Old City
Old City
Downtown Knoxville's historic warehouse-district-turned-entertainment quarter, once known by nicknames like 'the Bowery' and 'Irish Town.'
Quick Facts
At A Glance
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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 →35.9666° N, 83.9147° W · ZIP 37902Character
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.
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Schools
Ratings from the South Carolina School Report Card (state Department of Education) — not third-party aggregators.
Nearby Retail & Dining
- Jackson Avenue/Central Street venues — Bars, live-music clubs, and restaurants in historic warehouse buildings (within neighborhood)
- Market Square — 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)
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