70-455: Gatlinburg is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee . It is located 39 miles (63 km) southeast of Knoxville and had a population of 3,944 at the 2010 Census and a U.S. Census population of 3,577 in 2020. It is a popular vacation resort, as it rests on the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park along U.S. Route 441 , which connects to Cherokee, North Carolina , on
140-450: A malaria epidemic swept the low country, and Ogle succumbed to the disease in 1803. His widow, Martha Huskey Ogle (1756–1827), moved the family to Virginia, where she had relatives. Sometime around 1806, Martha Huskey Ogle made the journey over Indian Gap Trail to what is now Gatlinburg with her brother, Peter Huskey, her daughter, Rebecca, and her daughter's husband, James McCarter. William Ogle's notched logs awaited them, and they erected
210-616: A cabin near the confluence of Baskins Creek and the West Fork of the Little Pigeon shortly after their arrival. The cabin still stands today near the heart of Gatlinburg. James and Rebecca McCarter settled in the Cartertown district of Gatlinburg. In the decade following the arrival of the Ogles, McCarters, and Huskeys in what came to be known as White Oak Flats, a steady stream of settlers moved into
280-584: A fort and would ride their horses around the Burg Hill ;... As the Union forces converged on the town, the outnumbered Confederates were forced to retreat across the Smokies to North Carolina. Confederate forces did not return, although sporadic small raids continued until the end of the war. In the 1880s, the invention of the bandsaw and the logging railroad led to a boom in the lumber industry. As forests throughout
350-399: A now-historic Swiss-style chalet he called Spindle Top, where he would die in 1936. Although some predicted that the loss of the lumber industry would doom Tuckaleechee, the explosion in tourism as a result of the park's founding contributed to the area economy, keeping it relatively healthy, even though the first resort hotel (Appalachian Club) burned in 1932 (and was restored) and the other,
420-488: A privately funded public transit system, caters to area tourists. The Gatlinburg SkyLift takes visitors up 1,800 feet (550 m) to the top of Crockett Mountain, to the longest footbridge in the US which spans two mountains. Ober Mountain is the only ski resort in the state. It has eight ski trails, three chair lifts, and a wildlife encounter area and is accessible by road or aerial tramway. Originally known as Ober Gatlinburg, it
490-635: A site of Native American occupation by varying cultures, Townsend is one of three "gateways" to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . It has several museums and attractions relating to the natural and human history of the Great Smokies. Native Americans were the first inhabitants of Tuckaleechee Cove on the Little River; the oldest archaeological finds in the cove date to 2000 B.C. A number of pottery fragments and ax heads dating to
560-571: A small fort on Burg Hill. Lucinda Oakley Ogle, whose grandfather witnessed the ensuing skirmish, later recounted her grandfather's recollections: ... he told me about when he was a sixteen-year-old boy during the Civil War and would hide under a big cliff on Turkey Nest Ridge and watch the Blue Coats ride their horses around the graveyard hill, shooting their cannon toward Burg Hill where the Grey Coats had
630-398: A small town primarily due to the large volume of tourists that pass through the area annually. Resort town A resort town , resort city or resort destination is an urban area where tourism or vacationing is the primary component of the local culture and economy . A typical resort town has one or more actual resorts in the surrounding area. Sometimes the term resort town
700-585: Is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the north, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (viz. the Sugarlands ) is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) to the south. TN-73 (Little River Road) forks off from 441 in the Sugarlands and heads west for roughly 25 miles (40 km), connecting the Gatlinburg area with Townsend and Blount County . U.S. Route 321 enters Gatlinburg from Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley to
770-567: Is located near the intersection of US 321 and SR 73. In the 1880s, the lumber industry experienced a boom, aided by two key innovations – the bandsaw and the logging railroad. Flatland forest resources in the Ohio Valley and along the Mississippi Delta were quickly exhausted by the high demand for wood for fuel for steamboats. Logging firms began turning to the untapped resources of more mountainous areas. In 1900, hoping to capitalize on
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#1732849064357840-588: Is used simply for a locale popular among tourists. One task force in British Columbia used the definition of an incorporated or unincorporated contiguous area where the ratio of transient rooms, measured in bed units, is greater than 60% of the permanent population. Generally, tourism is the main export in a resort town economy, with most residents of the area working in the tourism or resort industry. Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally themed souvenirs , motels , and unique restaurants often proliferate
910-529: The 2020 United States census , there were 3,577 people, 1,742 households, and 1,012 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 census , Gatlinburg had 3,944 people, 1,681 households, and 1,019 families residing in the city with 5,825 housing units available. The racial makeup of the city was 85.3% White , 0.6% African American , 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 8.9% from other races , and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race accounted for 15% of
980-513: The Little River Railroad to both transport the wood products to market, as well as (after about 1909) tourists escaping the summer heat of Knoxville to a resort town he developed in the cleared land, Elkmont . The railroad connected the sawmill with Walland to the west, and followed the Little River upstream to the southeast (Elkmont being about 5 miles from Kuwohi and near the Little River's headwaters). Townsend quickly profited from
1050-582: The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers . Gatlinburg has numbered intersections in the core of the town. The numbers hang from traffic lights or signs and are written on official tourist maps. (A similar idea was tried in Niagara Falls, New York , after the mayor of Niagara Falls visited Gatlinburg and took the idea back to Niagara Falls. The idea was short-lived in New York and was scrapped due to budget issues.) During
1120-728: The Overhill towns along the Little Tennessee River and another heading south to North Carolina . 19th-century anthropologist James Mooney recounted an attempted raid on the Cherokee villages in Tuckaleechee by the Shawano (Shawnee) in the mid-18th century. The raid was thwarted when a Cherokee conjurer named Deadwood Lighter envisioned the position of the Shawano ambush. The Cherokee surprised
1190-530: The Pi Beta Phi women's fraternity established a settlement school (now Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts ) in Gatlinburg after a survey of the region found the town to be most in need of educational facilities in the area. Although skeptical locals were initially worried that the fraternity might be religious propagandists or opportunists, the school's enrollment grew from 33 to 134 in its first year of operation. Along with providing basic education to children in
1260-636: The Woodland period have also been found. By 1200 A.D., Tuckaleechee's Native American inhabitants had built a fortified village near the cove's northern entrance. The Cherokee arrived in the area around 1600, and built a series of small villages along Little River. The name "Tuckaleechee" is from the Cherokee Tikwalitsi , and its original meaning is unknown. A branch of the Great Indian Warpath forked at this site, with one branch heading west to
1330-678: The Christmas season, the downtown area is decorated with lights for a "Winterfest Celebration", with a trolley service and shuttle bus available. Because of the ease of obtaining a marriage license in Tennessee, Gatlinburg is a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons. The town is mentioned in the lyrics to the Johnny Cash song A Boy Named Sue , written by Shel Silverstein . The Gatlinburg Convention Center has over 67,000 square feet (6,200 m) of exhibit space. The Convention Center hosts
1400-545: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Chimney Tops in November 2016, a moderately contained wildfire was compounded by very strong winds – with gusts recorded up to 87 miles per hour (140 km/h) – and extremely dry conditions due to drought, causing it to spread down into Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge , Pittman Center , and other nearby areas. It forced mass evacuations, and Governor Bill Haslam ordered
1470-499: The National Guard to the area. The center of Gatlinburg's tourist district escaped heavy damage, but the surrounding wooded region was called "the apocalypse" by a fire department lieutenant. Approximately 14,000 people were evacuated that evening, more than 2,400 structures were damaged or destroyed, and damages totaled more than $ 500 million. Fourteen people died in the fires, including local citizens and visiting tourists. Following
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#17328490643571540-653: The Southeastern United States were harvested, lumber companies pushed deeper into the mountain areas of the Appalachian highlands. In 1901, Colonel W.B. Townsend established the Little River Lumber Company in Tuckaleechee Cove to the west, and lumber interests began buying up logging rights to vast tracts of forest in the Smokies. Andrew Jackson Huff (1878–1949), originally of Greene County ,
1610-634: The West Fork of the Little Pigeon River from modern-day Sevierville through modern-day Pigeon Forge , Gatlinburg, and the Sugarlands, crossing the crest of the Smokies along the slopes of Mount Collins, and descending into North Carolina along the banks of the Oconaluftee River . US-441 largely follows this same route today, although it crests at Newfound Gap rather than Indian Gap. Although various 18th-century European and early American hunters and fur trappers probably traversed or camped in
1680-420: The age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.44. In the city, the population was spread out, with 12.3% under
1750-460: The age of 18, 2.5% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 36.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 36,250, and the median income for a family was $ 50,000. Males had a median income of $ 41,071 versus $ 29,375 for females. The per capita income for
1820-472: The annual week-long Gatlinburg Regional , the largest non-National bridge tournament in the U.S., which attracts over 3,000 players. The Gatlinburg Police Department, sometimes referred to as "GPD", is the primary law enforcement organization serving Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the United States. The department has a staff of 45 officers and 10 support personnel. The department maintains a large force size for
1890-405: The area include Cades Cove , Wear Cove, and Jones Cove. Tuckaleechee Cove is situated between Bates Mountain to the north and Rich Mountain to the south, with the cove's greater population estimated at around 1,500. The Little River , its source high in the mountains on the north slopes of Kuwohi , slices east-to-west through Tuckaleechee and drains much of the cove. The city of Townsend dominates
1960-477: The area, the school's staff created a small market for local crafts. Isolation in the region attracted folklorists such as Cecil Sharp of London to the area in the years following World War I . Sharp's collection of Appalachian ballads was published in 1932. Extensive logging in the early 1900s led to increased calls by conservationists for federal action, and in 1911, Congress passed the Weeks Act to allow for
2030-511: The area. Most were veterans of the American Revolution or War of 1812 who had converted the 50-acre (200,000 m) tracts they had received for service in war into deeds. Among these early settlers were Timothy Reagan (c. 1750–1830), John Ownby Jr. (1791–1857), and Henry Bohanon (1760–1842). Their descendants still live in the area today. In 1856, a post office was established in the general store of Radford Gatlin (c. 1798–1880), giving
2100-403: The city was $ 21,647. About 5.9% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.5% of those 65 or over. U.S. 321 , also known as Lamar Alexander Parkway and Wears Valley Road, is the main highway connecting Townsend with Walland (and eventually Maryville ) to the northwest and Pigeon Forge (via Wears Valley ) to
2170-478: The city was $ 24,423, and 15% of the population and 5.8% of families had income levels below the poverty line . 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those 65 years and older were living below the poverty line. As of July 1, 2017, the 2017 estimated population of Gatlinburg had increased to 4,163. Bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Gatlinburg is an important tourist destination in Tennessee, with many man-made attractions. The Gatlinburg Trolley,
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2240-439: The city. As of the census of 2000, there were 244 people, 124 households, and 80 families residing in the city. The population density was 265.7 inhabitants per square mile (102.6/km ). There were 217 housing units at an average density of 236.3 per square mile (91.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 97.95% White , 1.23% Native American and 0.82% Asian . There were 124 households, out of which 15.3% had children under
2310-477: The country's overall economic growth and development. In addition, business generated by resort towns have been credited with supporting the local economy through times of national market failure and depression. In a study conducted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Istanbul Technical University , 401 local residents in the resort community of Antalya were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on
2380-563: The devastation that occurred in Gatlinburg five days later. In May 2018, two Gatlinburg residents filed a $ 14.8 million lawsuit against the federal government for personal losses suffered in the fire. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26 km), all of which is land. It is surrounded on all sides by high ridges, with the Le Conte and Sugarland Mountain massifs rising to
2450-438: The downtown areas of a resort town. In the case of the United States, resort towns were created around the late 1800s and early 1900s with the development of early town-making. Many resort towns feature ambitious architecture, romanticizing their location, and dependence on cheap labor. If the resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature (such as a ski resort ), resort towns typically experience an on-season where
2520-403: The east-northeast, where it intersects U.S. 441 . Near the eastern end of Townsend, U.S. 321 tees north and then curves northeast, while Tennessee 73 continues straight and then turns southeast and heads straight into the national park . This road eventually intersects Little River Road at a popular swimming area known as "The Y". From this intersection, Cades Cove is 7 miles (11 km) to
2590-511: The eastern half of Tuckaleechee. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.6 km ), all land. As of 2004, annexation had considerably increased the size of the town to its current size. Townsend is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 550 people, 182 households, and 100 families residing in
2660-491: The economic impacts of tourism. Among the participants, 67% had lived in Antalya for over ten years, 66% had at least a high school degree, and 30% reported jobs that were related to tourism. The results are as follows: Perceived impact on select economic impact items (Antalya) More recently, resort towns have come under greater scrutiny by local communities. Instances where resort towns are poorly managed have adverse effects on
2730-445: The farm of "Capt. Dillon." Moonshine , cornbread, eggs and ham were served, and revelers danced to music provided by a fiddle-and- dulcimer duo. To win dance partners, the men engaged in a display of "feats of strength", while the women quilted . The exiled Irish patriot and Young Irelander John Mitchel lived and farmed here with his family for some years in the late 1850s. A Tennessee Historical Commission marker dedicated to him
2800-464: The fires, the town of Gatlinburg was shut down and considered a crime scene. The city reopened to residents only after a few days but maintained a strict curfew for more than a week, only reopening to the public after the curfew was lifted. In June 2017, the Sevier County district attorney dropped charges against two juveniles accused of starting the fire due to an inability to prove their actions led to
2870-483: The flats where Gatlinburg is now situated, it was Edgefield, South Carolina , native William Ogle (1751–1803) who first decided to permanently settle in the area. With the help of the Cherokee, Ogle cut, hewed, and notched logs in the flats, planning to erect a cabin the following year. He returned home to Edgefield to retrieve his family and grow one final crop for supplies. However, shortly after his arrival in Edgefield,
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2940-475: The forests of the Little River bottomlands. In 1916, he reported that Little River Lumber's consistently high rate of planks per acre showed no sign of decline. A single giant chestnut tree in the Smokies could yield 18,000 planks of lumber. Townsend's success led to a rapid expansion of logging operations throughout the Smokies. By the time the park was formed in the 1930s, nearly two-thirds of area forests had been cut down, and park managers have worked to restore
3010-420: The forests. The rapid destruction of the forests of southern Appalachia led to increased efforts by conservationists to slow or halt logging operations. Col. Townsend initially opposed the effort, but after some wavering, sold at base price 76,000 acres (310 km ) of his Little River Lumber tract in 1926 to what would eventually become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Townsend lived near Elkmont in
3080-534: The ground due to faulty wiring in a light fixture. The Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum was consumed by the fire, along with an arcade, haunted house, and souvenir shop. The blaze was stopped before it could consume the adjacent 32-story Gatlinburg Space Needle . Known to locals as "Rebel Corner," the block was completely rebuilt and reopened to visitors in 1995. Few artifacts from the Ripley's Museum were salvaged, and those that survived are marked with that designation in
3150-592: The historic Wonderland Hotel at Elkmont collapsed in 2005 and arson destroyed the remainder (and some historic cottages) in 2017. Townsend is located in eastern Blount County. It is situated in Tuckaleechee Cove , one of several " limestone windows " that dot the northern base of the Smokies. These windows form when erosional forces carry away the older rocks (mostly sandstone ), exposing the younger rock below (i.e., limestone ). Limestone windows are normally flatter than other mountainous valleys, and are typically coated with rich, fertile soil. Other limestone windows in
3220-969: The host country or the local communities. Income to local communities generated by tourism are all of the expenditures accrued after taxes, profits, and wages are paid out; however, around 80% of traveler's expenditures go to airlines, hotels, and international companies, not to local businesses. These funds are referred to as leakages . Tourism has also been blamed for other negative economic impacts to local communities. Although resort towns usually boast more improved infrastructure than surrounding areas, these developments usually present high costs to local governments and tax payers. Reallocating government funds to subsidize infrastructure and tax breaks to firms shift available funding to local education and health services. In addition, resort towns typically do not have dynamic economies, resulting in an over dependence on one industry. Economic dependence on tourism poses particular challenges to resort towns and its local residents given
3290-519: The local economy. One example is the uneven distribution of income and land ownership between local residents and businesses. During tourist season, increased demand for accommodation may raise the price of land, causing a simultaneous increase in rent for local residents whose income in invariably lower than foreign residents. This results in a preponderance of foreigners in the land market and an erosion of economic opportunities for local residents. The revenues amassed from tourism typically do not benefit
3360-549: The movement in the Gatlinburg area, and he opened the first hotel in Gatlinburg – the Mountain View Hotel – in 1916. His son, Jack, established LeConte Lodge atop Mount Le Conte in 1926. In spite of resistance from lumberers at Elkmont and difficulties with the Tennessee legislature, Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened in 1934. The park radically changed Gatlinburg. When the Pi Beta Phis arrived in 1912, Gatlinburg
3430-460: The national park units in the area (though not open to the public). Tuckaleechee Caverns – a mile-long cave system that reaches depths of up to 150 feet (46 m) – is also nearby. Just to the north and west of Townsend, the Foothills Parkway is a national parkway that traverses Chilhowee Mountain and offers multiple scenic overlooks at high elevations , with views of the Smokies to
3500-423: The near virgin forests of the Smokies, Colonel W.B. Townsend of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania purchased 86,000 acres (350 km ) of land along the Little River, stretching from Tuckaleechee Cove all the way to Kuwohi . The following year, Townsend incorporated the Little River Lumber Company. The community that developed around his bandsaw mill in Tuckaleechee became named after him. Townsend also incorporated
3570-419: The new museum. The fire prompted new downtown building codes and a new downtown fire station. Ripley's has caught fire twice since it reopened, once in 2000 and again in 2003. Both of those fires, coincidentally, were caused by faulty light fixtures. The 2000 fire caused no damage, and the 2003 fire was contained to the building's exterior, with the museum suffering minimal damage, primarily cosmetic. Starting in
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#17328490643573640-457: The north before turning east and connecting the city to Newport and Cosby . Gatlinburg has a humid subtropical climate ( Koppen : Cfa ) with hot, humid summers and cool, wet winters. Precipitation is heavy year round, peaking in the months of May–July, with October being the driest month, with only 3.19 inches (81 mm) of average precipitation Snowfall is lower in the valley, averaging about 8 inches (20 cm) of annual snowfall. As of
3710-443: The park's arrival benefited Gatlinburg and made many of the town's residents wealthy, the tourism explosion led to problems with air quality and urban sprawl . Even in modern times, the town's infrastructure is often pushed to the limit on peak vacation days and must consistently adapt to accommodate the growing number of tourists. On the night of July 14, 1992, Gatlinburg gained national attention when an entire city block burned to
3780-443: The population. Of the 1,681 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.4% were non-families. Individuals living alone accounted for 29.4% of the non-family households, and 11.3% of those living alone were 65 years of age or older. The average household size
3850-483: The purchase of land for national forests. Authors such as Horace Kephart and Knoxville-area businesses began advocating for the creation of a national park in the Smokies that would be similar to Yellowstone or Yosemite in the Western United States. With the purchase of 76,000 acres (310 km) in the Little River Lumber Company tract in 1926, the movement quickly became a reality. Andrew Huff spearheaded
3920-442: The quick development of retirement and vacation-based residences. However, most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live the area in which they are employed. Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where the majority of the resort workforce lives. Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth , due to
3990-455: The raiders from the rear, killing many of them and chasing the rest back over the crest of the Smokies. By the time the first Euro-American settlers arrived in Tuckaleechee in the late 18th century, the Cherokee had abandoned these villages. They moved south and west to evade encroachment by the colonists. In 1843, humorist George Washington Harris published an account of a country dance held that year in Tuckaleechee ("Tuck-a-lucky") Cove on
4060-568: The residents of the flats, who were mostly pro- Union , and he was forced out in 1859. Despite its anti-slavery sentiments, Gatlinburg, like most Smoky communities, tried to remain neutral during the war. This changed when a company of Confederate Colonel William Holland Thomas ' Legion occupied the town to protect the saltpeter mines at Alum Cave, near the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Federal forces marched south from Knoxville and Sevierville to drive out Thomas' men, who had built
4130-526: The seasonal nature of the economy, the dependence on a single industry, and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce. Local residents are generally receptive of the economic impacts of tourism. Resort towns tend to enjoy lower unemployment rates, improved infrastructure, more advanced telecommunication and transportation capabilities, and higher standards of living and greater income in relation to those who live outside this area. Increased economic activity in resort towns can also have positive effects on
4200-560: The seasonal nature of the job market in some areas. Local residents of resort towns face job insecurity, difficulties in obtaining training, medical-benefits, and housing. Tuckaleechee Cove Townsend is a city in Blount County, Tennessee . The city was chartered in 1921 by persons who were involved with the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company. The population was 550 at the 2020 census . For thousands of years
4270-491: The south, Cove Mountain to the west, Big Ridge to the northeast, and Grapeyard Ridge to the east. The main watershed is the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River , which flows from its source on the slopes of Mount Collins to its junction with the Little Pigeon at Sevierville . U.S. Route 441 is the main traffic artery in Gatlinburg, running through the center of town from north to south. Farther along 441, Pigeon Forge
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#17328490643574340-483: The southeast side of the national park . Prior to incorporation, the town was known as White Oak Flats , or simply White Oak . For centuries, Cherokee hunters, as well as other Native American hunters before them, used a footpath known as the Indian Gap Trail to access the abundant game in the forests and coves of the Smokies. This trail connected the Great Indian Warpath with Rutherford Indian Trace, following
4410-406: The town is bustling with tourists and workers, and an off-season where the town is populated only by a small amount of local year-round residents. In addition, resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes , which typically drives up property values and the cost of living in the region. Sometimes, resort towns can become boomtowns due to
4480-452: The town the name "Gatlinburg." Even though the town bore his name, Gatlin, who didn't arrive in the flats until around 1854, constantly bickered with his neighbors. By 1857, a full-blown feud had erupted between the Gatlins and the Ogles, probably over Gatlin's attempts to divert the town's main road. The eve of the U.S. Civil War found Gatlin, who became a Confederate sympathizer, at odds with
4550-527: The west, and the Sugarlands and Gatlinburg are roughly 18 miles (29 km) to the east. Townsend is home to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center , which preserves various aspects of the region's history, and the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum, which recounts the area's logging history. Next to the heritage center is the new National Park Service Collections Preservation Center, which archives items from all of
4620-413: Was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.8. The city's population consisted of 18.5% of individuals under the age of 20, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.7 years. The ratio of males to females was almost equivalent at 1.02:1 (1,990 males to 1,954 females). For adult individuals 18 or older, the ratio of males to females
4690-430: Was a pivotal figure in Gatlinburg at this time. Huff erected a sawmill in Gatlinburg in 1900, and local residents began supplementing their income by providing lodging to loggers and other lumber company officials. Tourists also began to trickle into the area, drawn to the Smokies by the writings of authors such as Mary Noailles Murfree and Horace Kephart , who wrote extensively about the region's natural wonders. In 1912,
4760-502: Was a small hamlet with six houses, a blacksmith shop, a general store, a Baptist church, and a greater community of 600 individuals, most of whom lived in log cabins. In 1934, the first year the park was open, an estimated 40,000 visitors passed through the city. Within a year, this number had increased over twelvefold to 500,000. From 1940 to 1950, the cost per acre of land in Gatlinburg increased from $ 50 (equivalent to $ 1,000 in 2023) to $ 8,000 (equivalent to $ 101,000 in 2023). While
4830-458: Was also very close at 1.03:1 (1,671 males to 1,628 females). According to data in the 2012–2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for Gatlinburg, the median income for a household in Gatlinburg was estimated at $ 36,445, with an estimated median family income of $ 42,903. For individuals who were employed full-time, males had a median income of $ 30,159 versus $ 24,528 for females. The per capita income for
4900-609: Was rebranded following its purchase in 2022 by local entrepreneur Joe Baker. Gatlinburg Space Needle provides views of the Smoky Mountains. The Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community is an 8-mile loop located on the north side of town that focuses on preserving traditional mountain crafts. The Ripley's group of attractions includes Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and a number of themed exhibits. Theme parks Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country —both named for Dolly Parton —are located in nearby Pigeon Forge . Museums include
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