Relocating to Knoxville area, will be working in Morristown (Johnson City: sale, apartment)

[mattbward]

Hello all, I have been posting on this forum about relocating to the Knoxville area for some time now. Just wanting to ask a final few questions since I have found my work will be in Morristown.

1.) Where is a nice place, with view being the most important thing, to live between Morristown and Knoxville? Or should I say, convenient to both.

2.) Where is most of the shopping and newer developments in the Morristown area?

3.) What is the best thing about the Morristown area in your opinion?


I am very excited for this opportunity and would be looking to rent when my wife and I move most likely in the beginning of September. I have seen many rentals around where we would be looking on Craigslist so I don't think finding a place to live would be a problem.

Any final recommendations?

[knoxgarden]

Where in Morristown will you be working? Downtown? Western Suburbs? East side?
There's a lot of development going on, on the East side of Morristown north of 11E, along 25E. It's called the Lakeway area and it's between Bean Station and Morristown. You might even be able to find your $100,000 house or condo on a lake with mountain views in there.
There is also development heading west along 11E (Andrew Johnson Hwy.) along Panther Creek and Lake Cherokee heading toward Jefferson City.
Might also want to look in Dandridge. It's just down the freeway but has a pretty downtown/historic area and is on the lake.
Renting is your best bet. There are a lot of nice little towns around there and some beautiful areas, as well as some not so beautiful areas.
Morristown isn't bad. It has an older section that's pretty, but downtown is pretty gritty. It's more suburban. There's a very large hispannic population. It also has the oddest street numbering system I've ever seen. I get lost there a lot.
You'll find good shopping there and medical services. It provides those to a very large, very rural area.

[mattbward]

Right near downtown, I think 176 Terrace Ln Morristown, Tn to be exact

I like the fact that the lake and mountains are both viewable from Dandridge. I will check that place out further.

[knoxgarden]

Originally Posted by mattbward

Right near downtown, I think 176 Terrace Ln Morristown, Tn to be exact

I like the fact that the lake and mountains are both viewable from Dandridge. I will check that place out further.

Googled it. Looks like you're near College Square mall and Walter State Community College. There's a big Walmart shopping center across 25E from there with a Zaxby's and other restaurants, lots of little shops, a Hobby Lobby, etc.
Look along 25E going toward Lakeshore Drive/Bean Station. There are mountains, or at least ridges, all along there. That would be the easiest drive in every day. 11E is a stop and go commercial strip between Morristown and Jefferson City.
There was a lot of development going on around Lakeshore Drive and Panther Creek before the recession hit and you may be able to get a really good deal if you take the time to shop around.
There's some gorgeous scenery out there.
Check out Rose Center. It's in the historic area and has a lot of art shows and community events.
http://www.rosecenter.org/comminformation.htm

[juliasherman]

Morristown is the nearest city to Jefferson city where I live.
It depends on if you are a city person or rural person. with farmland being developed and then being sold at both aution and back taxes you could get a nice home for back taxes also, if you wnat to live in amega sub division.
be prepared ot pay taxes out the wazoo. Currently its 9.75 percent on everything! So watch how you budget your money.
Dr. Mangum is good vet if you can past his receptionist. He was there when we needed him and when i lost my job things changed.
Ingels has some great food buys but can be expensive. Food city has some good buys. Food lion just closed.
Walmart is teh community staple as is the mall. WBIR(NBC) has the best televsion station for weather and updates.
You are lucky that Morristown has a hobby lobby, ROSS and other needed supplies that you cant get anywhere else.
Dr. Bayerly is the best Dermatologist in the area, DR. Ange is the best opthamologist.
As far as banks go its a hit and miss. But be prepared for a credit check. Make sure of you are planning on travelng that whcih ever bank you chosse has no fees atm charges and lost of places to use it. Some banks charge for using your debit card at the local stores and often dont have access without fee.
ATMOS and there is one other electric and gas company for most of morristown.Depending on what your street is is who youget and your rates.
Going just past morristown is Whitesburg. A small historic town with lots of available homes with land.
Dont expect allot of nightlife. For that you will have to go Knoxville.
Jefferson city and smaller cities towards knoxville are very high on land at this point. And there is a burgeoniong boom in unemployment. So be careful to pay into Tennessee unemplyment insurance of you can.
Laeway regional medical center transports to St. Marys medical center or UT or Fort Sanders for more advanced needs.
Citizen TRibune is the local paper. Its a small paper but keeps you informed of the local events. Supplementing with Knoxville paper wil give you more information.
The schools are probably one of the few in the state that are excellent.

Dandrige and teh area is overpriced and in process of going under. To much building andand they got caught in the cash crunch. If you choose dandrige and swansylvania area you will ahve only one grocery store a Food city, a family dollar, dollar general and two gas stations and a sonic. Dandrige is summer resort style town on douglas lake where it lake levels go up and down like a pogo stick.
I have lived here for over 30 years and have seen mass destruction on farm land and peopel loose everything lately.
Best advice, stay at an apartment that is workable, save your moey, find a tax sale and buy a home. wait the year and move in.

[jabogitlu]

Have you been to Morristown? Many people call it an armpit. It's okay but definitely a more "country" city. If you can handle the commute time, living in east Knoxville would be a great choice.

I personally way prefer Jeff City to Morristown, so check it out too. And you'll be more convenient to Knoxville when you want some serious shopping and a night out.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Have you been to Morristown? Many people call it an armpit. It's okay but definitely a more "country" city. If you can handle the commute time, living in east Knoxville would be a great choice.

Calling Morristown an armpit is an insult to armpits.

But seriously, there are a lot of nicer places around East Tennessee than Morristown. I honestly don't know what happened. I mean, Morristown is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains and lakes, but the town is just a dump. It's like the city fathers were so determined to attract factories to town that it never occurred to them to clean up the place. And now with the proliferation of illegal Hispanic immigrants in Morristown I just can't imagine willingly living there when there are other options.

If I had a job in Morristown I'd probably live in Dandridge which is Tennessee's 2nd oldest town and is located right smack on a big lake. It's also right on I-40 so it's convenient to both Knoxville and Morristown. Jefferson City is a nice option, too.

Actually if I didn't care about being near Knoxville, I'd live in Greeneville. It is sooo much prettier than Morristown, and Greeneville isn't too far from Johnson City which has almost as much shopping and stuff as Knoxville.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by JMT

Calling Morristown an armpit is an insult to armpits.

Oh! The irony of it all!

[mattbward]

Wow, lots of input, awesome!

So I have heard Dandridge quite a bit now. I like the idea of mountains and lake scenery, and I am not looking to buy for some time, so the "overpriced" part probably won't be of much affect unless all the rentals there are also overpriced.

I would rather be close to 40 to get to Knoxville I think, so might look closer at Dandridge.

Thanks all!

keep the comments coming!

[knoxgarden]

It's actually I-81 out there. I-40 heads southeast at Dandridge and goes to Asheville, NC. If you go straight it become I-81.
Dandridge would be a good choice. Also look at Bean Station out on 25E near 11W. 11W is a fast way into Knoxville. Pretty country road and one stop light in Rutledge.
You might find a nice lakeside condo for rent out there. There was a lot of building going on.