Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What are some attractive and livable cities/towns in the south with cute downtowns that nobody really talks about much, with a metro population between 100k-500k (a little smaller or bigger is fine)?
I was absolutely impressed with Birmingham, AL. Appeared very clean to me when I visited! The hilly scenery was beautiful too. I also really like Memphis and it's bridges, but I'm not sure if it's underrated.
Definitely Winston Salem and Greensboro, as it defies logic to how they've flown under the radar. I would also concur with Chattanooga, plus would add Knoxville as well as St Petersburg.
Definitely Winston Salem and Greensboro, as it defies logic to how they've flown under the radar. I would also concur with Chattanooga, plus would add Knoxville as well as St Petersburg.
When I lived in TN, I found Chattanooga to be ...off. It just felt industrial and kind of lost and lonely somehow. I know that's a weird description, but it felt cold and industrial to me. So, I'm not understanding the posts saying it's a great town. But, maybe it's changed since I left in 1990. That was a long time ago, afterall.
When I lived in TN, I found Chattanooga to be ...off. It just felt industrial and kind of lost and lonely somehow. I know that's a weird description, but it felt cold and industrial to me. So, I'm not understanding the posts saying it's a great town. But, maybe it's changed since I left in 1990. That was a long time ago, afterall.
Good heavens, yes a lot has changed in Chattanooga in the last 24 years. For starters, National Geographic in its October edition has listed Chattanooga among the world's 50 smartest cities in part because it was the first city in the country to offer city-wide internet speeds of 1 gig per second, plus its downtown has become hip and very liveable. From the article below:
National Geographic is the most recent in string of publications with broad reach anointing Chattanooga a star of something or another. Outside magazine called it the "best town ever" several years ago. The New York Times named it one of "45 places to go in 2012." U.S News & World Report named it one of six cities worldwide that "work at creating great urban experiences."
Downtown Chattanooga has become very attractive with something like a couple of billion dollars in investments, both public and private: scads of new apartment and condo blocks, industrial buildings converted into lofts, offices, hotels, and stores, a beautiful and fun waterfront, urban parks, aquarium, children's museum, IMAX theater, new baseball and football stadiums downtown, even a downtown Whole Foods with a Publix on the way. Check out this photo stream of downtown Chattanooga (not mine):
Chattanooga is also hoping to use abandoned rail lines in the city to turn into a light rail system which would definitely propel the city above any of its peers (Knoxville, Winston-Salem, Huntsville, Jackson, etc.):
Last edited by BuffaloHome; 09-21-2014 at 08:55 AM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
