Welcome to a lesson about the most important place in the world - your hometown! Whether you were born here or moved here, Maryville is YOUR town, and every kid who lives here should know its story.

How Maryville Got Its Name

Maryville was founded in 1795, which means our town is over 200 years old! It was named after Mary Grainger Blount, the wife of William Blount, who was the governor of the Southwest Territory (that is what Tennessee was called before it became a state). So our town is literally named after a real woman named Mary. Blount County, where Maryville sits, is named after her husband William. The whole area is connected to this one family from the very beginning of Tennessee history.

The Early Days

Before Maryville was a town, the Cherokee people lived on this land for hundreds of years. They called the nearby mountains "Shaconage," which means "land of the blue smoke" - and that is where the Smoky Mountains got their name. When European settlers arrived in the late 1700s, they built homes, churches, and eventually a town. Maryville was one of the first towns established in what would become the state of Tennessee.

Maryville College, one of the oldest colleges in the South, was founded here in 1819. That is just 23 years after Tennessee became a state! You can still see the beautiful old buildings on campus today.

Downtown Landmarks Kids Should Know

Downtown Maryville has some really cool spots that tell our story:

• The Blount County Courthouse: This is the big, important-looking building right in the center of town. It is where local government works to make decisions for our community. The current building was built in 1907.
• Maryville College Campus: Walk through and look at the historic buildings. Anderson Hall dates back to 1869.
• The Greenbelt: Our greenway trail system connects parks and neighborhoods. It is perfect for walking, biking, and exploring.
• Downtown shops and restaurants: The buildings along Broadway have been standing for over a hundred years. Imagine all the different businesses that have been in those same buildings!

Things Every Maryville Kid Should Know

1. Maryville is the county seat of Blount County. That means it is the main town where county government happens.
2. We are just 15 miles south of Knoxville, the third-largest city in Tennessee.
3. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is right in our backyard. We are one of the closest towns to the most visited national park in the entire country!
4. Sam Houston, who became the president of the Republic of Texas and governor of Tennessee, taught school right here in Maryville at a little one-room schoolhouse that you can still visit today.
5. Our town has grown a lot. What started as a small frontier settlement is now a thriving community of over 30,000 people.

Walking Tour Ideas

Grab a parent and try one of these walks:

Downtown History Walk: Start at the courthouse, walk to Maryville College, count how many old buildings you see along the way. Bring a notebook and sketch your favorite building.

Greenbelt Nature Walk: Pick any section of the Greenbelt trail. Look for birds, trees, and interesting plants. Notice how the trail connects different parts of town.

Neighborhood Explorer: Walk through your own neighborhood. How old do you think the houses are? What is the oldest building you can find?

Discussion Questions

• What is your favorite place in Maryville? Why?
• If you could go back in time to 1795 Maryville, what do you think it would look like?
• Why do you think people chose this spot to build a town?

Maryville is more than just where we live - it is a place with real history, real stories, and real people who built something lasting. And now you are part of that story too!