Knoxville is the seat of Knox County and the oldest city in Tennessee. Named in honor of the first Secretary of War, Henry Knox, the city served as Tennessee's state capital from 1796 until 1819, when the capital was moved to Murfreesboro. Known for its local whiskey and its rambunctious ways, Knoxville grew to prominence as a provisioning station for westward-bound settlers. Even though Tennessee eventually seceded from the Union during the Civil War, there were a number of Union sympathizers in East Tennessee. When the occupying Confederate troops withdrew in 1863, the Union army swooped in and took Knoxville. The Confederates made several attempts to retake the city, but their attacks were rebuffed. Although much of Knoxville was damaged or destroyed during the war, it remained in Union hands.

Knoxville has enjoyed several periods of commercial and industrial growth since the Civil War, and has earned itself a wide variety of nicknames in the process. The numerous quarries supplying Tennessee Pink marble during the early 20th century spawned the name "The Marble City," while the numerous textile and clothing mills brought Knoxville fame as the "Underwear Capital of the World." The city's arts and music scene brought about the nickname "Knox Vegas," and alternative music critic Ann Powers once referred to Knoxville as "Austin without the hype."