Our Community
Learn more about Blount Memorial Hospital’s East Tennessee community
Blount Memorial Hospital is located in the city of Maryville, which is in Blount County, Tennessee. Read on to learn more about our community.
Blount County is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Knoxville. It is one of Tennessee’s oldest counties and an ancestral home of the Cherokee. Scots-Irish settlers from Virginia first settled in the area in 1785. These early pioneers were primarily Presbyterian farmers who were drawn to the county’s fertile land, abundant water supply and plentiful timber.
The county covers 584 square miles and is located near the geographic center of the eastern United States. Convenient access to major Interstates 81, 40 and 75 makes it easy for county residents to drive to any destination in the South and Midwest or along the East Coast.
Blount County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee. The area’s natural wonders, temperate climate and affordable cost-of-living make Blount County a popular destination for newcomers.
The twin cities of Maryville and Alcoa offer a scenic gateway to the Smoky Mountains.
Maryville was founded in 1790 and is the county seat. The city covers 11.46 square miles encompassing parks, greenways, rivers, streams, residential neighborhoods, a historic downtown district and the Maryville College campus. Maryville earns high marks in state and national surveys for its outstanding public schools, recreational opportunities and quality of life.
Alcoa was originally known as North Maryville and was primarily farmland. Following a series of land purchases by the Aluminum Company of America Incorporated (now Alcoa, Inc.), the city was chartered in 1919 and given the company’s name. Alcoa is home to McGhee Tyson Airport, East Tennessee’s premier air facility for commercial airline, air cargo, military aviation and general aviation air traffic.
Blount County’s central location, regional airport and easy access to three interstate highways make it an ideal location for business and industry. Numerous industrial parks are located in the county. In addition to Blount Memorial, major employers include Alcoa, Inc., Denso Manufacturing, Newell Office Products, Rockford Manufacturing Company and Schlegel-Tennessee, Inc.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a natural sanctuary of cascading waterfalls, verdant valleys, diverse wildflowers and wildlife, ridgeline balds and virgin forests spanning more than 500,000 acres at the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains. Much of eastern Blount County lies within the national park’s boundaries. Perennially ranked as the most visited National Park in the U.S., the park is one of the largest intact ecosystems in the eastern U.S., and is designated an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site. Due to the 5,000-foot elevation difference from lowlands to mountain peaks, during a single day in the park, visitors can encounter the same life zones of varying flora and fauna found along a 2,000-mile-walk from Georgia to Maine. Campsites, hiking trails and historic sites within the park are only a short drive from the Maryville-Alcoa area.
Maryville College is a four-year, co-educational, liberal arts college known for its academic rigor. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The college serves as a vibrant center of activity, culture and learning for the entire community.
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