Two generations later Thomas Hall's grandson Pulaski went west during the California Gold Rush and settled on a ranch in Oregon. He returned to Halls and married Joyce Hall, September 8, 1859. Pulaski and his family owned and operated one of the first businesses in the Halls area as early as 1860, which included a general store and inn as well as a blacksmith shop. The store was known as Halls Crossroads due to its location at the crossroads of Emory Road and Maynardville Pike, giving the basis for the name behind the unincorporated town.[8][5] The name Halls Crossroads would be officially recognized by the state of Tennessee for the community, in order to prevent confusion with Halls in Lauderdale County, an incorporated town.[5]
Halls High School was one of the first schools in the area. Founded in 1916, the school was named for Pulaski Hall.[9]
As of the present day, Halls Crossroads has grown into an unincorporated suburban town, with many occupied and unoccupied greyfields.[10] With the recent annexations of land extending near Halls Crossroads, any proposal to annex the community would face conflict from its residents.[10] In the early 2010s, plans were proposed for the redevelopment of many of the community's vacant commercial sites, including a mixed-usetown centre, an urban farm, and a greenway system.[11]
Geography
Halls Crossroads is located in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, which are characterized by long, narrow ridges that run in a northeast–southwest direction. The community is nestled between several such ridges, most notably Black Oak Ridge and Beaver Ridge, which divide Halls Crossroads from Fountain City to the south. Along with Fountain City, adjacent communities include Powell to the west, Corryton to the east, and the city of Maynardville to the north. Halls is drained by the Beaver Creek Watershed. Beaver Creek runs through the center of Halls Crossroads, and parallel to State Route 131, known locally as Emory Road, flowing 25 miles to the Clinch River.
Knox County Schools operates six public schools in the Halls community including Halls Elementary School, Adrian Burnett Elementary School, Brickey-McCloud Elementary School, Halls High School, and Halls Middle School. Private schools nearby include Garden Montessori School, Temple Baptist Academy, Natures Way Montessori School, and St. Joseph School.[13]
Economy
The community is the site of the locally famous Halls Stockyards, a cattleauction facility.[14]
Halls Crossroads is also home to numerous stores and restaurants.[8]
Infrastructure
Halls Crossroads is serviced by the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District and Knoxville Utilities Board, for wastewater, municipal water, and electricity respectively.[8]
Recreation
Nearby golf courses and country clubs include Beaver Brook Golf & Country Club, Three Ridges Golf Course, and Beverly Park Junior Golf Course. Halls Community Park features multiple ball fields, a playground, and a community center. The park is connected to the Halls Greenway, a hiking and biking trail that runs along Beaver Creek to the Halls Library. The Halls Senior Center features amenities like a computer center, a billiards room, conference rooms, arts and craft centers, and a community kitchen.[15][16]
The John Sevier Hunter Education Center (JSHEC) is located on Rifle Range Road in Halls Crossroads. It is a multi-use facility managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for the public. The center provides Hunter Education classes and has various firearm and archery ranges.[17]
Cocca, Carolyn, Coordinator. A History of Halls. (Information compiled by the Halls Business and Professional Club). Halls Business and Professional Club, 1985.
