Knoxville Old City, Knoxville

Located in the northeastern part of downtown Knoxville, the Old City is a neighborhood that was once notorious for vice and disorder. Formerly known as "The Bowery," the area has undergone extensive redevelopment efforts since the 1980s to revitalize the neighborhood. The Old City is concentrated around the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Central Street, adjacent to the Southern Terminal tracks and railyard.

Although the Old City's name may suggest that it is the oldest part of Knoxville, it is not. Most of the neighborhood was not part of the city until the 1850s when the arrival of the railroad led to the city's annexation of the areas north of Vine Avenue. The railroad brought an influx of Irish immigrants who established the Old City's first saloons and shops. After the Civil War, Knoxville became one of the southeast's largest wholesaling centers, with wholesalers constructing large warehouses, such as those along Jackson Avenue, where East Tennessee merchants purchased goods for their general stores.

By the early 1900s, Central Street was lined with saloons and brothels, causing many of the neighborhood's businesses to relocate. However, successful redevelopment efforts led by architect Peter Calandruccio and builder Benny Curl began in 1986, revitalizing the neighborhood. Calandruccio's master planning encouraged other developers to begin work on other properties, as the opportunity for large-scale development appeared promising.

Today, the Old City is primarily composed of warehouses and buildings of light industrial use, along with a small strip of historically commercial buildings along South Central Street. It is known as Knoxville's "club district" and has several unique restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops, making it a quirky urban community.