Surrounded by the beautifully majestic Appalachian Mountains and steeped in folk and bluegrass culture, Knoxville offers quaint, small-town country charm combined with big city excitement. With a diverse economy, affordable homes, and a friendly community, this city could be a great place to relocate.
If you are planning or considering a move to Knoxville, it is important to take the time to find out as much as you can before packing all of your earthy possessions into a trailer and driving off into the sunset. This helpful guide will provide you with some information and tips about moving to the Marble City so you can be sure it's the right choice for you.
Knoxville Climate
The city lies in the humid subtropical zone, but doesn't experience temperatures as high as some nearby areas due to its elevation. Summers are still generally hot and balmy, and winters cool and mild. The region receives very little snowfall--just 6.4-inches a year.
Knoxville Neighborhoods
Before relocating to any new city, you will need to find out more about its individual neighborhoods--such as the costs for housing, crime rates, and available amenities. Knoxville is divided into five sections: Downtown, North Knoxville, South Knoxville, East Knoxville, and West Knoxville.
Downtown Knoxville is the city's central business district and is home to some its oldest buildings. An eclectic selection of ethnic restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops pepper the streets, and lodging can be found in an array of condos and lofts.
Old North Knoxville is one of the city's oldest communities, abundant in Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Neoclassical, and French Eclectic architecture. You can also take a trip back in time at the Time Warp Tea Room, a nostalgia-themed coffee and pastry shop.
In South Knoxville, Colonial Village features rancher homes and cottages circa the 1940s, and access to an array of parks and outdoor pleasures, such as the beautiful Gary Underwood park.
Registering Your Car
Within 30 days of moving to Tennessee permanently, you must register your vehicle. This can be done at any County Clerk's office, and you will need your current registration, title, proof of identification, proof of residency, and an emission inspection certification.
To transfer your driver's license to the state, you must visit any Tennessee driver's License center within 30 days of moving to the state. You will have to pass a vision test, and show proof of identity, residency, and citizenship. Tennessee is one f the few states that has no minimum requirement for car insurance--however, you must prove that you meet the standards of the Financial Responsibility Law to ensure that you are economically capable of covering damages on your own. If your out of state license has been expired for more than six months, you will have to take the road skills test and written test.
Knoxville Schools
If you are relocating to the city with children, you will be enrolling them in the Knox County School System. The district operates 89 facilities in the county, serving 56,000 students. The city has a graduation rate of 86 percent and a student -teacher ratio of 14 to 1 as of 2011. The district also runs five magnet schools and a STEM academy.
There are also a number of private and parochial schools in the city, including the Christian Academy of Knoxville, the Webb School of Knoxville, and the Cedar Springs Weekday School. If you are seeking higher education, there are a number of notable universities in the city, including the main campus of the University of Tennessee, the HBCU Knoxville College, and the Bible college Johnson University.
Knoxville Employment
The economy in the city is highly diversified and stable, with no single industry accounting for more than 22 percent of the population's employment. Trade, transportation, financial and utility sectors have seen considerable growth in recent years and are great industries to seek employment in when you relocate.
Other industries include research and technology (bolstered by the presence of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley Authority Headquarters), zinc and coal mining, and goods manufacturing--such as automobile supplies, aluminum products, clothing, electrical equipment, plastics, and processed foods.
Major employers in the city include Covenant Health, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Knoxville County Schools, the City of Knoxville, Wal-Mart Stores, St. Mary's Health System, and the Baptist Health Center of East Tennessee.
Living Costs in the City
If you are considering a move to Knoxville, the good news is that this city is a very affordable place to call home. The overall cost of living is 11 percent below the national average, with housing, transportation and utility costs among the most economical amenities in the region. Groceries and healthcare costs are less than the typical American city as well, at 10 and 8 percent below average, respectively.
If you are looking to rent, the average one-bedroom apartment in the city goes for about $611 a month, while the typical two-bedroom will cost around $729 a month. If you plan to buy, the median home price is $129,900.
Knoxville Moving Resources
There are numerous moving and storage companies located in Knoxville that are waiting to help you relocate to your new home. Be sure to do your research and obtain estimates from several different services before choosing one for hire. You can compare online quotes from many different moving companies and other services to aid you in your move, whether you are coming from the next city or overseas. Visit the following pages here at Movers.com to get fast quotes for the following services:
Knoxville Transportation
If you aren't planning on owning a car in your new city, you will have to find out how to get around. Mass transportation in the city is served by Knoxville Area Transit, otherwise known as KAT. The KAT system operates over 80 buses, trolleys and paratransit vehicles for the elderly and disabled. Routes connect the Downtown area, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and most residential communities with major shopping centers and other points of interest. KAT provides rides to 3.6 million passengers a year. Information on schedules and fares as well as maps of routes are available on the KAT website.
If you will be tooling around the city in your car instead, the two main interstate highways you want to get familiar with are Interstate 40, which connects the city with Asheville to the east and Nashville to the west; and Interstate 75, which connects the city with Chattanooga to the south and Lexington to the north. Additionally, Knoxville's busiest road is US-129 (also known as Alcoa Highway) which connects the Downtown area with McGhee Tyson Airport.
Culture and Contemporary Life
Knoxville has a rich history in country, old-time, blues, jazz, folk and bluegrass music--from being home to WNOX (one of the oldest radio stations in the country) to its abundance of live music clubs, venues, and festivals celebrated in the city. Enjoy some live blues over tangy ribs and pulled pork at Sweet P's Barbeque and Soul House, attend the infamous music and art festival Bonnaroo in June, or enjoy some classic jazz over a dry martini at Baker Peter's Jazz Club--a historic mansion turned fine dining restaurant and cigar lounge.
There are a variety of art and cultural festivals and events celebrated in the city as well, including: the Dogwood Arts Festivals in April; the Rossini Festival, celebrating opera and Italian heritage; the Kuumba Festival in June, commemorating African culture with folk art, food and theatre; and Bacon Fest, an homage to everyone's favorite fatty and salty cured meat.
For shopping, dining, and nightlife, the historic Market Square is a large pedestrian mall with a variety of eclectic eateries, boutiques, pubs and live entertainment. Catch an intimate performance at The Square Room, party at the lively Preservation Pub, or dine on traditional Southern comfort food-fusion cuisine at Cafe 4.
Knoxville Relocation Tips
- Bring a varied wardrobe--the city experiences four distinct seasons with temperatures ranging from the upper 80s in the summer to occasionally dropping below freezing in the winter.
- Make a moving checklist--there are numerous tasks associated with your relocation to complete before you make your trek to Knoxville. Make a packing schedule, change your address, and compare quotes from several moving companies at Movers.com.
- Research the neighborhoods. before choosing any section of the city to call home, you will want to know everything it has offer--housing costs, crime rates, proximity to amenities, and quality of nearby schools.