Gatlinburg is a popular resort city in eastern 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 1800s. The Ogle 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 Scottish-Irish descent. The first settlers were the Ogles, Huskeys, McCarters, Reagans, and Whaleys, who named the Township White Oaks for the many white oaks in the valley. In the following decades, many other families such as the Trentham, Clabos, Maples, Oakleys, Ownbys, Kings, Bohannons, and Cardwells joined the Ogles to populate White Oaks.

Although it was originally called White Oaks, the city 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 changed the name of the office in his honor, and soon Gatlinburg became synonymous with the entire White Oaks environment.

In hindsight, it may seem surprising that White Oaks was renamed 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 supporter of the Confederacy, became embroiled in a physical dispute with Union sympathizers who expelled him from the city and forced him to abandon their property.

Vacationers have been central to Gatlinburg’s identity for about 50 years. Yet for its first 150 years, Gatlinburg was a united, self-contained residential city. At the beginning of the 20th century, the local economy turned from subsistence agriculture to timber. At that time, Gatlinburg’s first hotel was established to serve lumber buyers traveling through the Smoky Mountains and the local economy began to slowly expand. Since its incorporation in 1945, Gatlinburg has been transformed into a world-class convention, tourism and camping site.

Thousands of visitors flock to Gatlinburg throughout the year to enjoy the unique and beautiful views of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, established in 1934. Gatlinburg’s wooded area and its surrounding areas offer ample opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking, and horseback riding. to ride a horse. In addition to the stunning natural surroundings, vacationers enjoy many shopping opportunities and great dining experiences.