Townsend in Blount County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Little River Lumber Company

Photographed by Tom Gillard, August 13, 2010

1. The Little River Lumber Company Marker

Inscription. This is the former site of the Little River Lumber Company mill complex. Founded in 1901 by Col. W.B. Townsend for whom this community is named, the company was one of the largest commercial lumber operations in the Smokies. From 1901 to 1939, the company's Little River Railroad Company built over 150 miles of railroads in the Smoky Mountains and the company sawed over 560 million board feet of timber. Its lands are now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Erected by TN Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1E 110.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 35° 40.632′ N, 83° 45.13′ W. Marker is in Townsend, Tennessee, in Blount County. It is on E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy (Route 321), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Townsend TN 37882, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee,

in the Great Smoky Mountains,

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: On this site August 17, 1915 (approx. 0.8 miles away); John Mitchel (approx. 1.1 miles away); Tuckaleechee Villages (approx. 1.9 miles away); Timber to Tourism

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(approx. 5.1 miles away); Gamble's Station (approx. 5.1 miles away); Independent But Not Isolated (approx. 6.3 miles away); Still Teaching (approx. 6.3 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Townsend.

Also see . . .
1. Little River Railroad. (Submitted on October 17, 2010, by Tom Gillard of Tullahoma, Tennessee.)
2. Little River Railroad Museum. (Submitted on October 17, 2010, by Tom Gillard of Tullahoma, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Gillard, August 13, 2010

2. The Little River Lumber Company Marker

Photographed by Tom Gillard, August 13, 2010

3. The Little River Lumber Company Marker

The Little River Lumber Company image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Gillard, August 13, 2010

4. The Little River Lumber Company

Photographed by Tom Gillard, August 13, 2010

5. The Little River Lumber Company

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2010, by Tom Gillard of Tullahoma, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,938 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 17, 2010, by Tom Gillard of Tullahoma, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.