Sevier County

Formed on September 18, 1794, Sevier County came about from part of neighboring Jefferson County. The county takes its name from John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee, who played a prominent role during the American Revolution as well as the settling of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Since its establishment in 1795, the county seat has been located in Sevierville, which is also named for John Sevier, and according to records is the eighth-oldest city in the state of Tennessee.

Prior to the late 1930s, Sevier County’s population, economy, and society, most of which revolved around farming and agriculture, was like any other county in the rural South. However, with the designation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1930s, Sevier County’s outward appearance changed drastically. Today, tourism supports the county’s burgeoning economy and looks to be going that way in the future. The Smoky Mountains have become more of a destination in recent years and Sevier County and its towns and cities have all pushed for it whole-heartedly.

The Sevier County Courthouse in downtown Sevierville houses most of the county’s departments and service offices. The county mayor as well as other county officials including circuit court clerk, clerk and master, county clerk, property assessor, register of deeds, highway commissioner and trustee all work out of offices in the building. Services including vehicle tag renewals, property tax, business tax, driver license renewal, marriage applications, notary applications, beer permits, land records, traffic citations, and the like can all be addressed at the downtown courthouse. The count election commission also holds office downtown.

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival (October 1-31)

The annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a wonderful time to visit Sevierville, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Between the crisp air, leaves changing color, and the smell of campfires, it’s probably THE time to be in the Smokies. There is simply no other time like fall here. If you have never experienced it or have only visited Sevierville during the spring or summer, then you don’t know what you’re missing! I suggest getting your bags packed and cruising on down right now to visit Sevierville before October 31!

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival in GatlinburgThe annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a wonderful time to visit Sevierville, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Between the crisp air, leaves changing color, and the smell of campfires, it’s probably THE time to be in the Smokies. There is simply no other time like fall here. If you have never experienced it or have only visited Sevierville during the spring or summer, then you don’t know what you’re missing! I suggest getting your bags packed and cruising on down right now to visit Sevierville before October 31!

The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a staple of fall in Smokies that includes the towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. The event kicks off on October 1 and will last through October 31. It’s basically a celebration of autumn and many local businesses take part. There will be an assortment of “fall displays” throughout each town with pumpkins, scarecrows, stacks of hay, cornstalks, and all sorts of other fall decorations. Traditional Appalachian music can be heard in Sevierville, along with bluegrass and gospel. Artisans from the artistic community whose expertise include; basket weaving, candle making, pottery, quilting, dolls, scrimshaw, jewelry, leather, fine photography, art, stained glass, and much much more. This isn’t a “made in (insert foreign country here)” festival…no sir…this is a genuine, made in the Smoky Mountains by good ‘ole country folks crafts and artwork! You’ll get to meet and talk to the artists face-to-face, which you don’t get at many local festivals. Each year, so many festival-goers come back and visit the same shops in order to add to their collection of unique pottery, jewelry, art, etc. It’s a festival unlike anything outside the Smokies.