Living in Powell
Powell is an unincorporated community in North Knox County, along Emory Road between Halls and Karns. It sits in the Beaver Creek valley between Copper Ridge and Beaver Ridge, with Clinton Highway (US 25W) on its west side and I-75 on its east, so downtown Knoxville and Oak Ridge are both an easy drive.
Powell has its own small-town feel and its own zip code, 37849. Homes outside city limits pay Knox County property taxes only.
Homes and history
Powell's history goes back to the late 1780s, and it's named for the old Powell Station train stop. Most homes today are single-family houses in established and newer subdivisions, with some larger lots and acreage. Powell had about 13,800 residents at the 2020 census, and about half of households are married couples.
Parks and things to do
- Powell Station Park on W. Emory Road: playground, splash pad, skate park, and a 9-hole disc golf course.
- Powell Greenway: a 1.7-mile paved trail along Emory Road connecting Powell Station Park with Powell Middle and Powell High.
- Collier Preserve, a 12-acre nature park on Beaver Creek next to the Powell Branch Library, opened in 2021.
- Beaver Creek Water Trail, with an accessible kayak launch at Powell High Landing.
Schools
Public schools serving the area include Powell High School, Powell Middle School, Powell Elementary, Brickey-McCloud Elementary, and Copper Ridge Elementary. Zoning is set by address, so confirm any home's assigned schools with the Knox County Schools zoning lookup or ask us to look it up.