What's up with Elizabethton? (Bristol, Gray: low crime, schools, median income)

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by GrannyLois

I have to put in a plug for Carter County, too. I live in Blountville, but just bought a small farm in Stoney Creek. I **love** it out there.

The people are happy and friendly, and there's lots to do. And it is GORGEOUS!

on Wednesday on my way up to Holston Mountain. Very pretty area, and the stone church there (didn't see the name) is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

BTW, there's a 90-foot observation tower atop Holston Mtn. that provides a wonderful 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains, valleys & So. Holston Lake.

[hrt]

Hello there, I happen to be reading information on this sight and am finding your information very helpful to us. My husband and I are also planning to relocate in the next year if it is in God's will for us. We have been looking at this area for some time and really love it -- I am in Rome, Ga and my husband works in Lowe's-- which Lowe's in the area are closest to this Gray county and Piney Flats. We really like JCity but don't want to be in the middle of the city but do want to be close enough to get to the restuarants and shopping. We have a 9 yr old son so the schools systems are very important to us. I of course want him in the best school system so the info I have read above was very important to me and I am glad I ran across this sight. We do want to get as much info and help as possible, and I myself am all about the snow -- so do you get much in this area ? I saw some pictures on the websight but is that just maybe once a winter or maybe more ( i hope)? Rome never gets snow anymore and that makes me crazy -- if you have a moment please help me out -- good areas to live close to Johnson city for kids and of course that are affordable -- maybe homes with some land but still in some type of subdivision -- not over the 150,000 price range -- do these exhist -- can you help? Thank you so much...... rht

[kamoshika]

Welcome to the forum, hrt. FWIW, you'll probably get more responses if you start a new thread since your questions don't really pertain to Elizabethton. But I'll try to answer a few of your questions....

The Lowe's store closest to the area you're looking at is on State of Franklin Rd. in Johnson City.

RE: snow, the Tri-Cities definitely see less of the white stuff these days compared to 20 years ago thanks to the warmer winters. After being away for many years, I moved back to Kingsport five years ago and have only experienced two snowfalls over 4" in that time. We get several piddly 1/2-1" snows a year and a few dustings, but we very rarely get dumped on like we used to. If you crave lots of snow, you'll have to head up into the surrounding mountains to find it.

Given your price range, it'll be difficult to find much selection in Gray & Piney Flats especially if you'd like to live on an acre or more. I'd suggest looking at some of the older subdivisions in areas like Harmony, Fall Branch, Rock Springs, Sulphur Springs & Colonial Heights.

[ziggy52]

Elizabethton is small and laid back. Some of the drivers need to be updated on the driving regulations and stop running stop signs and redlights. The use of turn signals does not seem to apply here. The mountains and the streams are beautiful . Lake Watauga is close by and clean. The city does not seem to be able to get any good places to come in for employment opportunities unless you think service jobs are good.I have met some good friendly people here but with the good you also get the bad as with anywhere. The mountains are full of wildlife and hiking trails. The appy trail goes through Carter county with trail heads here and there.Roan Mt. is the highest mountain at over 5000 ft and with the largest rhodadendron garden in the world at the top. In july there is a rhoderdendron festival and crafts fair at the roan Mt. state park. The bridge festival celebrating the covered bridge is in the spring. Just remember "the grass is never greener on the other side of the fence ,just different grass." There is plenty going on during the summer months in the tri cities area to keep you entertained with good music and food. Most people work outside Elizabethton where you can find some better paying jobs. The cost of living is cheapier in Elizabethton than in most places around here which is a plus.And if you like nascar racing , The legendary Bristol race track is just 20 min away. The fastest half mile track on the racing circuit. So ther it is in a nut shell the good and the bad. If you can deal with it, it is not bad to live here. PS. Watch out for the drivers with the little fish symbol on the back. They are the worst drivers here. The biggest eyesore and health hazard is the empty old Bemberg plant in back of WalMart. The city seems to be afraid or to cheap to tear it down.

There is a Lowes in Elizabethton now and a super Wallmart, WallGreens ,CVS Pharmacy, Biglots, dollar stors and appelbees,FATS,Captain D'sand othe fast food chains and many privately owned resturaunts.

I have posted some pics in a public album on here of the beautiful countryside in the Carter county area. Enjoy them.

[rccrain]

hrt,

A lot of my friends work at the JC Lowes. It is super high volume by TriCities standards.

For housing, check out Piney Flats, Gray, Fall Branch, and Boones Creek. $150k will get you a decent yard (.3 - 1 acre) and decent 2/3 bedroom house. Also make sure to have your realtor look outside the city limits. Not only will this cut your taxes in half, it will likely put you in the Daniel Boone HS school (county) district, which I prefer to Science Hill HS (city).

Also since you seem to be a Christian family look into 2 area Christian Schools. Providence is the creme de la creme for any school in the area - Christian and academically. It is in JC, but good luck getting in. Tri-Cities Christian, located in Blountville, would also be a fine choice; TCCS was my high school.

[jabogitlu]

Isn't there another one on Knob Creek? (or is that Providence)

I used to be a Lowe's/Home Depot vendor. It is astounding how much the JC Lowe's outsells all other regional (including SWVA) home improvement stores. I wonder if the Jonesborough Lowe's will take away any of this business.

[Tennesseestorm]

What's up with Elizabethton?

Alot of turmoil right now. Seems like alot of bickering has been going on over the city cutting out the classic car cruise-in that used to take place every Saturday night in downtown Elizabethton. Seems they wanted to cut it down to one time a month and the CCCC (Carter County Car Club) bucked on it, as did the fans of the show.

Seems like the CCCC has decided to move it to West Town Square Shopping Center every Saturday night. There have been write-ups in alot of papers about it.

[SarahSal]

Originally Posted by Tennesseestorm

What's up with Elizabethton?

Alot of turmoil right now. Seems like alot of bickering has been going on over the city cutting out the classic car cruise-in that used to take place every Saturday night in downtown Elizabethton. Seems they wanted to cut it down to one time a month and the CCCC (Carter County Car Club) bucked on it, as did the fans of the show.

Seems like the CCCC has decided to move it to West Town Square Shopping Center every Saturday night. There have been write-ups in alot of papers about it.

Well, without knowing all the facts, that sure seems like a dumb thing to do.. I bet downtown merchants are furious as this surely brought lots of activity and business for them. (I'd always thought the folks running the show in downtown JC were missing the mark by not inviting this club to visit).

Too bad for downtown E-Town.. Would be interesting to know why this decision was made. Wierd politics??

[Tennesseestorm]

Yeah, most of the merchants were quite upset... the ones that stayed open during those times. Seems the city council stopped it because it was costing the city too much in patroling the area and said crime was up in the downtown area. I have personally been to those and dont see where it was a major issue. The police did not even start coming there until last year I think. There is alot more info about it on Tricities.com and Elizabethton newspaper.

Originally Posted by SarahSal

Well, without knowing all the facts, that sure seems like a dumb thing to do.. I bet downtown merchants are furious as this surely brought lots of activity and business for them. (I'd always thought the folks running the show in downtown JC were missing the mark by not inviting this club to visit).

Too bad for downtown E-Town.. Would be interesting to know why this decision was made. Wierd politics??

[jabogitlu]

Crime? lol. The times I was at the cruise in seems like it was mostly Ricky Bobby and Helen Sue types there.