Knoxville 's textile and manufacturing industries largely fell victim to foreign competition in the 1950s and 1960s , and after the establishment of the Interstate Highway system in the 1960s , the railroad -- which had been largely responsible for Knoxville 's industrial growth -- began to decline .
Knoxville 's textile and manufacturing industries were hurt by foreign competition in the 1950s and 1960s . After the building of the Interstate Highway system in the 1960s , the railroad -- which had been largely responsible for Knoxville 's industrial growth -- began to decline .