Why Knoxville

Compared to most cities, Knoxville is small, and some people may have never even heard of it! Those who have, probably associate our town with University of Tennessee football or think we’re just a sleepy little town with not much going on without football season. However, this sweet city in East Tennessee is bigger than you think, and the residents and scenery will make you never want to leave.

Most associate Knoxville with the University of Tennessee, and while the Vols do hold a sweet spot in the hearts of most Knoxvillians, we take pride in so much more. First, our local restaurants (Farmacy, Calhoun's), coffee shops (HoneyBee, Remedy), and breweries (Hi-Wire, Trailhead) have us gathering all over town. The loyalty we feel to our neighbors running businesses here is undeniable.  Whether you’re in the suburbs of Farragut or the bustle of downtown, you’ll find yourself having no trouble finding our local foods and shops. 

While Knoxville is filled with views of the Great Smoky Mountains, we are technically found in the Tennessee Valley. Our geographical location gives us the best of both worlds! We have beautiful views of the mountains, easy access to the hiking trails, and plenty of river to play in. In West Knoxville, there are many boat slips, so even if you’re not living directly on the water, it’s available to you! In South Knoxville, there are quarries and places to either rent kayaks, paddle boards, canoes or even bring your own! Wherever you find yourself in Knoxville, you will definitely be close to an outdoor adventure.

Living in Knoxville, you’ll find that there’s a place to live for every type of personality! If you like an urban lifestyle, downtown Knoxville has industrial lofts and newly built condominiums with some of the city’s oldest streets and buildings surrounding them. In South Knoxville, houses built in the late 1800s and early 1900s sit quaintly, and many of these homes are being renovated into modern colonial style houses with character. Lenoir City gives residents plenty of space to spread out and is known as “Lake City of the South” thanks to Fort Loudon Marina also being here. Maryville gives you the feel of a small town while still having the amenities of a city. Farragut is for those of us who prefer more of a suburban lifestyle. Everything you need is within a ten-minute drive. While there are many other areas that Knoxvillians call home, the gist of it is, Knoxville is easy to make home!

Moving to a new city is intimidating for most. You may not know exactly what events are going on or how to find the exact places where you will enjoy spending time. Thankfully, Knoxville has many activities going on all over town! Finding which activity you’d like to get involved with, however, could make for a difficult decision. Visit Knoxville will be a great resource for you. Whether you have lived in Knoxville for 10 years or 10 minutes, you’ll find that Visit Knoxville is constantly updated with events and new places to explore! You can even follow them on Instagram at @visitknoxville or on Facebook at Visit Knoxville. They provide you with information like place, time, whether an event is seasonal or virtual, and if you can bring your pet! Overall, Knoxville has something to provide for everyone. We love this small city of ours and hope you will fall in love with it like we have!