Tennessee

Nestled in the rolling, wooded foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee, about 20 miles north of Knoxville, comfortable, rural Maryville (population 28,000) 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 affordable, yet rich quality of life.  It has a good (award-winning) school system, often an indicator of a city's priorities and financial health, and it is surrounded by natural beauty and plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors.  The cost of living is 5% below the national average, and the median home price is $170,000.  The crime rate is below the national average, and 40% of residents are age 45 or better (and most are conservative voters).
	Maryville is the county seat (Blount County) and so it is the economic and cultural hub of this area.   Shopping is not outstanding but is adequate. The Foothills Mall has 70 retailers, including national brands Radio Shack, J.C. Penny's and T. J. Maxx (and there is a WalMart in town).   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 just 5 years old and has a lovely reading rotunda, a popular genealogy department and a fun cafe (not to mention book clubs, exhibits, public computers and books).  And everyone enjoys the annual Foothills Fall Festival, one of the best in the South with national country music acts, juried arts shows and lots of great food.
The Appalachian Ballet Company presents a full schedule.  The Last Friday Art Walk, organized by the Maryville Arts Coalition, is an event that celebrates the arts on the last Friday of every month. Maryville College is a small (1,080 students), private four year liberal arts institution associated with the Presbyterian Church, and its Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra performs free concerts twice a year.  Its impressive Clayton Center for the Arts hosts art exhibits, theater presentations, concerts and lecture series.  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, and Cades Cove, an historical site that has preserved early Appalachian life.  Within the county and along its edges, Chilhowee Lake, Tellico Lake and Fort Loudon Lake offer 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 Everett Senior Center (membership is $15 per year).  Programs include health screenings and a health fair, tai chi classes, day trips, driving safety classes, card games and ballroom dances. Maryville does not have a public transportation system. Blount Memorial Hospital is award winning and is accredited by the Joint Commission.  It has 215 beds and is a Level III adult trauma center.  Both Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted.
x Nearby Knoxville (population 655,000 in the metro area) 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 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.   The area receives 4 to 5 inches of precipitation each month, some of which is snow.  On the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Maryville comes in below the national average.   The sun shines 200 days of the year.  Surprisingly, the tornado risk is no higher than the national average.  The air quality, however, is below the national average.  This is due to several factors, including the city being downwind from power plants and factories.

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No public transportation and poor air quality are drawbacks, but a strong cultural scene, outstanding outdoor recreation, a very good hospital, a reasonable cost of living, a pretty setting, a low crime rate and nearby big city amenities make Maryville a great spot for retirement.

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