Life in Knoxville and East Tennessee
Knoxville is located in the heart of East Tennessee. Situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, it is surrounded by the “Great Lakes of the South” created in the thirties by the Tennessee Valley Authority. It is the county seat of Knox County. City population is 182,337(according to the 2000 U.S. census) while that of the county totals 411,967. The metropolitan area, which includes a number of surrounding communities including Oak Ridge, has a population of over half a million.
Employment is predominantly based on government institutions – The University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The University provides a wide variety of studies ranging from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. The role of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has broadened increasingly to address issues such as the environment and energy conservation. Knoxville is the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority with its emphasis on conservation and operation of the nation’s largest public utility.
Cultural activities abound, with all of the arts well represented. There are a number of museums in the area, including the Knoxville Museum of Art, Museum of Science & Energy in Oak Ridge, and the Frank McClung Museum at the University. The Knoxville Symphony is a highly regarded regional orchestra and presents over twenty major concerts each year. There are numerous outlets for those with other tastes in music.
There are four major hospital groups with multiple campuses in the area, including one teaching hospital – University of Tennessee Medical Center.
In addition to an active Knox County public school system, there are several local private schools, one of which is the Episcopal School of Knoxville, teaching kindergarten through 8th grade.
Knoxville has easy access to other parts of the country. Automobile access is made easy due to its location at the intersection of major north-south routes (I-75 and I-81) and the mid-America east-west route (I-40). McGhee Tyson is the area’s airport, and it is served by Delta, United, U.S. Airways, and Northwest, with connections via the major hubs such as Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Chicago.
There are a variety of recreational opportunities, primarily due to the area’s proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains and several lakes. Some of the popular activities include hiking, skiing, swimming, and boating. For those who are less active, the intercollegiate sports calendar at the University is extensive. The area also hosts a minor league baseball team and an ice hockey team. Knoxville also boasts of one of the largest and best zoos outside a major metropolitan area in the nation.
Photos: (top):TN Dept. Tourist Development;
All others by Frank Kehren: 
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