Sevierville
Sevierville Is Where The Smoky Mountain Fun Begins!
- Founded in 1795 and incorporated in 1901, Sevierville, (pronounced Se-VEER-ville) was named for John Sevier, the first governor of
Tennessee. It is the oldest and largest of Sevier County's four cities and is the eighth oldest town in Tennessee.
- About 200 years ago, Sevierville was no more than a small rural community with one church, two mills, one tavern,
one trading post, two lawyers and a stable for a courthouse. It was a stopping off point for settlers heading West toward the frontier, and
as East Tennessee was settled, Sevierville became an important trading and commercial city. The city celebrated its bicentennial in 1995.
- Sevierville, the county seat of Sevier County, is the first city many people see when
they arrive in the Smokies. Just minutes from Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, Sevierville combines a relaxed hometown atmosphere with ready
access to hundreds of vacation attractions and recreational opportunities.
- Over the years, Sevierville, as the county seat, has known five different courthouses, with the last being built in 1895-96 for $22,000. The courthouse was later renovated in 1970-74 for $577,000 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Sevierville is located in a picturesque valley at the foot of the Smokies. Take Exit
407 off Interstate 40, about 18 miles east of Knoxville. Downtown Sevierville is 10 minutes away on
Hwy. 66. For a more scenic route, try U.S. 441 South from Knoxville or 441 North from
Cherokee, N. C. U. S. 411 also connects through Sevierville and provides a journey through the East TN foothills.
- Knoxville's McGee/Tyson Airport is about an hour away, with over 90 commercial
flights a day. The Sevierville-Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Aviation Center can accommodate a
variety of private aircraft and has full service and maintenance facilities.
- Sevierville has preserved its southern charm and the quaint personality of a small, historic town.
The atmosphere in Sevierville is friendly, relaxed, and fun. Downtown features a beautiful brick
courthouse (see picture) with a four-sided Seth Thomas clock that still chimes every half hour. A bronze
statue of Sevierville's own Dolly Parton adorns the courthouse lawn. And the entire downtown
area encompasses Sevierville's historic district, where a walking tour unfolds the history of the
nation and its expansion westward.
- Sevierville also keeps the modern traveler in mind, with accommodations ranging from family
motels to romantic mountain hideaways. Shopping is some of the best in the Southeast. Offerings
range from mountain crafts to antique emporiums to outlet malls featuring famous brands.
- There are restaurants for any taste, from fast food to fine dining, and outdoor activities include
tennis, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and golf.
- Sevierville is one of those rare cities where you can honestly say that it's a nice place to visit --
and live. It's often been called "your hometown in the Smokies."
- Sevierville's historic downtown is now home to several wedding chapels and
Temple's Feed Store, where County Commissioner, Jimmie Temple, has married
more than 8,000 couples in his family-owned feed store. Also in downtown is
Virgil's '50s Restaurant, home of chicken fried steak, curly fries, a genuine soda
fountain and the town's bus station.
- While staying in Sevierville, visit our 100-year-old courthouse, stroll along our Riverwalk, enjoy our beautiful parks and use our new Civic and Community Center for business meetings, working out or just taking a dip in the pool. Once you discover all the treasures of our charming small town, you'll understand why.
