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45-500: The Maddron Bald Trailhead is located at the end of Baxter Road, a short road traversing an isolated subdivision near the Cocke County- Sevier County line. Baxter Road is accessible from U.S. Route 321 a few miles east of Pittman Center . There is limited parking space at the trailhead. Maddron Bald is a narrow ridge descending northwestwardly from Inadu Knob, a 5,925-foot (1,806 m) summit situated along

90-479: A female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

135-545: A shady area along the park's northern boundary (several residences line the road opposite the trailhead), with the traffic of US-321 audible beyond the treeline. At 0.7 miles (1.1 km), the trail passes the Baxter Cabin, built in 1889 by Willis Baxter as a wedding present for his son. The cabin, constructed with chestnut logs, was one of several structures preserved as examples of pioneer life in 19th-century Appalachia . Baxter's chicken coop, originally situated near

180-619: A spur route of the Foothills Parkway , known as "the spur") has emerged in the three communities. Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (KGKT) Sevier County, like much of rural Southern Appalachia , consists of relatively few incorporated municipalities and numerous unincorporated settlements . 35°47′N 83°31′W  /  35.78°N 83.52°W  / 35.78; -83.52 Fraser magnolia Magnolia fraseri , commonly known as Fraser magnolia , mountain magnolia , earleaf cucumbertree , or mountain-oread ,

225-663: A very prominent mountain visible from much of the central part of the county, is the state's third-highest. Sevier County is drained primarily by the French Broad River , which passes through the northern part of the county. A portion of the French Broad is part of Douglas Lake , an artificial reservoir created by Douglas Dam in the northeastern part of the county. The three forks of the Little Pigeon River (East, Middle, and West) flow northward from

270-466: Is 4.6 miles (7.4 km) to the northeast. The Snake Den Ridge Trail, from this point to the Cosby Campground, is mostly downhill. 35°46′10″N 83°16′01″W  /  35.7694°N 83.2669°W  / 35.7694; -83.2669 Sevier County, Tennessee Sevier County ( / s ə ˈ v ɪər / sə- VEER ) is a county of the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of

315-539: Is a small, deciduous tree growing to 14 m (40 ft) tall, as a basal-branching, fragrant plant, with brown bark with a "warty" or "scaly" texture. The leaves are quite large, 15–25 cm (rarely up to 53 cm) long and 8–18 cm (rarely up to 29 cm) broad, with a pair of auricles (or "ear-lobes") at the base and an entire margin; they are green above and glaucous blue-green below. The showy white flowers are 16–25 cm in diameter with nine tepals ; they open in late spring or early summer, after

360-512: Is a species of magnolia native to the south-eastern United States in the southern Appalachian Mountains and adjacent Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from West Virginia south to northern Florida and west to eastern Texas . The Appalachian plants are classified as Magnolia fraseri var. fraseri, and the more coastal plants as M. fraseri var. pyramidata. These two kinds of magnolia are often recognized as distinct species, M. fraseri and M. pyramidata, respectively. Fraser magnolia

405-688: Is located near the Maddron Bald Trail/Old Settlers Trail junction. The Maddron Bald Trail was developed in the early 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps , which operated from a camp near the trailhead. Some old local hiking manuals refer to the Maddron Bald Trail as the "Indian Camp Creek Trail." The first 2.3 miles (3.7 km) of the Maddron Bald Trail follow a gravel maintenance road. The trail begins its gradual ascent from

450-795: Is protected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . The northern parts of the county are located within the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians . Sevier contains the highest point in Tennessee, Kuwohi , which rises to 6,643 feet (2,025 m) along the county's border with North Carolina. Mount Guyot , located in the Eastern Smokies in the extreme eastern part of the county, is the state's second-highest mountain at 6,621 feet (2,018 m). The 6,593-foot (2,010 m) Mount Le Conte ,

495-442: The 2020 United States census , there were 98,380 people, 37,933 households, and 26,538 families residing in the county. As of the census of 2010, there were 89,889 people, 37,583 households, and a homeownership rate of 68.7 percent, below the state average. The population density was 120 inhabitants per square mile (46/km ). There were 37,252 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile (24/km ). The racial makeup of

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540-590: The 2020 census , the population was 98,380. Its county seat and largest city is Sevierville . Sevier County comprises the Sevierville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area , which is included in the Knoxville - Morristown -Sevierville, TN Combined Statistical Area . Prior to the arrival of white settlers in present-day Sevier County in the mid-18th century, the area had been inhabited for as many as 20,000 years by nomadic and semi-nomadic Native Americans . In

585-536: The poverty line , including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over. Sevier County was Tennessee's third fastest-growing county by percentage change in population between the 1990 census and 2000 census. The head of the Sevier County government, the county mayor (known as county executive until 2003), is elected in county-wide elections. The mayor serves along with a 25-member board of elected commissioners representing districts covering

630-541: The Smokies, converge near Sevierville, and empty into the French Broad north of Sevierville. The West Fork is the best known, as it flows through the popular tourist areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The maximum elevation differential in Sevier County is the greatest in Tennessee, ranging from a high of 6,643 feet (2,025 m) at Kuwohi to a low of 850 feet (260 m) at the French Broad River. As of

675-505: The Snake Den Ridge Trail. The western base of Maddron Bald is formed by Indian Camp Creek , which flows northward from its source on the slopes of Old Black and drains a broad valley en route to its mouth along Cosby Creek near Middle Cosby. Otter Creek, a tributary of Indian Camp Creek, forms Maddron's southern base. Another tributary, Maddron Creek, drains the northern face of Maddron Bald. These streams are all part of

720-431: The U.S. government on the " Trail of Tears ". Sevier County was formed on September 18, 1794, from part of neighboring Jefferson County , and has retained its original boundaries ever since. The county takes its name from John Sevier , governor of the failed State of Franklin and first governor of Tennessee, who played a prominent role during the early years of settlement in the region. Since its establishment in 1795,

765-597: The United States of America, as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now the most visited national park in the country. Sevier County now has the third largest tourism economy in Tennessee, ranking behind Nashville and Memphis , the state's two largest cities. The commercial cabin rental industry has grown tremendously in recent years. The tourism industry drives the county's economy. The following destinations are among

810-663: The cabin, was moved to the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee , in North Carolina. The four-way intersection of the Maddron Bald Trail, Old Settlers Trail, and Gabes Mountain Trail occurs in a large open area 1.2 miles (1.9 km) from the trailhead. The Old Settlers Trail— one of the longest trails in the park— stretches westward for 15.8 miles (25.4 km), connecting the Maddron Bald Trail with Greenbrier . The Gabes Mountain Trail stretches in

855-531: The county seat has been situated at Sevierville (also named for Sevier), the eighth-oldest city in Tennessee. Sevier County was strongly pro-Union during the Civil War. When Tennessee held a vote on the state's Ordinance of Secession on June 8, 1861, Sevier Countians voted 1,528 to 60 in favor of remaining in the Union. In November 1861, William C. Pickens, Sheriff of Sevier County, led a failed attempt to destroy

900-419: The county was 95.80% White , 0.86% Asian , 0.80% Black or African American , 0.19% Native American , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 1.02% from other races , and 1.31% from two or more races. 5.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 28,467 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 10.10% had

945-579: The county, both located in Sevierville. The first is a satellite campus of the Morristown -based Walters State Community College . The second is a satellite campus of Johnson City -based East Tennessee State University . In addition to the federally operated Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier County is home to numerous smaller community parks, primarily within the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. The most significant of them are listed as follows: The massive development of

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990-407: The crest of the Eastern Smokies near Old Black . Snake Den Ridge, which descends northeastwardly from Inadu Knob, joins Maddron Bald on Inadu's northern face to form one large ridge that presents as a wide V-shaped formation on topographical maps. Maddron Bald rises to a summit of 5,212 feet (1,589 m), although the trail's highpoint is approximately 5,360 feet (1,630 m) at its junction with

1035-410: The foliage. The fruit is a woody, oblong, cone-like structure (like all Magnolias) 6.5–12 cm long, covered in small, pod-like follicles each containing one or two red seeds that hang out from the cone by a slender thread when ripe. A good seed crop occurs only about every 4–5 years. Reproduction is accomplished by both seed and vegetative sprouts . The fruit is eaten by wildlife, helping disperse

1080-499: The greater Pigeon River watershed. Albright Grove is situated along the northern base of Pinnacle Lead (opposite the southwestern base of Maddron Bald) between Indian Camp Creek and Dunn Creek. The grove is named after Horace Albright (1890-1987), the second director of the National Park Service . Maddron Bald is named for Lawson Maddron (c. 1809–1896), a prominent Cocke County minister. A Maddron family cemetery

1125-442: The grove, although fraser magnolia , basswood , and beech are not uncommon. Some of the trees are over 200 years old. Beyond the first Albright Grove Loop access, the Maddron Bald Trail continues to follow Indian Camp Creek southeastward and ascends to nearly 4,000 feet (1,200 m) before crossing the creek and turning east. The trail crosses Copperhead Creek at approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) and ascends gradually along

1170-493: The hike. Albright Grove is a rare old growth example of a cove hardwood forest, one of the most diverse forest types in North America. Most of the large hardwood trees in the Smokies were cleared by logging operations or killed by blights in the first half of the 20th century. While Albright Grove suffered through the various blights and infestations, it was never intensively logged. Hemlock and poplar trees dominate

1215-567: The many small communities spread across the county. Sevier County, like most of East Tennessee, votes strongly Republican in Presidential elections. The last election in which a Republican failed to carry it was in 1912 , when the Progressive Theodore Roosevelt carried it. It has not been carried by a Democrat since 1832 , when it went for Andrew Jackson . In 1916 it gave Charles Hughes 90.38 percent of

1260-469: The mid-16th century, Spanish expeditions led by Hernando de Soto (1540) and Juan Pardo (1567) passed through what is now Sevier County, reporting that the region was part of the domain of Chiaha , a minor Muskogean chiefdom centered around a village located on a now-submerged island just upstream from modern Douglas Dam . By the late 17th-century, however, the Cherokee , whose ancestors were living in

1305-430: The most lucrative for the area: The Sevier County school system is composed of thirty-two public and private institutions ranging from Head Start programs through a number of secondary schools. In addition, two post-secondary institutions have campuses within the county. Head Start : Preschool : Elementary/middle schools : High schools : Other schools : There are two post-secondary institutions in

1350-624: The mountains at the time of the Spaniards' visit, had become the dominant tribe in the region. Although they used the region primarily as hunting grounds, the Chicakamauga faction of the Cherokee vehemently fought white settlement in their territory, frequently leading raids on households, even through the signing of various peace treaties, alternating short periods of peace with violent hostility, until forcibly marched from their territory by

1395-417: The mountains to the south. The thickets are interspersed with spruce trees, which are vestiges of the northern-style coniferous forest found in the park's higher elevations. Beyond the heath bald, the Maddron Bald Trail descends briefly to a gap before entering one final steep climb to the Snake Den Ridge Trail junction. The Appalachian Trail is 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the south, and the Cosby Campground

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1440-491: The national park via the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. From the exit, the Parkway follows Tennessee State Route 66 (" Winfield Dunn Parkway") into Sevierville, where it becomes U.S. Route 441 / Tennessee State Route 71 as TN-66 terminates at a four-way intersection where US-441 splits from U.S. Route 411 and changes direction. It continues along US-441 through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, before entering

1485-497: The national park, where it ascends to the crest of the Smokies at Newfound Gap and crosses into North Carolina (although by this time it is no longer known as the "Great Smoky Mountains Parkway"). The Parkway is joined U.S. Route 321 in Pigeon Forge and they run concurrently until US-321 splits away in downtown Gatlinburg. Along this stretch of U.S. and Tennessee highways, a nearly continuous tourist sprawl (separated only by

1530-483: The opposite direction, connecting the Maddron Bald Trail to the Cosby Campground to the east. The Maddron Bald Trail continues southward, rising gradually along the slopes above the Indian Camp Creek valley. At around 2.3 miles (3.7 km), the gravel road comes to an end, and the trail becomes a rugged dirt path. The trail crosses Indian Camp Creek via footbridge approximately 2.7 miles (4.3 km) from

1575-524: The railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains as part of the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy . Prior to the late 1930s, Sevier County's population, economy, and society, which relied primarily on subsistence agriculture , held little significance vis-à-vis any other county in the rural South. However, with the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1930s, the future of Sevier County (within which lies thirty percent of

1620-518: The ridge to Otter Creek. The Otter Creek Campsite (Campsite #29) is located along the opposite (north) bank of the creek. There is no footbridge across Otter Creek, but the creek is easily forded at normal water levels. After passing the Otter Creek Campsite, the Maddron Bald Trail begins a sharp ascent, at first to the north, but gradually winding its way westward up the south flank of the ridge. At approximately 6 miles (9.7 km),

1665-626: The seeds. In the Appalachian Mountains, the Fraser Magnolia is a popular nest tree for the Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel. This tree grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soil. The very large showy white flowers and large-leaved, coarse-textured foliage make this an attractive ornamental tree , but otherwise it has little commercial value. It is sometimes cultivated in North America as

1710-415: The southern portion of the county. One of the very reasons for the park's creation, however, was also one of the county's first major economic engines: the lumber industry. Establishments in what is now the national park felled large amounts of timber in the early 1900s. Though the park effectively killed the logging industry in the late 1930s, it spurred the development of one of the largest tourist resorts in

1755-471: The total area of the national park) changed drastically. Today, tourism supports the county's economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 598 square miles (1,550 km ), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km ) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km ) (0.9%) is water. The southern part of Sevier County is located within the Great Smoky Mountains and

1800-504: The tourism industry in Sevier County has put a major stress on the county's roadways. In an effort to control this the county has put forth numerous projects to widen existing highways, and the cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have also implemented a bus service oriented towards visitors, which ferries tourists to and from various popular destinations throughout the towns via decorated buses referred to as "trolleys." The Great Smoky Mountains Parkway connects Interstate 40 (Exit 407) to

1845-533: The trail switches back to the east to ascend Maddron Bald's ridgecrest. Maddron's heath bald spans the ridgecrest between roughly 6.2 miles (10.0 km) and 6.7 miles (10.8 km) from the trailhead. The "heath" (heaths are often called "hells" in Appalachia) mainly consists of dense rhododendron thickets. In some places, the thicket rises nearly 10 feet (0.0030 km) above the ground. In most areas, however, it's much lower, allowing unobstructed views of

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1890-471: The trailhead. Beyond Indian Camp Creek, the Maddron Bald Trail continues its ascent to the south toward Albright Grove. The Albright Grove Loop is a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) trail that departs the Maddron Bald Trail 2.9 miles (4.7 km) from the trailhead and rejoins it 3.2 miles (5.1 km) from the trailhead. Thus, the detour along the Albright Grove Loop adds 0.4 miles (0.64 km) to

1935-440: The vote on the occasions they face opposition at all. At local elections, the county is similarly Republican. However, the county backed Senator Al Gore in 1990 and Governor Phil Bredesen in 2006 in landslides. From its beginnings as a traditional subsistence-based farming society, Sevier County has grown into a major tourist destination since the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , which dominates

1980-418: The vote—reportedly his highest percentage of any county in the nation. In 1932 Herbert Hoover received 77.01% of the vote and in 1936 Alf Landon received 77.73%. Since 1916 no Republican candidate has received less than 55% of the county's vote and in 2008 John McCain received 73.4%. All of the county's state legislators are Republicans, and Republican candidates routinely garner well over 70 percent of

2025-414: Was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 34,719, and the median income for a family was $ 40,474. Males had a median income of $ 27,139 versus $ 20,646 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,064. About 8.20% of families and 10.70% of the population were below

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