Bad Areas Of Knoxville (live, price, safest)

[TCOKSTSOM]

Thanks everyone. I am actually a resident of Oak Ridge and I know where the bad areas are here. But a recent murder trial case has got me concerned...when I hear talk of the places the crimes occured in and what the people who live in that area practice...I just want to stay out of those neighborhoods, period. And I didn't think that the word I used that got censored was a bad word.

[Pam& Bill]

Originally Posted by TCOKSTSOM

Thanks everyone. I am actually a resident of Oak Ridge and I know where the bad areas are here. But a recent murder trial case has got me concerned...when I hear talk of the places the crimes occured in and what the people who live in that area practice...I just want to stay out of those neighborhoods, period. And I didn't think that the word I used that got censored was a bad word.

OK, the resident Pollyanna is feeling dismayed, betrayed and disgusted with what this site is slipping down to. Why couldn't you have just said that at the beginning????

[TCOKSTSOM]

No, I don't know the answer. I don't go into Knoxville much...didn't even know that any area was dangerous until recently. I should clarify...I am a resident of OAK RIDGE and know where the bad neighborhoods are in OAK RIDGE. I did NOT know which areas of Knoxville are seedy because I don't live in Knoxville and don't do much of anything in Knoxville. When I do go into Knoxville, it is usually because I have an errand to make, or a dentist appointment. I occasionally go to Turkey Creek to one of the various restaurants, but I don't feel it is unsafe there. No trolling and I am not a "he"...I seriously want to know the areas I should avoid...like I'm driving down the interstate, which area is NOT safe to pull over for gas, etc. No trolling here, you are too quick to jump to conclusions. It is pathetic that I try to ask a serious question, for it to become locked because of silly accusations rooted from misunderstandings.

Again, thanks for the replies I got. They do help me out and now I know where I should avoid, which is my whole purpose for asking the SERIOUS question in the first place.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by TCOKSTSOM

Thanks everyone. I am actually a resident of Oak Ridge and I know where the bad areas are here. But a recent murder trial case has got me concerned...when I hear talk of the places the crimes occured in and what the people who live in that area practice...I just want to stay out of those neighborhoods, period. And I didn't think that the word I used that got censored was a bad word.

I understand. Normally we don't respond to these types of questions on the forum but I am going to in this case since you are new and so you know how that works. The word you used was "ghetto". From my own personal standpoint I don't have a problem with the word itself. However, every time that someone uses that word on this board there are reported posts upon reported posts. Many, many people find that word racist. When we see the word we just go ahead and delete it; otherwise we have the downstream to deal with. I could expand more about the search feature and those that like to look for issues to hang their hat on but I won't. It is more work for a Mod to delete or edit a post than it is to just read it, leave it and move on. I hope this helps you understand. Welcome to the board and send me a DM if you have anymore questions.

[TCOKSTSOM]

I am sorry if I offended anyone with that word. I thought that word meant a bad neighborhood where crime is common. But now that I have looked into it further I see it can have other nasty meanings.

[VolDude]

Originally Posted by brian

eastern, northern and parts of southern knoxville usually have bad reputations.

lol.

[Kitties of Domination]

Originally Posted by TCOKSTSOM

I am sorry if I offended anyone with that word. I thought that word meant a bad neighborhood where crime is common. But now that I have looked into it further I see it can have other nasty meanings.

To answer your original question, the NEAR east area of Knoxville inside the 640 bypass is generally considered by some people to be the "sketchier" part of town. This includes the areas of Burlington, Mechanicsville, and Western Heights. There are nice pockets within these areas, as generalizations often overlook. If you are from a very large city, even these parts are child's play. They DO NOT include East Town (NE Knoxville) and Holston Hills.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Kitties of Domination

To answer your original question, the NEAR east area of Knoxville inside the 640 bypass is generally considered by some people to be the "sketchier" part of town. This includes the areas of Burlington, Mechanicsville, and Western Heights. You mean near WEST, correct?[/There are nice pockets within these areas, as generalizations often overlook. If you are from a very large city, even these parts are child's play. They DO NOT include East Town (NE Knoxville) and Holston Hills.

The bottom line is there are very, very few areas that are considered "bad" and most people would think they are not that bad.

[anothertntony]

Does everyone really think that Knoxville is that safe? I generally felt safe living in Knoxville, although I did have my car broken into twice (window smashed, nothing in visible sight either time).

However, looking at the statistics, I don't think that Knoxville is that safe of a city. In 2007, the per-capita murder rate in Knoxville exceeded that in Los Angeles, although LA had higher rates in most prior years. New York City has had significantly lower murder rates than Knoxville for at least a decade, although NYC is one of the safest large cities in the US. The city-data crime index for Knoxville in 2007 was more than double the average.

Judging by knoxnews.com, there seem to have been an alarming number of armed robbery and home invasion cases in the past year or so as well. A UT student was robbed at gunpoint in the Fort a couple days ago, for example. I wouldn't even be able to count the number of armed bank, pharmacy, and grocery store robberies that I have read about this year.

I'm not trying to scare anyone that may be considering a move. I still don't think that Knoxville is particularly unsafe - it is certainly no Detroit or Memphis - but its no Shangri La either. Exercise the same caution that you would basically anywhere else.

[hiknapster]

That's because Knoxville reports its incidents differently. Most cities across the country report one event as one incident. For example, if a person is charged with breaking and entering, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest, it is counted as three incidents.

I've lived in Orlando and Fort Myers, FL. I feel a lot safer here. I also like having neighbors that I know as opposed to transient people that don't care about the community. it makes an enormous difference.

There is a population of almost 450,000 people in Knox County. It's not a rural town but it is still relatively safe. The per-capita rate that you are looking at is for the city proper and not the entire county. In 2005 (the latest report in city-data), the COUNTY had 5 murders and the city 25. And even those were in a very small section of the city.

And the majority of these murders happen to people that know the shooter. Most of the articles I'm reading occur between brothers and friends.

Take all of that information and you realize that as far as cities go, Knoxville is relatively safe.