I lived there for 6 years

Knoxville, Tennessee, is proud to claim Daniel Boone, and has evolved into a multicultural community that embraces an array of interesting pastimes. Downtown Knoxville is full of interesting shops like the independent Union Ave Books and the old-time Mast General Store. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which are both within a 90-minute drive, are beautiful places to go for a hike. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy cheering on the minor league baseball Tennessee Smokies, the Knoxville Ice Bears professional hockey team and the much-hyped SEC-affiliated University of Tennessee Volunteers football and basketball teams.

But shopping, sports and natural beauty aren't the only reasons to move here: Affordability is another major incentive. The cost of buying a home in Knoxville is much less than it is in other major metro areas. Residents also enjoy the added benefit of proximity to major highways that connect Knoxville with places like Nashville, Atlanta and Chattanooga.

Knoxville's population is fairly young, which is due in part to the large number of students, as well as a high number of young families. Fifteen percent of Knoxville residents are under the age of 15. But while a youthful community often triggers left-leaning politics, Knoxville has been dubbed one of the few conservative large cities left in America.

The metro area's population has grown more diverse over the years, with Hispanic, Hindu, Asian and Native American communities influencing Knoxville's culture with establishments like the Gosh Ethiopian Restaurant and the Oriental Supermarket on Sutherland Avenue, as well as a host of diverse downtown festivals.

Church and religion play a big part in the South, and Knoxville is no exception. Baptists, United Methodists and Catholics make up the majority of the religious population, but more recently, nondenominational churches are gaining momentum.

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