Where should a single 29 year old male live in the area?

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Emigrations

When you count the "greater commuting area," what I'd call from Greene County, TN to at least Washington County VA (maybe Smyth, Russell, and definitely Scott County) I'd say you get to at least a half million, if not between 600k-700k.

The area doesn't function as one - the cities compete, not cooperate. Look at all the hullabaloo from the Bass Pro/Cabela's things as well as the retail ones.

Even though the area is not super small, it functions as a series of small towns rather than a cohesive metro.

Emigrations, I don't think the census has ever counted the tri-cities metropolitan region as exceeding the 500k mark (until maybe very recently). I am fairly positive the counties included in the census count include Greene as well. I'd say the area won't reach 600-700k until the mid to late 2020s....it is beginning to grow fairly quickly, with all the retirement folks coming and those relocating down from economically depressed regions like Michigan, Ohio, upstate NY and parts of PA.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Emigrations, I don't think the census has ever counted the tri-cities metropolitan region as exceeding the 500k mark (until maybe very recently). I am fairly positive the counties included in the census count include Greene as well. I'd say the area won't reach 600-700k until the mid to late 2020s....it is beginning to grow fairly quickly, with all the retirement folks coming and those relocating down from economically depressed regions like Michigan, Ohio, upstate NY and parts of PA.

It probably hit 500k in the last census. All I found on Wikipedia was stuff from 2000. Still, people in pretty remote counties like Wise County, VA and Lee County, VA will probably use the Tri-Cities for "big shopping." There is nothing in those counties and the Tri is still the closest option. I know a couple of people who live in Smyth County but commute to Bristol. When you count the sphere of influence, the Tri-Cities can be the destination for quite a few more people than is picked up by the official CSA.

[jabogitlu]

The official Census designations:

http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/econ...M200US304M.pdf

Johnson City MSA: Washington, Carter, Unicoi
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol MSA: Hawkins, Sullivan, Scott (VA), Washington (VA)
Tri Cities, TN/VA CSA (Combined Statistical Area): The Johnson City MSA and the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol MSA.

The total population of the CSA (2012 5-Year Census Estimate) was 507,557.


Greene County constitutes the Greeneville mSA (micropolitan statistical area) and has never been included in the Census designations of the Tri-Cities area.