Knoxville's Little Known History

Mayor

Indya Kincannon
[email protected]
(865) 215-2040

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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In honor of the City's 225th Anniversary, check out these little known facts and history of the City of Knoxville.


City Flag Nears 120th Anniversary

City FlagDid you know that Knoxville has an official City flag? If not, then here's another surprise: Knoxville's official colors are white, blue, red, black and gold.

No orange.

October 16 marks the 120th anniversary of the Knoxville City Council in 1896 adopting an ordinance establishing an official City flag, colors and coat of arms.

As Knoxville approaches the 225th anniversary of its founding on Oct. 3, 2016, we look back at City government's little-known historical facts and interesting trivia.

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Aldermanic Bicentennial

City Council 1926. Photo from the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection. In 1791, when Knoxville was founded, it wasn’t actually as a city government.

Knoxville was first recognized as the capital of the Southwest Territory. A quarter century later, in 1816, the City of Knoxville officially incorporated. It was managed by a Board of Aldermen, beginning 200 years ago last January.

Of the seven men who served on Knoxville’s first Board of Aldermen, none are known to be from Tennessee. At least three were immigrants from Ireland.

Fast forward 108 years. By 1924, the board was becoming known as City Council - and it’s remained that way ever since.

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A Moveable City Hall

Market HouseOn the north end of Market Square, where the stage is now, once stood a three-story Victorian brick building, the Market House. Also at that site was the first recognizable seat of government for the City of Knoxville.

In 1868, 52 years after Knoxville became an incorporated city, the Board of Aldermen finally had a place to meet and call City Hall.

It is unclear where the Board met before 1868; some documents specify the courthouse, and other documents are not specific.

One of most notable things to happen at the first City Hall occurred in 1869, when Knoxville’s first black aldermen, Isaac Gammon and David Brown, were elected to office.

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Check Out Portraits of Mayors Past

Gallery of Mayor Paintings On the fifth floor of the City County Building, you'll find a unique gallery - dozens of portraits of Knoxville's former mayors, starting with the City's first executive, Thomas Emmerson (elected in 1816). 

Sure, you won't find a Rembrandt in the collection. There's no Mona Lisa, either.

But for anyone curious about how history and art intertwine, walking the fifth-floor atrium and gazing at the sequenced portraits would make for an interesting outing.

There are oddities, for sure: William Rule (1873; 1898-99) sports a Colonel Sanders-like goatee. He's one of 14 mayors with facial hair. J.H. Cowan (1856, 1858) could lay claim to growing the longest beard. John P. Murphy (acting mayor in 1904), might win the people's choice award for best moustache. Seven wore glasses for their portrait sittings. Only one mayor, S.G. Heiskell (1896-97), chose to wear a white tie. 
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