Gatlinburg is a popular tourist town in East Tennessee with a year-round population of 3,300. The city enjoys a great sense of history that is easily accessible to all visitors. The Ogle family built one of the first cabins in Gatlinburg in the early 19th century. Ogle’s cabin still stands and is one of Gatlinburg’s top attractions.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee was originally settled in the 1790s and 1800s by South Carolinians of English, Scottish, Irish, and Scotch-Irish descent. The first settlers were the Ogles, Huskeys, McCarters, Reagans, and Whaleys, who named the township White Oaks after the many white oak trees in the valley. In the decades that followed, many other families such as the Trenthams, Clabos, Maples, Oakleys, Ownbys, Kings, Bohannons, and Cardwells joined the Ogles to populate White Oaks.
Although originally named White Oaks, the town was later renamed Gatlinburg, derived from a man named Radford Gatlin. Gatlin arrived in 1855 from North Carolina and opened the second store and post office in the small town. In appreciation of Gatlin’s service and the popularity of his store, Postmaster Richard Reagan renamed the office in his honor, and soon Gatlinburg became one with the entire White Oaks environs.
In retrospect, it may seem surprising that White Oaks was renamed in honor of Radford Gatlin. Although he opened a popular post office and store in the city, Gatlin was also a highly controversial figure. According to local legend, Gatlin, a Confederate supporter, became involved in a physical dispute with Union supporters, who drove him out of town and forced him off his property.
Vacationers have been central to Gatlinburg’s identity for some 50 years. However, for its first 150 years, Gatlinburg was a close-knit, self-contained residential city. In the early 20th century, the local economy shifted from subsistence farming to lumber. At this time, Gatlinburg’s first hotel was established to service lumber buyers traveling through the Smoky Mountains, and the local economy slowly began to expand. Since its incorporation in 1945, Gatlinburg has become a premier camping, tourism and convention site.
Thousands of visitors flock to Gatlinburg throughout the year to enjoy the unique and beautiful sights of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, established in 1934. The forested area in and around Gatlinburg provides ample opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, cycling, picnicking and horseback riding. riding backwards In addition to the stunning natural surroundings, vacationers enjoy plenty of shopping opportunities and fine dining experiences.