Maryville named 6th Safest Place in Tennessee (Knoxville, Chattanooga: crime, buy)

[KathiOH1]

I just saw this article and thought it was worth sharing. Maryville TN was named 6th safest place to live in Tennessee:
Maryville named 6th safest city in Tennessee

I know that reported numbers can be manipulated. (For example, crime that occurs a block from official UT campus isn't included in campus crime reports or student text message alerts.) However, I live in Maryville and feel safe running the greenbelt, etc. So my question is ...

Do you believe reports like this? Are there places you wouldn't go in Maryville? Are there any nearby towns you would consider safer than Maryville?

[hiknapster]

Here's what I don't like about Maryville. The article calls it a suburb of Knoxville, although Maryville denizens would beg to differ. It also said something even bizarre about Maryville enjoying from the tourists that go to Pigeon Forge, Dollywood and the Park. I think that most tourists don't go through Maryville and that's a good thing.

In any event, I just don't think that downtown Maryville has much going on. It has always had the potential, but for whatever reason, it never really got there. I often think it's because the majority of its residents don't support mom and pop businesses, but gravitate toward big box retail offerings. Not everyone, of course, but a lot of them.

[jabogitlu]

I always felt pretty dang safe in inner city Knoxville so maybe I'm skewed. I never even went to Maryville the entire time I lived in Knoxville, so it's probably pretty safe. And maybe a little boring?

[KathiOH1]

Market Square and the Old City certainly has more excitement than Maryville, but I do enjoy drinks and appetizers at Foothills Milling Co or a cold brew and food truck at Casual Pint. I miss the Fall Festival something aweful!!!

[CraigCreek]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Here's what I don't like about Maryville. The article calls it a suburb of Knoxville, although Maryville denizens would beg to differ. It also said something even bizarre about Maryville enjoying from the tourists that go to Pigeon Forge, Dollywood and the Park. I think that most tourists don't go through Maryville and that's a good thing.

In any event, I just don't think that downtown Maryville has much going on. It has always had the potential, but for whatever reason, it never really got there. I often think it's because the majority of its residents don't support mom and pop businesses, but gravitate toward big box retail offerings. Not everyone, of course, but a lot of them.

Tourists heading to Townsend, aka "the quiet side of the Smokies", from Knoxville, Chattanooga and points beyond certainly do go right through Maryville. They may not contribute much to the local economy - but they are on the roads and no doubt do buy gasoline and snacks and perhaps a few other items.

However, I expect most tourists who go to Townsend from Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg either go through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park via the Little River Road, or else take the road through Wear's Cove from Pigeon Forge to Townsend, thus avoiding Maryville (not necessarily by intent, just by taking the shortest routes). But even then, they may go to Maryville to exit the area, as the roads are far less congested and traffic moves much more quickly there than in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, especially.

I had to have my old car towed into Maryville from Townsend a few years ago - people in both towns could not have been more helpful and polite and friendly. Nice folks.