General TN info (Knoxville, Chattanooga: homes, to live in, friendly)

[headin2TN]

Hi everyone! I've been reading the forum trying to find out some general info about TN. We are in the process of selling our home (just listed it) here in NW FL. We have a beautiful place here (20 acres, 2 homes, pastures, barns, etc) Moderator cut: advertising

We visited a few counties in TN (Wayne, Lawrence, McNairy, Hardin) about a year ago. Upon returning, we had some people tell us the areas we visited were prone to ice storms. Does anyone know about these areas?

We haven't made it to any other areas yet, but will soon be heading that way. We don't want to live in the moutain region (and it's our understanding the eastern end is more mountainous).

We are looking for rural property with a minimum of 25 acres with a home, barn, pasture, pond/creek, etc (prefer 2 homes, but not mandatory). We are wanting to find a place and pay it off and be sem-retired.

We would be grateful for any info on the areas of TN (economics, weather, flood zones, etc). Everyone we met on our previous trip was so friendly and helpful. Our area of FL has grown tremedously, and we are looking to get back to the slower pace. Any info would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks to everyone.........

[Kpt.]

For general information, check www.retiretennessee.org. The communities in the eastern part of the state are more mountainous, so you may want to focus on those in the middle and western part of the state. See if this gives you enough information to select an area that is interesting to you and I'm sure there are many who will chime in with additional information on the area you select.

[Cameron Cayman]

Yeah, I'll second that.....the more hilly ("mountainous") area is in the eastern part of the state. Middle and West TN. are more flat, rural and wide open. Some of the counties you listed are nice with a small town kind of feel, especially Hardin county. Very laid back and slower paced way of life. But, being a small area, good jobs are harder to come by in these rural parts.

Our climate seems to have three seasons. For example, right now in the winter, we are having many 50's degree type of days, but today it was 68 degrees. We (in the Chattanooga area) haven't really had any measurable snow for 3 or 4 years and any that we DO ever get is mostly limited to the ridges and hills surrounding us. Fall and winter often seem to kind of blend in together, we'll have an occasional cold day or two, but it never really lasts very long. I don't know anything about ice storms. I've lived here for 10 years and have never experienced any kind of bad ice storm.

Spring is the next season. 70's and low 80's and a little more humid is the general rule. We get lots of rain in the spring as well, including some really nasty thunderstorms. Summer is the longest season and it can get very, very hot and humid. Miserable, sticky, suffocating heat and humidity is very common in June, July, August, and parts of September. Typically we have many, many days over 90 degrees and very humid to go along with it. Our summers feel a lot like Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alambama, etc.....On many summer days, we'll get some very strong thunderstorms with heavy rain and amazing displays of lightning. It really doesn't cool down until mid/late October around here.

[mrradio]

warm but not excessively humid summers. Our elevation on the Cumberland Plateau might help somewhat but we are also further north so the Gulf air is wrung out a bit. Our winters see occasional light snowfalls but every few years we might get heavier snows. Other than that it's pretty much a four season climate with summer being the longest.

[insanesmooch]

We visited a few counties in TN (Wayne, Lawrence, McNairy, Hardin) about a year ago. Upon returning, we had some people tell us the areas we visited were prone to ice storms. Does anyone know about these areas?
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The only ice storm I have ever heard of hitting around Middle TN (and possibly West TN) was in early 1994. I was in Knoxville at that time and it did not ice up there.