Anybody live in Knoxville?

[fornesto]

We're considering a relocation and just wondered what thoughts were about the place. From what I see, it looks pretty nice.

[Wimperdink]

I'm a local.... What would ya like to know?

[fornesto]

The job situation out there seems a little hazy to me right now. I'm a City Planner in an area of California where Land Use is a blood sport - there's no shortage of work here. I've noticed that Knoxville, etc. is much more laid back and hands off, so people with my training aren't so much in demand. I accept and appreciate that. What are some good job sources for college educated, non-engineers (sorry Oak Ridge)? Are there major employers in town that I'm missing? I'd like to stay out of government for a while.

What parts of town would you recommend for a family? Got two little kids and a wife. I grew up visiting family in Bowling Green, KY and am fairly familiar with the area. The wife's not left California much and has some reservations.

What do folks do in the spare time? Are there good lakes nearby for swimming?

[Wimperdink]

The job market is easy. Like you said people are very laid back here and many of them would rather not work. Its hard to find folks that want to show up to work and thats in any industry here. I worked as a contractor for my first few years and had a lot of trouble trying to find people who would work. I gave it up after a few years and took a normal job because travel wasn't so much fun anymore. (over 100,000 miles in less than 2 years) If you have any work ethic whatsoever you wont have trouble finding work. High dollar jobs are not as plentiful but then again neither are diplomas.

As for what areas to move to... There are not many "bad" areas to live. You'll get a lil culture shock coming from zoned california. Here you find mansions right smack next to trailer parks and junkyards. I lived in san diego for a few years and this is like a foriegn country compared to that.

There is a lot of recreation here. 30 min east of knoxville is Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. Google any of them and you'll have a weeks worth of reading. Home of Dollywood and lots of attractions. Theres a lot of camping and lake activities. 4 good sized lakes created by hydroelectric dams that have filled valleys and are great places for water sports and or fishing.

People here are generally more friendly though.. You'll be welcomed with a smile and a big hello and a few drawn out stories most anywhere ya go.

If you like to drink... Its the bible belt and many countys around Knoxville wont sell alcohol after midnight or on sundays.

Welcome here if decide to come.

[sid]

My son Travis graduated from Maryville College this past year. Maryville is just south of Knoxville and it is a beautiful city with an easy commute to Knoxville and right at the foothills of the Smokies.

We are just outside of Nashville.

[fornesto]

If you like to drink... Its the bible belt and many countys around Knoxville wont sell alcohol after midnight or on sundays.

Welcome here if decide to come.

Well, that's no problem. We are Christians and do not drink at all. I read that in our county, there are enough seats in churches for less than 10% of the population on any given Sunday. I am a very hard worker. That's part of the reason we're moving. In our part of California, a college grad can work his tail off, make promotion, do everything and still barely scratch the middle class or own a house near decent schools. At a local high school, the sinks in one bathroom rusted through so they just closed those bathrooms because they didn't have the money to fix them! We're visiting TN in April sometime. We do own a house here, but the payments are overwhelming us and are not sustainable without the wife going to work full time and, even then, it will be very tight. It's just not worth it for us. We are very laid back, conservative types (I have sincere Libertarian tendancies). We're not a part of, nor looking for or expecting, the "So-Cal culture". I grew up down there, have family there and know exactly what that means - especially now-a-days. Orange County is lost. We look forward to a slower pace, family-oriented society, but I still got to work.

Here you find mansions right smack next to trailer parks and junkyards.

I don't think I'll be a City Planner in TN. There seems to be about 10 jobs in the whole County. Around here, we check paint colors, window types and roof materials on single-family homes. Our City of 40,000 has 6 City Planners. The County has about 30. It's time for a new start.

Thanks for the input.

[Wimperdink]

Sounds good.... I was surprised when I saw big beautiful homes right next to junk yards and its very common. While I dont want my investment value brought down by a neighbor, I also dont want someone making sure my house is painted the right color or that we have the proper vegetation planted. There's a lil give or take in that.... so what i'm looking for now is about 10 acres to plant my house in the middle of. No neighbors and a biiiiig teardrop shop.

[fornesto]

At the same time, there's not a CC&R in the entire City except for three condominium complexes. In California, the City polices issues that CC&Rs and presumably the Civil Courts do in TN (junk in the front yard, excessive weeds, design review, fence height, etc.). One way or another, it gets taken care of.

[sid]

Sounds good.... I was surprised when I saw big beautiful homes right next to junk yards and its very common. While I dont want my investment value brought down by a neighbor, I also dont want someone making sure my house is painted the right color or that we have the proper vegetation planted. There's a lil give or take in that.... so what i'm looking for now is about 10 acres to plant my house in the middle of. No neighbors and a biiiiig teardrop shop.

I think there is some confusion here when we talk about "city" planners, junk yards, trailers and million dollar homes.

I don't think "city" planners in Tennessee are any different than those in other states about controlling what is done inside the city limits. The freedom you have to do/build what you want outside the city limits in more rural areas is where you tend to see the mix and match the things listed above.

Having travel around the country, I see this type environment everywhere.

Let's not give people the wrong impression of the Great State of Tennessee.

"The Volunteer State"

[SouthernGirl]

Have to agree with Sid here.

[fornesto]

Please don't take my questions and comparisons as any type of criticisms. As you may know, California has eliminated all junk yards, meth labs, trailer parks, non-op vehicles, dead landscaping, unsightly characters, bad breath, faded paint, etc.



I've seen Kentucky and Tennessee and have very fond views of both places. In short, City Planners (or lack thereof) don't make a place desirable or attractive or not. My comment was just that the private market (CC&Rs) and common decency seem to do a better job in some places than heavy handed government.

[Wimperdink]

I think my above posts might have been taken out of context.

I wasn't trying to make TN look bad. Just stating what struck me as a noticable diff between california and tn. I have no doubt that inner city Knox has planners and zoning. I've lived in a lot of states and every one has good and bad areas... Anyway TN is one of the best places i've lived. It has some of the best scenery and what not. I've lived in ND, CA, IL, CA, WA, MO all for more than a few years at a time. This was the biggest culture shock for me and probably one of my favorite states. Didn't intend to offend.


p.s. now ask me what I thought of IL and i'll offend all day long

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

I saw your thread and was wondering if you mighta been asking about Knoxville, IA... But I don't think so.
But if you were, you'd be where the Knoxville Nationals take place...
(Knoxville is to sprint cars as what Daytona is to stock cars)

[Steve Nikkel]

Alike. That was also my first thoughts upon reading Knoxville. Motorheads to the core. Keep having to beat down the temptation to mount a sprint wing on the trailer.