| Gatlinburg is a popular resort town in eastern | | | | Oaks was renamed after Radford Gatlin. Although |
| Tennessee with a year-round population of 3,300. | | | | he opened a popular post office and store in the |
| The town enjoys a great sense of history that is | | | | town, Gatlin was also a highly controversial figure. |
| easily accessible to all visitors. The Ogle family built | | | | According to local legend, Gatlin, a supporter of |
| one of the first cabins in Gatlinburg in the early | | | | the Confederacy, became embroiled in a physical |
| 1800s. The Ogle cabin still stands and is one of | | | | dispute with Union supporters who drove him out |
| Gatlinburg's main attractions. | | | | of town and forced him to abandon his property. |
| Gatlinburg, Tennessee was originally settled in the | | | | Vacationers have been central to Gatlinburg's |
| 1790s and 1800s by South Carolinians of English, | | | | identity for about 50 years. However, for its first |
| Scotch, Irish and Scotch-Irish ancestry. The | | | | 150 years, Gatlinburg was a self-contained, |
| earliest settlers were the Ogles, Huskeys, | | | | close-knit residential town. In the early 1900s, the |
| McCarters, Reagans, and Whaleys, who named | | | | local economy shifted from subsistence farming |
| the township White Oaks for the many white oak | | | | to timber. At this time, Gatlinburg's first hotel was |
| trees in the valley. In the following decades, many | | | | established to service lumber buyers traveling |
| other families such as the Trenthams, Clabos, | | | | through the Smokey Mountains and the local |
| Maples, Oakleys, Ownbys, Kings, Bohannons, and | | | | economy slowly began to expand. Since its |
| Cardwells joined the Ogles in populating White | | | | incorporation in 1945, Gatlinburg has transformed |
| Oaks. | | | | into a premier camping, tourist, and convention |
| Although originally named White Oaks, the town | | | | site. |
| was later renamed to Gatlinburg - derived from a | | | | Thousands of visitors flock to Gatlinburg |
| man named Radford Gatlin. Gatlin arrived in 1855 | | | | year-round to enjoy the unique and beautiful |
| from North Carolina and opened the second store | | | | views of the Great Smoky Mountain National |
| and post office in the small village. In appreciation | | | | Park, established in 1934. The wooded area in and |
| of Gatlin's service, and the popularity of his shop, | | | | around Gatlinburg provide ample opportunity |
| the postmaster Richard Reagan renamed the | | | | camping, fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking and |
| office in his honor, and soon Gatlinburg became | | | | horse-back riding. In addition to the breathtaking |
| synonymous with the entire White Oaks | | | | natural environment, vacationers enjoy many |
| surroundings. | | | | shopping opportunities and fine dining experiences. |
| In retrospect, it may seem surprising that White | | | | |
