The Best Region of Tennessee (Memphis, Knoxville: construction, law school, universities)

[sackin12]

Out of the three grand divisions of Tennessee, which one do you like the most (west, middle, east)? Explain your reasoning...scenery, economic vibrancy, location, etc....

[Rangerred]

East due to the beautiful scenery, three major metros, and proximity to major east coast population centers.

[shinestx]

All unique and very beautiful. Tennessee is blessed with abundant splendor and such wonderful people. I'd give the slight edge to East Tennessee.

[nashvols]

Middle. Because I live here.

[CookieSkoon]

Eastern TN. Drop-dead gorgeous area and friendly too. Middle TN is not too far off in either regard.

I do not care for western TN though. Too flat, too hot and too much like Louisiana.

[JMT]

If the three large population centers in East Tennessee are "major metros" then Nashville is, what, a gargantuan metro? At any rate, I would not call the three population centers of East Tennessee "major" in the slightest. In my opinion, Tennessee has just two "major" metros (more than 1 million in population): Memphis and Nashville. East Tennessee's three large population centers are fairly evenly spaced and balanced with a little over half a million each (a bit more in Knoxville). However, both the Tri Cities and Chattanooga have big chunks of their metro areas outside of Tennessee.

Each of the three grand divisions has its charms and beauty. West Tennessee gets a lot of flack because it doesn't have the mountains or even big hills of the rest of the state, but I do like its small farming towns and much slower pace. And I love Memphis, warts and all. East Tennessee has beautiful mountains, and its two largest cities, Knoxville and Chattanooga, are seeing a lot of development in their respective downtowns to make them quite attractive.

However, Middle Tennessee has the jobs, the booming economy, the major airport (twice as busy as all the other commercial airports in the state combined), the bulk of the state's universities and colleges including the state's premier research university, medical school, engineering school, and law school, and the energy that comes with hordes of newcomers, huge construction projects, gleaming new high rises, the political center of the state, etc. And Middle Tennessee is beautiful, too. It doesn't have soaring mountains, but it does have rugged ridges and deep hollows in the Highland Rim, especially east of Nashville and even within the Nashville city limits.

For me, I would rank the three grand divisions, all grouped fairly closely together:
Middle Tennessee
East Tennessee
West Tennessee

[theoldnorthstate]

I really prefer Middle Tennessee, economics, culture, beauty, history and people. Educational and economic strength.

My family lives in Knoxville and there is a lot to like there as well. The culture and people are just truly friendly.

Not crazy about hot humid flat west Tn but if I had the $$$ it could do just fine.


If I were coming to the state with no ties, then Middle Tennessee would provide the best mix.

[tnff]

If you're talking scenery, then East Tenn. But if you want overall mix, then I agree with JMT that Middle Tenn is overall winner.