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Maryville, Tennessee
In the Wooded Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, Maryville Boasts Safe Neighborhoods, a Beautiful Library and Outstanding Outdoor Recreation
Nestled in the wooded foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, about 20 miles south of Knoxville, quiet Maryville (population 33,000) got its start as a fort in 1785. It was the brief home of soldier and politician Sam Houston in the early-1800s and was a hotbed of abolitionist activity during the Civil War.
Today, the city is growing and has won national accolades for its reasonabley priced rich quality of life. It is surrounded by natural beauty and plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors.
Forty percent of residents are age 45, and 35% of all locals hold at least a four year college degree. The crime rate is below the national average. Racial diversity is minimal. Politics lean to the right. The cost of living is 6% below the national average.
The median home price is $380,000, a 7% increase from a year ago. Neighborhoods are tidy and peppered with everything from modest ranch ramblers to stately brick contemporaries.
Maryville is the Blount County seat, making it the economic and cultural hub of this area. The Foothills Mall has 70 retailers, including regional and national brands Belk and T. J. Maxx. Dining options are primarily family-style chains and in good supply. Maryville churches are plentiful.
The Blount County Library is in a beautiful, airy building and has a lovely reading rotunda, a popular genealogy department and a fun cafe. It also has book clubs, exhibits, public computers and books.
The Appalachian Ballet Company presents a full schedule. Studio 212 has all kinds of art classes. Maryville College is a small (1,100 students), private four year liberal arts institution associated with the Presbyterian Church, and its music department presents concerts throughout the year. Its impressive Clayton Center for the Arts hosts art exhibits, theater presentations, concerts and lecture series. Cades Cove, a historical site that has preserved early Appalachian life, is also here.
What brings many retirees to this area, though, is the physical landscape. The lush Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 815 square miles of wildlife and nature at its best, is just minutes away and boasts fly fishing lakes, 850 miles of hiking trails, including 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Within the county and along its edges, Chilhowee Lake, Tellico Lake and Fort Loudon Lake offer even more water recreation, as does the meandering Tennessee River.
The city's park and recreation department has a good menu of programs and activities for people age 50 and better, and most are held at the attractive Everett Senior Center. Programs include health screenings and a health fair, tai chi classes, day trips, driving safety classes, card games and ballroom dances.
Maryville public transportation is provided by the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency. The service offers residents on demand, door to door van transportation.
Blount Memorial Hospital (314 beds) is award-winning for excellence in clinical care, coronary intervention, pulmonary care, general surgery and more. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and is a Level III adult trauma center. Medicare patients are accepted.
Nearby Knoxville (population 200,000) has amenities that Maryville does not, including a zoo, an aquarium, an opera, a symphony and more extensive shopping and dining. It is also home to the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee and its nationally recognized athletic teams. Many a Maryville retiree can be spotted at University of Tennessee Volunteer football and basketball games.
Maryville has a relatively mild climate, thanks in part to its elevation of nearly 1,000 feet. Summer temperatures are in the 80s and low-90s, and winter temperatures are in the 30s, 40s and low 50s. On average, the area receives 47 inches of rain and 10 inches of snow each year. On the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Maryville comes in below the national average. The tornado risk meets the national average.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes | Is Tennessee Tax-Friendly for Retirement? Somewhat
An active cultural scene, outstanding outdoor recreation, a good hospital, a pretty setting, safe neighborhoods and nearby big city amenities make Maryville a great spot for retirement.
Tennessee
Explorer DeSoto visited this area in 1540, and in 1763 England won the land by winning the Indian Wars. Early pioneers named the new state Franklin, and in the mid-1780s, the region was allowed to send representatives to the legislature. The state joined the union in 1796 and the Confederacy during the Civil War. Many residents remained pro-Union and the state was the scene of extensive fighting.
Today the majority of Tennessee locals live in urban areas. Textiles, chemicals, electrical machinery, leather goods and furniture are the state's primary products. Tennessee also produces a lot of tobacco, but other income is derived from dairy products, livestock, nursery and greenhouse products, as well as cotton.
A few of the state's points of interest are the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Hermitage (home of Andrew Jackson), the American Museum at Oak Ridge (atomic energy), three national military parks, and Rock City Gardens (in Chattanooga).
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