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Blount County Community Information General Information / Education / Medical / Cultural / Recreation THE HISTORY... 
Blount County was established in 1795 when the territorial Legislature separated a part of Knox County. The new county was named in honor of William Blount, Governor of the Territory of the United States "South of the River Ohio." The County seat was authorized to be laid out in 1795 and was named Maryville in honor of Mary Blount, the wife of Governor William Blount. The first settlers came primarily from Virginia in 1785 and were mainly Scot-Irish Presbyteries. Due to the topography of the area and a limitation on the number of acres allowed in early land grants, Blount County did not have any large plantations. Fertile land, adequate water supply, and plentiful timber make the area very appealing to settlers. Blount County's first lumber mill was recorded in 1788. Lumber was the first principal industry of the county, only to be replaced by aluminum when Alcoa established its Tennessee operation in 1912. There are now over 70 manufacturing plants in the county. Nestled in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the oldest counties in Tennessee. Blount County covers 584 square miles in the extreme eastern portion of Tennessee, including miles of beautifully wooded rolling hills, sky-blue lakes and scenic mountains. Blount County is one of the fastest growing counties in Tennessee, increasing its population by 22 percent from 1970 to 1980, with an additional increase of 10.5 percent from 1980 to 1990. With a total population of more than 100,000 people. Maryville consists of 19,935 residents and 6,580 reside in Alcoa. Companies used to come to Blount County because of the low taxes and inexpensive labor and land. Today companies still enjoy the financial benefits choosing Blount County because of quality of life, labor, the community in a county county that encompasses one third of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park yet lies only 15 minutes from metropolitan Knoxville. The people in Blount County live better and not only because of the scenery. The cost of living is 24 percent less than in America' top five cities and four percent below the national average. Dollars are stretched to cover things that might only be a dream in other cities. The weather in Blount County typically provides a mild variation of all four seasons. Average temperatures range from 48.7 degrees in the winter to 87 degrees in the summer. Blount County receives an annual total of 47.29 inches of rainfall. The area's average cumulative snowfall is 12.2 inches, usually coming in amounts of less than four inches at a time. Blount County is a fantastic place to live if you enjoy the outdoors. The southeastern corner of the county is included in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a mountain wilderness with more flora and fauna species than any national park in the county. There are rocky balds to climb and trout streams to wade. For boaters there are Calderwood, Chilhowee and Tellico Lakes to the south, Ft. Loudon Lake to the north, and the floatable Little River. There are 6 golf course, including a County Club, swimming pools, riding stables and even hang gliding. There is a ballet company, summer playhouse, arts and crafts and square dance clubs. Blount County offers 32 civic clubs and six professional societies. Shop in a beautiful regional mall or a variety of retail businesses throughout Maryville and Alcoa. There is a liberal arts college and public education that ranks in the top third of the State by expenditure per student. The University of Tennessee is only 10 miles away. The Future... Blount County continues to grow with new residents and industry locating here. Blount County is on the cutting edge of city government, developing and implementing programs to provide a modern, safe and beautiful place to live. Maryville and Alcoa... founded in 1790, Maryville is the county seat of Blount County and covers an area of 11.46 square miles. Formerly known as Maryville, Alcoa was incorporated in 1919 and was named for the founder of the city, Aluminum Company of America. The City of Alcoa covers an area of 8,68 square miles. The twin cities of Maryville and Alcoa provide a scenic gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, surrounded on all sides by lakes, rivers, and streams. GENERAL INFORMATION...Auto Tags/Registration... New residents must obtain Tennessee license plates for their motor vehicles within 30 days of establishing residency. To purchase a license, a Tennessee title must be obtained. Both may be purchased at the two offices of the County Clerk. It is advisable to call ahead to secure the proper information on what papers to bring. Contact Courthouse Office, 345 Court Street, Maryville (865) 273-5800 Banking... Several major banks and savings and loan associations offer full financial services from many branch locations.
Churches... There are over 200 churches in Blount County representing most faiths. Climate... The Mountains shelter the Tennessee Valley, providing an annual average temperature of 56 degrees. Blount County experiences all four seasons with the brilliant colors of spring and fall. September brings in the fall of the year, of course football season. Winter in the valley is primarily from January to mid February with occasional snowfall. Spring arrives in March and is usually rainy and chilly. The afternoons warm up to the 60's and mid 70's with blooming flowers during April. Summers are fairly typical with the highs in the upper 80's and low 90's.
Chamber Of Commerce... Blount County Area Chamber of Commerce serving the communities of Alcoa, Friendsville, Louisville, Maryville, Rockford, Townsend, Walland.
Communications...
Driver's License... Newcomers have 30 days after establishing permanent residency to change their out-of state driver's license to a valid Tennessee license. If you have a valid license from another state only a vision test is required. For a first time license you must have a certified birth certificate, pass a written exam, vision test and a road test. Contact Drivers License Examining Station, 318 Home Avenue, Maryville (865) 981-2359 Emergency Phone Numbers... The cities of Maryville, and Alcoa provide fire and police protection. Residents outside the city limits get fire protection from the Blount County Fire Department for a fee, as well as police protection from both the Blount County Sheriff's Department and The Tennessee Highway patrol. The city of Townsend provides police service and a volunteer fire department. Friendsville also has police services.
Employment... East Tennessee enjoys one of the nations lowest unemployment rates by providing its residents with a diverse job base through its industrial, service and tourism sectors.
Garbage Pickup...
Legal Services... The Knoxville Bar Association sponsors a legal referral service, Contact (865) 522-7501 Pets... The care and treatment of our pets is important to each family. Owners should be sure that pets have their shots and wear an identification tag. Complete care facilities are available by contacting:
Post Offices...
Population... Blount County is one of the fastest growing counties in Tennessee.With a total population of over 100,000 people. Public Library... The Blount County Public Library provides access to a wide variety of materials and services for education, information and recreation.
Shopping... Excellent shopping is afforded through more than 700 national chains and home-owned retail establishments providing a variety of quality goods and services. With the Foothills Mall in Maryville and the Midland Shopping Center there are no hassles with your everyday needs. With this variety of retail throughout Blount County complete the retail picture. Taxes... Persons residing within the city limits pay two property taxes - the city's tax (Maryville or Alcoa) and the county's tax. Those living in the county pay only county property tax.
Income Tax... There is s 6% state income tax for individuals on interest and dividend income only. The annual exemption is $ 1,250 for single and $ 2,500 for married taxpayers. The tax also exempts interest income from banks on savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, etc. There are no other state and local individual taxes. Transportation...
Utilities... The cities of Alcoa and Maryville provide their residents with electricity, water, sewer, and garbage pickup. Blount County Residents, not within the Maryville/Alcoa city limits need to obtain garbage service offered through private companies or utilize the sanitary landfill. In some areas of the county, water is provided and electricity by Ft. Loudon Electric, United Cities Gas Company provides gas, and Bell South Company provides telephone services.
Voting... To be eligible, one must be 18 years of age and have lived in Blount County for 20 days. Registration must be 29 days before election. For more information contact:
EDUCATION There are three school systems in Blount County: Alcoa City Schools, Blount County Schools, and Maryville City Schools. The three public school systems jointly received the State Department of Education's A+ award for community commitment to excellence in education. Included in the school systems are 19 elementary, middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 adult high school. Private schools and vocational schools also serve the area. The public school term usually begins in early August and ends in May. A child must be five years of age to enroll in kindergarten and six years old to enter first grade (both ages as of September 20, in the year of matriculation). Approximately 4,000 children attend the Maryville City Schools, 1,400 students attend Alcoa City schools, while Blount County system serves the remaining 10,000 county students. Quality instruction with low student-teacher ratios produces some of the finest schools in the state, and some of the highest SAT and ACT scores in the Southeast. Enrollment requirements include, legal proof of age, a physical examination, a dental exam, and inoculations against polio, tetanus, measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough. All schools accommodate the needs of special education and gifted students, as well as after school programs, tutoring, enrichment opportunities and special interest activities for all students. Students living outside the cities desiring to attend either city system are required to pay tuition. An academic transcript is required for transfer students. Students in Blount County are afforded a variety of choices for continuing education through area community colleges and universities.
MEDICAL Hospitals... Health is more than the absence of sickness. Studies have shown that the quality of life and a healthy community are interchangeable terms.
CULTURAL Cultural... is an atmosphere and a heritage. In Blount County, vibrant community arts programs supplement heritage-oriented events. The Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra presents a full season of classical, jazz and pops concerts featuring guest performances. In Townsend , the focus is heritage, and music is an integral part. Townsend's Spring Festival and Heritage Festival feature the musical and dancing talents found in these mountains and foothills. Arts and crafts demonstrations showcase certain talents, many of which were everyday necessities in the old days. The heritage of Blount County is evidenced by the numerous historical structures and sites that have been preserved, some since the 1700's. The 11 mile loop road through Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also a favorite spot, with cabin viewing, fields for picnicking, trails for hiking, and a working mill that demonstrates old-fashioned methods. Area artists, weavers, potters, carvers and other craftspeople do their best to capture the majesty of the mountains. There are many galleries that display the local arts and crafts. Performing arts organizations in Blount County include, the Appalachian Ballet, the Maryville Dance Academy and the Blount County Junior Playhouse. The beauty of the area is the inspiration for much of the art created here and the events are usually aligned with seasonal celebrations. RECREATION Recreation... The recreation scene in Blount County is literally a recreation paradise. One third of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located within county borders. Hiking, camping, swimming, wildlife watching, fishing and many other recreation opportunities of the Smoky Mountains are right in your back door. Just outside the park tubing, canoeing and kayaking are popular. Water sports are quite plentiful in Blount County. The Chilhowee Lake, Tellico lake and Fort Loudon Lake border the county, and the Tennessee River winds its way through the entire valley. Other recreation opportunities abound through out East Tennessee. Knoxville features the University of Tennessee football, with the world's largest stadium that seats more than 109,000 roaring fans. The list of nearby attractions is long, but certainly includes a numerous state parks, the Museum of Appalachian in Norris, the underground Lost Sea in Sweetwater, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.
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