier County's population, economy, and society— which relied primarily on subsistence agriculture— held little significance vis-à-vis any other county in the rural South. However, with the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1930s, the future of Sevier County (within which lies thirty percent of the total area of the national park) changed drastically. Today, tourism supports the county's economy.

Geography
Mountains over Sevier County at sunset from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 598 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) is water.[8] The southern part of Sevier County is located within the Great Smoky Mountains, and is protected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The northern parts of the county are located within the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. Sevier contains the highest point in Tennessee, Clingmans Dome, which rises to 6,643 feet (2,025 m) along the county's border with North Carolina. Mount Guyot, located in the Eastern Smokies in the extreme eastern part of the county, is the state's second-highest mountain at 6,621 feet (2,018 m). The 6,593-foot (2,010 m) Mount Le Conte, a very prominent mountain visible from much of the central part of the county, is the state's third-highest.

Sevier County is drained primarily by the French Broad River, which passes through the northern part of the county. A portion of the French Broad is part of Douglas Lake, an artificial reservoir created by Douglas Dam in the northeastern part of the county. The three forks of the Little Pigeon River (East, Middle, and West) flow northward from the Smokies, converge near Sevierville, and empty into the French Broad north of Sevierville. The West Fork is the best known, as it flows through the popular tourist areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

The maximum elevation differential in Sevier County is the greatest in Tennessee, ranging from a high of 6,643 feet (2,025 m) at Clingmans Dome to a low of 850 feet (260 m) at the French Broad River.[9]

Sunset over Bluff Mountain

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

State protected area
  • Roundtop Mountain State Natural Area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18003,419—
18104,59534.4%
18204,7723.9%
18305,71719.8%
18406,44212.7%
18506,9207.4%
18609,12231.8%
187011,02820.9%
188015,54140.9%
189018,76120.7%
190022,02117.4%
191022,2961.2%
192023,3844.9%
193020,480−12.4%
194023,29113.7%
195023,3750.4%
196024,2513.7%
197028,24116.5%
198041,41846.7%
199051,04323.2%
200071,17039.4%
201089,88926.3%
2019 (est.)98,250[10]9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2014[2]
Age pyramid Sevier County[15]

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 89,889 people, 37,583 households, and a homeownership rate of 68.7 percent, below the state average. The population density was 120 inhabitants per square mile (46/km2). There were 37,252 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile (24/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.80% White, 0.86% Asian, 0.80% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 5.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 28,467 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,719, and the median income for a family was $40,474. Males had a median income of $27,139 versus $20,646 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,064. About 8.20% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Sevier County was Tennessee's third fastest-growing county by percentage change in population between the 1990 census and 2000 census.[17]

Government

The head of the Sevier County government, the county mayor (known as county executive until 2003), is elected in county-wide elections. The mayor serves along with a 25-member board of elected commissioners representing districts covering the many small communities spread across the county.

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 77.6% 33,783 20.0% 8,721 2.4% 1,031
2016 78.8% 28,629 17.3% 6,297 3.8% 1,386
2012 76.7% 25,984 21.9% 7,418 1.4% 462
2008 73.4% 24,922 25.4% 8,604 1.2% 415
2004 71.5% 22,143 27.8% 8,621 0.7% 206
2000 66.0% 16,734 32.4% 8,208 1.7% 423
1996 56.8% 11,847 34.2% 7,136 8.9% 1,863
1992 55.1% 11,714 31.6% 6,719 13.3% 2,833
1988 76.3% 11,920 23.3% 3,643 0.4% 68
1984 78.0% 12,517 21.1% 3,384 0.9% 140
1980 73.3% 10,576 23.9% 3,450 2.9% 413
1976 64.4% 7,608 33.8% 3,993 1.8% 213
1972 86.4% 8,273 11.8% 1,128 1.9% 177
1968 74.7% 7,629 10.9% 1,112 14.5% 1,476
1964 69.5% 6,821 30.5% 2,995
1960 85.1% 7,818 14.6% 1,341 0.4% 33
1956 86.5% 6,950 13.0% 1,043 0.6% 45
1952 87.2% 7,244 12.8% 1,066
1948 84.1% 5,049 14.0% 840 1.9% 114
1944 87.2% 4,930 12.6% 711 0.2% 10
1940 79.5% 4,569 20.5% 1,181
1936 77.7% 4,126 21.6% 1,144 0.7% 38
1932 77.0% 3,075 22.2% 887 0.8% 31
1928 92.5% 3,858 7.4% 308 0.1% 5
1924 88.2% 3,517 11.2% 448 0.6% 24
1920 93.6% 6,006 6.3% 404 0.1% 7
1916 90.4% 2,837 9.6% 301 0.0% 1
1912 26.0% 967 9.2% 341 64.8% 2,411

Sevier County, like most of East Tennessee, votes strongly Republican in Presidential elections. The last election in which a Republican failed to carry it was in 1912, when the Progressive Theodore Roosevelt carried it. It has not been carried by a Democrat since 1832, when it went for Andrew Jackson. In 1916 it gave Charles Hughes 90.38 percent of the vote—reportedly his highest percentage of any county in the nation.[19] In 1932 Herbert Hoover received 77.01% of the vote[20] and in 1936 Alf Landon received 77.73%.[21] Since 1916 no Republican candidate has received less than 55% of the county's vote and in 2008 John McCain received 73.4%.[22] All of the county's state legislators are Republicans, and Republican candidates routinely garner well over 70 percent of the vote on the occasions they face opposition at all.

Economy
Rental cabins in the Smokies
Overlooking Walden Creek Road in Sevier County, Tennessee

From its beginnings as a traditional subsistence-based farming society, Sevier County has grown into a major tourist destination since the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which dominates the southern portion of the county. One of the very reasons for the park's creation, however, was also one of the county's first major economic engines: the lumber industry. Establishments in what is now the national park felled large amounts of timber in the early 1900s. Though the park effectively killed the logging industry in the late 1930s, it spurred the development of one of the largest tourist resorts in the United States of America, as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now the most visited national park in the country.[23] In recent years the tourism bubble has expanded beyond the city of Gatlinburg, which borders the northwestern segment of the national park, and into the nearby cities of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

The commercial cabin rental industry has grown tremendously in recent years.

Tourist attractions

The tourism industry drives the county's economy. The following destinations are among the most lucrative for the area:

  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park, southern Sevier County: Established in 1936 and propelling the tourism industry in Sevier County ever since, the national park is the most visited in the entire system, welcoming over 10 million nature enthusiasts every year, most of whom arrive through Sevier County.[24]
  • Dollywood, Pigeon Forge: The theme park named for part-owner Dolly Parton (who was born in Locust Ridge) admits nearly 3 million guests a year, making it both the most popular theme park and most frequented attraction (after the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) in Tennessee.[25]
  • Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg: Opened in 2000 and designated the most visited aquarium in the United States in 2001, when over 2 million tourists passed through its galleries, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is the largest single tourist draw in Gatlinburg.[26]
  • Ober Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg: The Ober Gatlinburg ski resort sits above Gatlinburg, offering numerous attractions for visitors unique to the county, including winter ski slopes and an indoor ice skating rink. The tramway that takes visitors to and from the resort is touted as "America's Largest Aerial Tramway."[27]
  • Smoky Mountain Opry, Pigeon Forge: A musical revue stage show that debuted in 2011. It offers both that program during the majority of the year, as well as the "Christmas Spectacular" during the winter months.
  • Foxfire Mountain Themed Adventure Park, Sevierville: A 150-acre wilderness theme park located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains offers a wide range of outdoor adventures including: zip lining, ATV tours, climbing walls, free-fall jumps, aerial adventure courses, hiking trails and the longest swinging bridge in the United States.
  • TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena, Pigeon Forge: a trampoline park located at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a safe and extreme adventure for people of all ages. Considered Pigeon Forge's top Indoor Attraction, TopJump offers 21 Cliffhanger climbing challenges, a Boneyard Stunt Tower, AirStrike Dodgeball, Fire & Ice Ninja Course, a 5000 square foot arcade, a Hologate Virtual Reality gaming system.
  • Crave Golf Club, Pigeon Forge: features the only 19-hole indoor golf course in the Smokies, as well as a 19-hole Rooftop Course. Also contains a candy land theme and candy store. The course also features the only mini-bowling alley in Pigeon Forge and 2 state-of-the-art escape rooms. Is ranked Pigeon Forge's Best Mini-Golf & Ranked Top 13 Mini-Golf Courses in the Country.

Education

The Sevier County school system is composed of thirty-two public and private institutions ranging from Head Start programs through a number of secondary schools. In addition, two post-secondary institutions have campuses within the county.

Colleges and universities

There are two post-secondary institutions in the county, both located in Sevierville. The first is a satellite campus of the Morristown-based Walters State Community College.[28] The second is a satellite campus of Johnson City-based East Tennessee State University.[29]

Parks

In addition to the federally operated Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier County is home to numerous smaller community parks, primarily within the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. The most significant of them are listed as follows:

  • Holt Park (Gatlinburg)
  • Mills Park (Gatlinburg)
  • Mynatt Park (Gatlinburg)
  • Northview Optimist Park (Kodak)
  • Patriot Park (Pigeon Forge)
  • Pigeon Forge City Park
  • Sevierville City Park

Transportation

The massive development of the tourism industry in Sevier County in recent years, while blessing the county with good economic fortunes, has put a major stress on the county's roadways. In an effort to control this the county has put forth numerous projects to widen existing highways, and the cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have also implemented a bus service oriented towards visitors, which ferries tourists to and from various popular destinations throughout the towns via decorated buses referred to as "trolleys."[30][31]

Highways
This Rock City Barn is located just off of U.S. 411, in northeast Sevier County

The Great Smoky Mountains Parkway connects Interstate 40 (Exit 407) to the national park via the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. From the exit, the Parkway follows Tennessee State Route 66 ("Winfield Dunn Parkway") into Sevierville, where it becomes U.S. Route 441/Tennessee State Route 71 as TN-66 terminates at a four-way intersection where US-441 splits from U.S. Route 411 and changes direction. It continues along US-441 through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, before entering the national park, where it ascends to the crest of the Smokies at Newfound Gap and crosses into North Carolina (although by this time it is no longer known as the "Great Smoky Mountains Parkway"). The Parkway is joined U.S. Route 321 in Pigeon Forge and they run concurrently until US-321 splits away in downtown Gatlinburg. Along this stretch of U.S. and Tennessee highways, a nearly continuous tourist sprawl (separated only by a spur route of the Foothills Parkway, known as "the spur") has emerged in the three communities.

Airports

Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (KGKT)

Communities

Sevier County, like much of rural Southern Appalachia, consists of relatively few incorporated municipalities and numerous unincorporated settlements.

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Beulah Duggan Linn, "Sevier County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Trail of Tears, National Park Service. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  5. Origins of Tennessee County Names, Tennessee Blue Book, 2005, p. 512.
  6. Oliver Perry Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.
  7. Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War, pp. 381-383.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  9. Tom Dunigan, "Tennessee County High Points," Tennessee Landforms, November 2, 2012. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  15. Based on 2000 census data
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. Census data for Tennessee counties in 1990 and 2000
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  19. David Leip's Presidential Atlas: Statistics for 1916
  20. David Leip's Presidential Atlas: Statistics for 1932
  21. David Leip's Presidential Atlas: Statistics for 1936
  22. The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Tennessee)
  23. Great Smoky Mountains National Park-infoplease.com Ten Most Visited National Parks. Infoplease.com. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  24. Hetter, Katia (April 19, 2020). "Most visited national parks and sites in 2019". CNN. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  25. Debczak, Michele (December 27, 2019). "12 Fun Facts About Dollywood". Mental Floss. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  26. David Williams, "Will Fish Lure Tourists to Atlanta?" CNN.com, November 21, 2005. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  27. Mike Doyle, "Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area Archived February 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine," About.com. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  28. "Sevier County Campus". ws.edu.
  29. "Sevierville Center". www.etsu.edu. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  30. Pigeon Forge Trolley. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  31. Gatlinburg Trolley Department Archived July 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved: March 29, 2013.
  32. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/15/tennessee-prosecutor-scrubbed-evidence-attendance-capitol-rally-before-riot/4163220001/?fbclid=IwAR08PCuC-RirM7IE4kLhKydIXkM8C9dAXBfZqTTTwY9KEamWu_Zcra2WUdI
  33. Richard B. Woodward, Cormac McCarthy's Venomous Fiction, The New York Times, April 19, 1992

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