Is Knoxville or East Tennessee a good move from Georgia? (Maryville: credit, wages)

[Dixie Dawg]

My husband and I are currently living in South Georgia. I moved here from Florida and he moved here from Texas before we were married. However, we have discovered that we do not fit in down here. This is one of the most culturally "dead" places we have seen. People stay to themselves and it's difficult to get involved in the community unless you are born and raised here.

We are looking to move to an area that has a university or a college (he has a doctorate), an area where there is some culture, an active area for community/charities, and a place that doesn't have a very high cost of living. We're also looking for a friendly place that is open to new business and seminars or programs (event planning). We have friends who live in Knoxville and they absolutely love it and are encouraging us to move there. Would you recommend Knoxville for job/business opportunities, fair wages, good housing, nice weather, etc.? Thanks for any input you may have......

[LauraC]

You're comin' for our water, aren't ya?

[Chuck51]

You're coming here because Georgia Bulldogs are sending infiltrators aren't you?

Seriously though. My wife and I moved here in 1995 and love it. I was in the Army for 20 years and this is the one and only place I have lived and not wanted to move away from after a couple of years. I went to school at UT to get my degree in Geology, then after graduating we stayed - wife is from Germany and she loves it as much as I do.

Good luck with the decision, I think you'll find much of what you're looking for right here.

[knoxgarden]

I moved to Knoxville after 10 years in Columbus, GA.
Knoxville, particularly the people, are wonderful. Although after living in Columbus, any place would look good.
I have some good friends there and do visit occasionally, but I'm always so glad to leave and come home to Knoxville.
Summers are much milder and much less humid in Knoxville. It's not redneck Southern and people here aren't mean. You don't have the "plantation mentality" that's so prevalent in south Georgia.
There's always something neat to do in Knoxville. From the Rossini Opera festival to the Jazz Festival to events at the Museum, lectures at UT, non-credit courses at UT (I take those), UT sports, events in small towns around Knoxville. A lot of people come here and start businesses they've always wanted to try, from Irish pubs to spice shops to restaurants to ice skating rinks. People just do things, they don't wait for the government to do them.
Check out Metro Pulse, the alternate weekly, for a better idea of what's going on and the scene downtown. You'd be good candidates for downtown living.
Metro Pulse: Knoxville News, Issues, Entertainment, Culture, People

[JMT]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

I moved to Knoxville after 10 years in Columbus, GA.
Knoxville, particularly the people, are wonderful. Although after living in Columbus, any place would look good.
I have some good friends there and do visit occasionally, but I'm always so glad to leave and come home to Knoxville.
Summers are much milder and much less humid in Knoxville. It's not redneck Southern and people here aren't mean. You don't have the "plantation mentality" that's so prevalent in south Georgia.
There's always something neat to do in Knoxville. From the Rossini Opera festival to the Jazz Festival to events at the Museum, lectures at UT, non-credit courses at UT (I take those), UT sports, events in small towns around Knoxville. A lot of people come here and start businesses they've always wanted to try, from Irish pubs to spice shops to restaurants to ice skating rinks. People just do things, they don't wait for the government to do them.
Check out Metro Pulse, the alternate weekly, for a better idea of what's going on and the scene downtown. You'd be good candidates for downtown living.
Metro Pulse: Knoxville News, Issues, Entertainment, Culture, People

What a wonderful post! If I didn't already live in Knoxville, I would want to live here after reading this.

[Bob Hamilton]

Dixie Dawg,

Knoxville and Maryville are listed number 41th and 43th in the nation best places to live. Tn. has no state taxes and no motor vehicle inspection. People are very open to help you. My vote is yes !!! Good move.

[SmokyMtnGal]

Originally Posted by Bob Hamilton

Dixie Dawg,

Knoxville and Maryville are listed number 41th and 43th in the nation best places to live. Tn. has no state taxes and no motor vehicle inspection. People are very open to help you. My vote is yes !!! Good move.

Great info on the rankings Bob. What is the source if you don't mind me asking? By the way, I just heard on the news within the last week that TN might be considering a motor vehicle inspection. I can't imagine it passing, and if it does, there will be a lot of folks hitching rides. Thanks.

[snapdragon]

I lived in Atlanta and now I'm here. I'd say Atlanta was more "cultural" than Knoxville.
Knoxville is nice, the weather is great, it's very pretty here (you can see the mountains), and people are nice. So far I have found more conservative people than I'd like, but I'm still looking.
I say come and check it out. There are things to do here.

Good Luck.

[fallfanatic]

knoxgarden...Nice post.

SMG...I do know that Knoxville was ranked 31st out of 379 cities, in the Places Rated Almanac 2007. Maryville wasn't in there. I did list all the stats for Knoxville in the "knoxville or chattanooga" thread (on the knoxville forum) if you're interested in checking them out.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by fallfanatic

knoxgarden...Nice post.

SMG...I do know that Knoxville was ranked 31st out of 379 cities, in the Places Rated Almanac 2007. Maryville wasn't in there. I did list all the stats for Knoxville in the "knoxville or chattanooga" thread (on the knoxville forum) if you're interested in checking them out.

Usually, those Places Rated lists have a population cutoff. Maryville may not have enough people to be considered.