--- title: "Old City" url: https://www.hereknoxville.com/old-city/ date: 2026-07-11T19:11:57+00:00 modified: 2026-07-11T19:11:57+00:00 author: "" site: "HERE Knoxville" attribution: "HERE Knoxville" --- # Old City *Source: [HERE Knoxville](https://www.hereknoxville.com/old-city/) โ€” July 11, 2026 by * Knox County ยท Urban # Old City Downtown Knoxville's historic warehouse-district-turned-entertainment quarter, once known by nicknames like 'the Bowery' and 'Irish Town.' Patrick Sullivan's Saloon (1888 building) live music and nightlife venues loft-style residential conversions ### Quick Facts ZIP37902 CategoryUrban Platted1854 Main CorridorJackson Avenue / Central Street CountyKnox County ### At A Glance Walkability92/100 Commute0 minutes (downtown) InterstateI-40, 3 minutes VibeHistoric entertainment district with dense nightlife, live music, and loft living Best ForUrban-lifestyle renters and buyers wanting downtown's most walkable entertainment access ### Got A Tip? News, real estate moves, or business happenings in Old City? Send a tip โ€” anonymous OK. [Submit a Tip](/submit-a-tip/) ### Own This Neighborhood Your Name Here Your Brokerage ยท Knoxville, TN ๐Ÿ“ž(864) 555-0100 โœ‰you@yoursite.com ๐ŸŒyoursite.com $149/mo ยท Sponsor Old City [Become The Sponsor โ†’](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/) ## Location The Old City sits immediately northeast of Gay Street and Market Square in downtown Knoxville, within the 37902 ZIP code, per the Old City Knoxville business association's history page. [**Open Old City in Google Maps โ†’**35.9666ยฐ N, 83.9147ยฐ W ยท ZIP 37902](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.9666,-83.9147) ## Character Brick warehouse and commercial buildings from the late 1800s now house bars, live-music venues, restaurants, and loft apartments, making the Old City the anchor of downtown Knoxville's nightlife scene. ## History The district grew around the railroad and wholesale trade beginning in the mid-1800s, earning rough-edged nicknames including 'Irish Town,' 'Cripple Creek,' 'the Bowery,' 'Gunter's Flats,' and 'the Bottom' for its saloons and red-light reputation. Patrick Sullivan opened his namesake saloon in 1888; a citywide saloon ban in 1907 curtailed the district's vice-era character, and it declined through the mid-20th century until artists and developers, aided by the West family's Market Square investments, revitalized the buildings starting in the 1980s and 90s. Your Featured Sponsor Your Name Here Your Brokerage ยท Realtorยฎ **๐Ÿ“ž** (864) 555-0100 **โœ‰** you@yourbrokerage.com **๐ŸŒ** yourbrokerage.com [Visit My Site โ†’](/advertise/) ### Own Old City โ€” Just $149/month Exclusive sponsorship ยท one realtor or local business per neighborhood - **Top-of-page featured card** with your photo, name, brokerage, phone, email, and website - **Route every Old City search visitor** directly to your site โ€” not Zillow, not Realtor.com - **Hyperlocal SEO juice** โ€” backlink from a high-authority HEREKnoxville neighborhood page - **Click-to-call and click-to-email** built in for mobile leads - **Lock out competitors** โ€” only one sponsor at a time, month-to-month - **Cancel anytime** โ€” no contract, no setup fee [Claim Old City โ†’](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/) [See vs Zillow & Redfin](/sponsor-a-neighborhood/#compare) ## Schools Elementary Sarah Moore Greene Elementary Knox County Schools [SC Report Card โ†’](https://tn.gov/education/report-card) [School site โ†’](https://www.knoxschools.org) Middle Vine Middle Magnet Knox County Schools [SC Report Card โ†’](https://tn.gov/education/report-card) [School site โ†’](https://www.knoxschools.org) High Austin-East Magnet High School Knox County Schools [SC Report Card โ†’](https://tn.gov/education/report-card) [School site โ†’](https://www.knoxschools.org) Ratings from the South Carolina School Report Card (state Department of Education) โ€” not third-party aggregators. ## Nearby Retail & Dining - **Jackson Avenue/Central Street venues** โ€” Bars, live-music clubs, and restaurants in historic warehouse buildings *(within neighborhood)* - **Market Square** โ€” Adjacent pedestrian plaza with restaurants and shops *(0.3 mi)* ## Healthcare & Essentials - **UT Medical Center** Hospital *(1.5 mi)* - **Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center** Urgent care *(1.0 mi)* **Run a business near Old City?** Join the HEREKnoxville Business Directory and we'll link your name from neighborhood pages like this one โ€” driving local search traffic straight to your site. [Join Our Business Directory โ†’](/advertise/) More Knoxville Neighborhoods - [Downtown Knoxville](https://www.hereknoxville.com/downtown-knoxville/) - [Fort Sanders](https://www.hereknoxville.com/fort-sanders/) - [Sequoyah Hills](https://www.hereknoxville.com/sequoyah-hills/) - [Old North Knoxville](https://www.hereknoxville.com/old-north-knoxville/) - [Fourth & Gill](https://www.hereknoxville.com/fourth-and-gill/) - [Bearden](https://www.hereknoxville.com/bearden/) - [South Knoxville](https://www.hereknoxville.com/south-knoxville/) - [Fountain City](https://www.hereknoxville.com/fountain-city/) - [West Hills](https://www.hereknoxville.com/west-hills/) - [Rocky Hill](https://www.hereknoxville.com/rocky-hill/) - [Cedar Bluff](https://www.hereknoxville.com/cedar-bluff/) - [All Neighborhoods โ†’](/neighborhoods-knoxville-tn/) School data from the [SC Department of Education Report Card](https://screportcards.com). Page maintained by HEREKnoxville.