Cookeville Visit-Wow! (Knoxville, Crossville, Fairfield Glade: rentals, house prices, refrigerator)

[matildagirl]

We're just back from our interview/trip to Cookeville. Cookeville has some very nice things about it - the downtown area, lovely parks around, beautiful surrounding scenery, various activities going on all around town. But I think I was expecting a smaller place. We live in a town that has the same size population, but Cookeville seems very busy and crowded. Traffic was a bit crazy in some areas (the visitors bureau info states that there are 103,000 cars registered in the area when the population is only about 30,000) and lots of strip malls. It was a nice visit, but I don't think I'd want to move there. It's too developed to fit my idea of a 'small town'.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by matildagirl

We're just back from our interview/trip to Cookeville. Cookeville has some very nice things about it - the downtown area, lovely parks around, beautiful surrounding scenery, various activities going on all around town. But I think I was expecting a smaller place. We live in a town that has the same size population, but Cookeville seems very busy and crowded. Traffic was a bit crazy in some areas (the visitors bureau info states that there are 103,000 cars registered in the area when the population is only about 30,000) and lots of strip malls. It was a nice visit, but I don't think I'd want to move there. It's too developed to fit my idea of a 'small town'.

That's understandable. It's interesting that what you think is a negative is, for some people (including me), a positive: Cookeville is a small town but has a lot more going on than most other small towns its size. It's got pretty much the same shopping opportunities as Knoxville (except Target, grrrrr) but without Knoxville's traffic or sprawl.

Anyway, thanks for the report! I'm sorry it wasn't what you were looking for. Good luck!

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by matildagirl

We're just back from our interview/trip to Cookeville. Cookeville has some very nice things about it - the downtown area, lovely parks around, beautiful surrounding scenery, various activities going on all around town. But I think I was expecting a smaller place. We live in a town that has the same size population, but Cookeville seems very busy and crowded. Traffic was a bit crazy in some areas (the visitors bureau info states that there are 103,000 cars registered in the area when the population is only about 30,000) and lots of strip malls. It was a nice visit, but I don't think I'd want to move there. It's too developed to fit my idea of a 'small town'.

I have to agree with JMT had to say. Everytime I've been in Cookeville, it seemed like traffic was very manageable. But, I'm coming from the Northern Chicago Suburbs. Development of the strip malls, etc, is also mch less than what we're used to. It's about as small of a town that I've been in where I felt I could really find just about everything I'd ever need, except Target. Any smaller than this would be a huge turn off to me. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[pta4uk]

[quote=JMT;2849424]Hmmm, other than Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, German, and French, there's not much ethnic stuff in Cookeville. I wish they had some good Indian food. But even Knoxville (pop. 700,000) has only 2-3 Indian restaurants.


Knoxvillle has 174,000 people not 700,000.

[quote=JMT;2899780]That's understandable. It's interesting that what you think is a negative is, for some people (including me), a positive: Cookeville is a small town but has a lot more going on than most other small towns its size. It's got pretty much the same shopping opportunities as Knoxville (except Target, grrrrr) but without Knoxville's traffic or sprawl.

I strongly disagree. I lived in Cookeville for 30 years and I have lived in knoxville for the last two years. There is no comparison in the shopping.

[JMT]

[quote=pta4uk;2940063]

Originally Posted by JMT

Hmmm, other than Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, German, and French, there's not much ethnic stuff in Cookeville. I wish they had some good Indian food. But even Knoxville (pop. 700,000) has only 2-3 Indian restaurants.


Knoxvillle has 174,000 people not 700,000.

The Knoxville metro area has a population of around 700,000, and in the entire metro area I know of only 2 or 3 Indian restaurants.

[williboy]

And I think all three of those are Cherokee.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Wordy

Knap, I think rents here are lower than in Knox, generally. Schools here are pretty cool. Wages are generally lower, I'd say. What kind of work are you/your spouse looking for? There are factory jobs, and Oreck is often hiring. The hospital pays pretty well for the area but there are not too many openings right now because of a major financial crisis. Lots of retail jobs. There are probably also some positions at Tech but I haven't looked anytime recently. If you are willing to drive a bit, that would open your options up, too.

Oh, bleah.

My husband is an auto mechanic and I do technical support.

By the way, I know someone has mentioned this before, but what cable company is in Cookeville?

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Oh, bleah.

My husband is an auto mechanic and I do technical support.

By the way, I know someone has mentioned this before, but what cable company is in Cookeville?

Charter is the Cookeville cable Company.

[hiknapster]

That is what I was afraid of.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

That is what I was afraid of.

Last time I was in Jamestown (about 30 miles from Cookeville) I noticed Comcast trucks...