Might be Moving to Knoxville

[jn1965]

OK, I am in the process of interviewing for a position in Knoxville.
To any of my Tennessee brethren out there I have a bunch of questions

1) Where are the good ranges (pistol, Skeet, rifle)?
2) How are the gun laws as far as concealed carry, permits,etc?
3) Which neighborhoods and or suburbs are the best to live in and which are the worst
4) How are the schools?
5) What opportunities are there for Registered Nurses (which are the best hospitals etc) for the wifey
6) How bad are the taxes?
7) What are the best places for hunting, kayaking, hiking, etc...

anything else you can add would be appreciated ;-)

Thanks!

Joe

 

[Ala Dan]

I Have Never Lived There, But

if I had interest in that location (and I do~!), I would look towards living in
Blount County; rather than Knox County. The commute would not be bad;
and the wifey could possibly find work at the University Of Tennessee Med
Center in Knoxville~? If I could afford too pick up and go; well I would go
NOW~!

 

[buck1032]

I dont live, nor have I ever lived in Knoxville. I live about an hour or so South of there. I am not in any way shape, fashion or form trying to promote another website here, however if you Google Tenneessee Gun Owners you will get there. There are quite a few folks from that area that would be better prepared to answer your questions. Good luck.

 

[c919]

I'm a current Knoxville resident and I think you will be happy to know that you have good news headed your way.

1. Coal Creek has a decent indoor pistol range where I do all my indoor shooting. John Sevier Range is great for rifles, skeet, trap, and basically any other outdoor shooting activities including air guns and archery as well.

2. I find our gun laws to be on the good side of in the middle. It's easy to get an HCP as long as you aren't a criminal or complete idiot. You can carry most places (except places that serve alcohol, but we're working on that). We have Castle Doctrine and most cases of SD around here seem to go well for the good guys.

3. Depends on what you like, how much money you have and what you want to avoid. I live in W. Knoxville and find it rather nice. with a quick drive around town, it's pretty easy to recognize where you don't want to live.

4. Depends. I think the public schools here are fine as long as you aren't zoned in with the ghetto parts. Basically, if you live in W. Knox you will be zoned for a good school. There are some great private schools, but they're pricey.

5. I used to work in Radiology and it seemed that there were always jobs for the nurses. I know three recent nursing grads who had jobs straight out of school.

6. Not bad.

7. Ah, the good stuff. Well, you are within an hour of Big South Fork, Royal Blue, Cherokee Natl, Obed, etc. You have access to some of the best rivers, mountains and forests you could ask for. I lived here on and off for almost 20 years and have not even come close to running out of new stomping ground.

If you are an outdoor lover like myself, E. Tn has alot to offer.

ETA: As mentioned above, check out TGO. We have a great group of guys over there who are always willing to answer any questions you may have.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I will answer what I know, not being very familiar with Knoxville.

2) How are the gun laws as far as concealed carry, permits,etc?

Handgun Carry Permits, as they are called, are "shall issue," i.e., if you take the required class and pass a criminal background check they have to give you the permit. The HCP fee is high at $115; classes range from $75-$90. It is a "Class III" state, i.e., automatic weapons, suppressors, etc. are allowed.

6) How bad are the taxes?

Overall, not bad at all. There is a 9.75% sales tax on everything, but there is no state income tax and vehicle license fees are low. Not owning any property I cannot speak for property tax. Other costs of living are low; e.g., my car insurance is halved compared to AZ.

 

[RussellNkansascity]

Isn't there a guy down there that once a year he opens up his place for others to bring their full auto guns down to shoot? He has like cars, beer kegs, 55 gallon drums, and crap to go nuts on.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I don't live there, but spent a long day there. There is Coal Creek, stated above (www.coalcreekarmory.com) which is a decent indoor range/shop. As far as areas go, I know there is a certain "Industrial" area that didn't look too spectacular when I drove through it, but other than that the downtown area is alright, and I'm sure the rural is as good as it gets!

 

[22-rimfire]

There are quite a few hospitals and private practice clinics in the Knoxville area (Knoxville, Oak Ridge, etc). Your wife should have no problem at all finding employment.

Coal Creek off Lovell Rd exit (I-40 west Knoxville) which is okay (indoor range). I have shot there a few times when I lived in Knoxville. I believe there is an outdoor range off Rifle Range Road north of Knoxville. There is also a good outdoor range in Oak Ridge where matches are held and so forth.

If I were moving back to Knoxville, I would look for property in the West Knoxville area, south near Alcoa and Maryville, or to the west within driving distance. Prices are affordable, but obviously it depends on your financial abilities. Farragut and oak Ridge generally have the best schools if that is important to you.

I especially liked Knoxville as it is still within easy driving distance to the Smokey Mt NP. Love the park!

Taxes are pretty low or I would call them reasonable. There is no state income tax. The state is funded primarily by the sales tax which is relatively high at about 9%.

I don't know if your VA carry permit will transfer. In TN, you generally take a handgun class that runs around $75. Then you apply for the carry permit at the drivers license place. They will instruct you to go somewhere to be finger printed. Make sure you have sufficient ID with you for the drivers license place. Take your birth certificate. After the finger prints are taken, submit the paper work. It has been about 4 years since I did mine and my memory is a bit foggy on the sequence other than you start with the class and then go to the drivers license place. It will probably cost you in the neighborhood of about $150 to get your carry permit not including ammunition. Take cash to the drivers license place; no checks.

Lots of outdoor sports opportunities as well as both cold and warm water fishing. I fish for trout and hit the Clinch River fairly often at that time. Now I go to the Elk River, Caney Creek, and Hiwassee River for that primarily.

There is good white water potential in the area including inside the SMNP. Most of the kayaking opportunites are kind of a low level and fun for the family. The Ocoee River is very popular. Folks go to NC also for this. I would suggest you visit a kayak place and talk to them after you move.

Lots of hiking opportunites. Lots! The Knoxville area is a wonderful place to live unless you are a hard core trout fisherman in which case it is just okay.

 

[sarge83]

Just avoid east knoxville and you should be fine.

 

[hso]

Gotta love folks that have never lived in Knoxville or spent a lot of time in it posting about it.

1) Good advice so far and have to add that TGO will tell you every one around. If you include Knoxville, Maryville, Alcoa and Oak Ridge in the equation (and you have to around Kvile) there are tons. The Oak Ridge Sportsman's Association is the most extensive with everything from an indoor range to clays to 1,000 meter to action shooting with cowboy action and 3-gun. CCA has an indoor range in West Knox and soon Frontier Firearms will have theirs open west of Oak Ridge. John Sevier/Volunteer Rifle and Pistol Club on Rifle Range Rd. in North Knox, Gunny's in Maryville, Sporting clays at Chilhowee Sportsman's Club also in Maryville and scores just a little further out.

2) Agree with middle of the road. Fees are too high, course required, you have to be a criminal or incompetent to not get one.

3) Not exactly the scope of THR. Very few folks would choose to live in "East Knoxville", but I did for a couple of years and as long as you're in an actual family neighborhood it's fine. There are parts of surrounding counties that I found to be less safe than what some folks want to think of as "th' Hood".

4) Certainly not within our scope. Good neighborhoods mean better schools, but that's no guarantee. You'll have to look elsewhere for the statistics on each school to determine what's "better".

5) Not within our scope, but lots of medical facilities for the size of the population.

6) Not within our scope, but no income tax but plenty of sales tax and property tax depending upon whether you live in Knox County or not.

7) Kayaking (more whitewater within half a day's drive than anywhere around) and hiking (you have heard of the GSMNP?) aren't in our scope, but hunting is pretty big around here. Deer will be harder to take in ET than out on the Plateau, but you won't find any shortage of hunting around Knoxville.

My wife's a nurse practitioner with a carry permit and plenty of AK and pistol courses to her credit. I work in Oak Ridge and also carry. We live in West Knox, but not in a subdivision/burb and have a pistol range off the back porch. We have friends with NFA weapons and rifle ranges on their property. It ain't too bad here.

 

[22-rimfire]

If you are used to the DC area, you're in for a pleasant change if you like country. Great place to live and raise a family!

Although not in THR scope, TN does not have the personal property tax on your vehicle like Virginia. Have no idea how things balance out as TN has it's little wrinkles that folks don't like.

For firearms, things are much much improved since the Brady Bill as prior to that you had a 7-day waiting period (for a background check vs cooling off period) on handgun sales unless a check was done immediately. A check (usually via the Sheriff's Dept) was done at gunshows for a small fee for years, so that you could infact walk out the door with your new purchase. I lived in KY at that time and KY is a very gun friendly state.

 

[Ala Dan]

"be wise and street smart" - as Knoxville does have its share of 'hoods and
BG's mixing in with the crowd. Don't believe me, just ask any fed or local PO
assigned to the U.S. Marshal's Smokey Mountain Fugitive Task Force~!

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

If you are an outdoor lover like myself, E. Tn has alot to offer.

Almost as much as Kentucky (I just couldn't help myself...)

I lived in Knoxville for a while in 1989 & 90. I remember it as being much like Kentucky with regards to gun laws, stores, availability, etc. - but that was quite a while back.

KR

 

[LibShooter]

I've lived in East Tennessee most of my life and can't add much to the very good info already shared.

I would like to add another plug for Blount County. The county schools are about even with Knox County schools, but IMHO, the two city school systems in the County (Alcoa and Maryville) are superior. They're always competing for the top systems in the state. Oak Ridge schools are also very good. Either Community would be an easy commute to most of Knoxville. Both these outlying areas have very fine hospitals, too. Feel free to send me a PM if you want some more specific info.

If you make the move, there are plenty here to offer your family a warm welcome.

P.S. Great hiking and and paddling in the Smokies!