Minorities in Knoxville? (Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol: neighborhood, buying, construction)

[elhigh]

Stay out of East Knoxville. It has a reputation, deserved or not, and you don't want to be tainted by it. I recommend this the same way I would recommend no one move to SE Washington DC. It's not because of anyone who is there, it's because of what goes on there.

I don't know of any neighborhood that is ethnically tuned one way or the other, but I don't think you'd do wrong to live anywhere in general, just not East. You'd probably do well to stay at least two miles away from the various housing projects, too: Western Heights, Christenberry Heights, etc. Find out where they are and avoid them. Again, not because of any racial or ethnic group, but because of what goes on.

[creeksitter]

I disagree with the 2 mile rule. I lived about a mile from M. Village for a while and had absolutely no crime. A lot has to do with topography, who your neighbors are, etc. You can get crime reports for $5 if you go to the City Safety building by the Colliseum.

Holston Hills is in E. Knox and it is a beautiful area.

[Tennesseestorm]

Oh, there is a "Martin Luther King St" there too? Here in Bristol, we have a "Martin Luther King Jr. BLVD.". I did not know there was one in Knoxville too.

Originally Posted by Young-Brim

My favortie area in east knoxville is the martin luther king st area because there are always events going on especially at the chillowhee park by the knoxville zoo.

[Rage]

As an old southerner from an old southern family (Dating back to revolutionary war and before)...........and my great great grand dad fought with the Tennessee 17th volunteer division in the civil war, I think there is still that "phantom" rift between the north and the south. I had lived in Chicago for more than a year and heard much more about the south (from people that had never been here) than I have ever heard about the north here. It's shame that people base their opinions on television shows and other's impressions instead of actually taking the time to formulate an original thought. Oh well...........yes the south has become much more tolerant of a lot of things and acceptant of social reform. Diversity has become the norm here. That not withstanding there are still many aspects of the south that are steeped in tradition, there is still a huge population of people that live outside of the urban areas and prefer it that way. I think for the most part southerners have become much more encompassing in their thought process and are open to new experiences.........those at home and those which are brought, so as a son of the "old" south I say welcome to ya'll and bring with you the same sense of openness and hospitality we want to give to you.

[Tennesseestorm]

This site says that Knoxville is 16.1% black.

Originally Posted by pioneer8

It's 91.8% White, 6.8% Black, .9% Asian, .3% American Indian, .7% Hispanic- Maybe it's changed in the last year and a half- (I doubt by that much).

[jabogitlu]

Originally Posted by elhigh

Stay out of East Knoxville. It has a reputation, deserved or not, and you don't want to be tainted by it. I recommend this the same way I would recommend no one move to SE Washington DC. It's not because of anyone who is there, it's because of what goes on there.

Totally disagree. I lived in East Knox for a year and loved it. Sure, there are rough parts of east Knoxville, but you might be just as likely to get your skull bashed in if you're wandering around the Lovell Road exit at 3:30 in the morning. Just use your head when you investigate neighborhoods and once you move in, use your head even further! Like the above poster said, Holston Hills is east town!

[TerryTurtle27]

Knoxville City
Knoxville (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
16.2% Black or African American, percent, 2000

Knox County
Knox County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
Black persons, percent, 2005 (a) 8.7%

[bfskinnerpunk]

I, too, get a little uncomfortable when the word diversity seems to be used as a synonym for skin color!
It's ironic that, on the one hand, we are supposed to accept that we are all the same regardless of skin color. Then, we say that different races make us diverse!
When I look for diversity, skin color isn't at all what I have in mind.
Education and number of books read are usually a much better indicator of diversity.

[bfskinnerpunk]

I live in Holston Hills. Love it. Fancy vintage homes with a number of Knoxville "players" residing there. It's an old country club (golf) neighborhood with a very intellectually diverse population... from conservative to hard core left wing environmentalists!
At any time of day or night, I feel unquestionably safe... safer than any area I have ever lived before.

[elhigh]

16% Black? I'm not buying that. Those stats sound wrong, and working as much as I do all over town, they feel wrong too. 16% implies that on average one in six Knoxvillians is black. I think the earlier post that said the white majority was 91.x% feels closer to correct.