Historical Markers in
Sevier County, Tennessee

A Wonder of the World Appalachian Clubhouse Back to Nature Baskins Creek Battle of Boyd's Creek Battle of Fair Garden Broady Dairy Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Trail Daisy Town's Eclectic Architecture Dolly Parton Dolly's Childhood Home Dumplin Creek Treaty Dwight and Kate Wade House Early Pigeon Forge Elkmont Historic District: Appalachian Club Emerts Cove Emerts Cove Covered Bridge First Baptist Church Pigeon Forge First Methodist Church – Gatlinburg First United Methodist Church of Pigeon Forge and Pigeon Forge Academy Forks of Little Pigeon Church Forks of Little Pigeon Church Forks of the Little Pigeon Cemetery Forks of The River Cemetery Park Fort Wear Gatlinburg SkyBridge Gladys Trentham Russell Harrisburg Covered Bridge Henderson Springs Resort Henry's Station Historic Jail Bars Hon. Lieut. Spencer Clack Indian Gap Road Isaac Dockery Isaac Thomas James Crawford Murphy James McMahan John Porter McCown Keener-Johnson Farm Knox County / Sevier County Knoxville, Sevierville & Eastern Railway Land of Diversity Laurel Falls Trail Lewis C. Buckner Lifeblood of the Mountains Major Hugh Henry Martha Jane Ogle Cabin Middle Creek United Methodist Church & Settlement Mount Le Conte Nancy Academy Native American Sea Eagle New Gap, New Road New Salem Baptist Church Newell's Station Noah "Bud" Ogle Farm Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge Attractions Pigeon Forge Elementary School / Pigeon Forge Canning Factory Pigeon Forge Iron Works Pigeon River Railroad Pilgrim Pine Grove Rural Community Quite a Social Place Rare Mountain Forest Rockefeller Memorial Rocky Top Sevier County Veterans Sevier County Veterans Memorial Sevierville Sevierville Sevierville Sevierville Sevierville Sevierville Shiloh Church Spence Cabin Sweden Furnace The American Black Bear The Appalachian Club The Chimney Tops The Ephraim Bales Place The Great Indian War Trail The Great Indian Warpath The Kelly Family Farm The Mayors of the City of Sevierville The McMahan Indian Mound The Tennessee Mining Company Thomas Atchley Timothy Reagan Titanic Eternal Flame Titanic’s Center Anchor Treaty of Dumplin Creek Unionists Within the Confederacy Village Gate Wear's Fort Wheatlands Wiley Oakley William M. Whaley Wonderland Hotel "Old Dutch Settlement"
The famous frontiersman Davy Crockett served as a U.S. congressman from Tennessee from 1827 to 1835. He became a national celebrity during this time, known for his colorful personality and frontier wisdom.
Tennessee random facts
Sevier County, Tennessee, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee, who established settlements along the banks of the Little Pigeon River. European explorers, including Spanish and French expeditions, first encountered the region in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the late 18th century, settlers from the eastern United States began to migrate to the area, attracted by the fertile land and abundant natural resources. John Sevier, a Revolutionary War hero, played a significant role in the early development of the county. He served as the first governor of Tennessee and the county's namesake.

Sevier County saw rapid growth and development in the 19th century, driven by industries such as farming, logging, and mining. The establishment of the Little River Lumber Company in the early 1900s led to the logging boom, and the town of Townsend became a hub of timber activity. However, the devastating effects of deforestation and overlogging led to the decline of the timber industry in the mid-20th century.

The late 20th century saw the rise of tourism as the main industry in Sevier County. The opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934 attracted visitors from all over the country, and the construction of the Gatlinburg Sky Lift and Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort further increased tourism in the area. Today, Sevier County is known as a popular vacation destination, offering outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, and attractions such as Dollywood, owned by country music star Dolly Parton.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Sevier County, Tennessee.

  • 1783 - Sevier County is established by the State of North Carolina.
  • 1794 - The county is named after John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee.
  • 1801 - The first courthouse is built in Sevierville, the county seat.
  • 1861-1865 - Sevier County is divided during the American Civil War, with some residents supporting the Confederacy and others supporting the Union.
  • 1900s - Tourism begins to develop in Sevier County, with the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934.
  • 1982 - Dollywood, a theme park owned by Dolly Parton, opens in Pigeon Forge.