Newport,TN (Knoxville, Franklin, Morristown: vacation home, buy, schools)

[Gator18]

We bought a second home in Newport in July and plan to use it as a vacation home. We are hoping to move up there (we are in FL) in 2-3 years.

What can anyone tell me about the Newport/ Cocke Cty? When we were looking at homes, I noticed that folks who live in Dandridge or Jefferson County "looked down" on the folks in Cocke County. What is the deal with this? Does anyone know?

[charz]

OK, no one lash out at me, but when I attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, people referred to Newport/Cocke County area as "rednecks". I don't feel that way--but that is what I heard most people say back then. We always drove to Newport to eat at Cracker Barrel and the only thing I ever noticed was more pick-up trucks in the parking lot. I always thought the area was friendly.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Gator18

We bought a second home in Newport in July and plan to use it as a vacation home. We are hoping to move up there (we are in FL) in 2-3 years.

What can anyone tell me about the Newport/ Cocke Cty? When we were looking at homes, I noticed that folks who live in Dandridge or Jefferson County "looked down" on the folks in Cocke County. What is the deal with this? Does anyone know?

Yep, those of us that are natives especially know.

Originally Posted by charz

OK, no one lash out at me, but when I attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, people referred to Newport/Cocke County area as "rednecks". I don't feel that way--but that is what I heard most people say back then. We always drove to Newport to eat at Cracker Barrel and the only thing I ever noticed was more pick-up trucks in the parking lot. I always thought the area was friendly.

Pretty much. And it's known for c.o.c.k. fighting too.

[hiknapster]

And although this was a few years ago, news similar to this keeps on:


L.A. Times looks at Cocke County : Local News : Knoxville News Sentinel

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

And although this was a few years ago, news similar to this keeps on:


L.A. Times looks at Cocke County : Local News : Knoxville News Sentinel

I love that first line. "All of Cocke County's officials are in this building right now, so your home is safe."

I think Cocke County is one of the most beautiful areas of East Tennessee. Newport has all the ingredients to be a major tourist attraction: it's close to a big city, it's right on an interstate, it's at the base of huge mountains, and it's got a cute little river flowing through its quaint downtown. But instead, Newport is run down, dumpy, and has barely grown at all in the last 40 years.

It does seem that every so often there's something in the news about some c.o.c.k fighting ring or moonshine still or backdoor gambling or something stupid like that coming out of Newport. Its schools are horrid, and there doesn't seem to be much desire to make them better.

The other day I overheard some of my students at U.T. Someone from Franklin was teasing someone from Morristown for being from such a redneck place as Morristown. (I'm merely passing on what the students were saying, I'm not suggesting that Franklin is better than Morristown.) The student from Morristown then said something classic. He said, "Hey, at least I'm not from Newport."

[toupsee]

Gator, I was a city girl going to Carson Newman (Jefferson City), back in the 70's. That little college town was rural enough. My roommate was from Newport and we literally could not understand each other.. My Louisiana accent and her Tennessee twang did not mesh at all and for around 3 weeks we had to write notes to each other. SERIOUSLY! One weekend I was invited to her home. Jefferson City looked very urban after that. I missed the driveway to her home one night and started to turn around into the next available spot. (quite aways away) She yelled "NO" stating that I might be shot for entering that property. Apparently, I was in beautiful East Tennessee trying to receive higher education and my life was at risk because I needed to turn around on a road. Very different than the suburbia I was use to.
Of course not every one was aiming a gun at us. She knew the territory though, and I didn't. Several of my very best friends are from Newport, a doctor, a teacher and others. They are very well read, but there is great charm in that they still speak with that Tennessee accent and don't put on airs and are very comfortable in who they are, yet they could very eloquently converse on many subjects with anyone. Redneck or not I love them. I think it is the people in Dandridge and Jeff City with the problems.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by toupsee

Gator, I was a city girl going to Carson Newman (Jefferson City), back in the 70's. That little college town was rural enough. My roommate was from Newport and we literally could not understand each other.. My Louisiana accent and her Tennessee twang did not mesh at all and for around 3 weeks we had to write notes to each other. SERIOUSLY! One weekend I was invited to her home. Jefferson City looked very urban after that. I missed the driveway to her home one night and started to turn around into the next available spot. (quite aways away) She yelled "NO" stating that I might be shot for entering that property. Apparently, I was in beautiful East Tennessee trying to receive higher education and my life was at risk because I needed to turn around on a road. Very different than the suburbia I was use to.
Of course not every one was aiming a gun at us. She knew the territory though, and I didn't. Several of my very best friends are from Newport, a doctor, a teacher and others. They are very well read, but there is great charm in that they still speak with that Tennessee accent and don't put on airs and are very comfortable in who they are, yet they could very eloquently converse on many subjects with anyone. Redneck or not I love them. I think it is the people in Dandridge and Jeff City with the problems.

A wonderful post on so many levels.

Without fail, just when you think things have settled down, another report comes out about illegal activity in the area.

One of the most amusing was when a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter pilot spotted 350,000 pot plants growing in the Cherokee National Forest. They found their campground, but not the growers. Word is that they had an escape route through a network of caves.

Some areas are famous for their textile industry; some for their furniture industry. Cocke County is famous for its criminal industry.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/ju...usted-cocke-c/

[pgaff57]

We have recently moved into Jefferson City while we are building our home on Cherokee Lake. I have been told by several suppliers to be happy that we didn't buy property in Newport. From what we have been told they don't like outsiders. We were told that the suppliers will price gauge outsiders 3 to 4 times more than the regular retail prices. In addition the contractors know if you are an outsider and they will do the same. I was also told that they play games like not showing up to do the job, installing the wrong things in the wrong places, etc. The idea is to run you out of town. I hope this isn't true and would like to think that all the people in Tn are as warm and welcoming as the one's we have met.

[hiknapster]

I know a man that was born and raised there that is an engineer. One of the nicest people I have ever met.

But some of those people in that area, and in other areas, are very different. I don't consider them rednecks because I think rednecks are good, hard working people like anyone else. But some people in certain areas I would try to avoid.

There was a girl on this forum that dealt with the price gouging thing because she was from Florida.

[Gator18]

Thank you everyone for your replies and websites. Now I understand why we got the "frowns and faces" from folks in Dandrige. I knew they really do not like folks from the Del Rio area but wondered why Newport.

Glad that our daughters are in college and will not have to attend the schools there too!

Hope that is a rumor about treating folks badly from other states. Although, the yard cutting guy did stand me up!