A Comparison of Knox County and Jefferson County, Tennessee

If you are thinking about moving to East Tennessee and trying to decide exactly where to "hang your hat", here are two counties and their biggest differences. Since I have lived in both, I can tell you, go for Jefferson County if you want peace and quiet. Go for Knox County if you want to party.

First let me start with Jefferson County Tennessee. Population (as of the Census done in 2005) estimated at 48,394; land area is 314 square miles with 274 square miles being land and 74 square miles being water; county seat is Dandridge; the largest city is Jefferson City.

Now compare that to Knox County Tennessee. Population 400,061; square miles is 508; county seat is Knoxville; largest city is Knoxville.

Slight bit of difference in these counties, huh?

Now let me give you a little insight on living in both of them. First of all let me say that it certainly depends on what you are used to and what you like. Of course, Knox County has much more entertainment and things to do. Jefferson County does not even have a movie theater, no bowling alley, no malls, et cetera. However, Jefferson County has much to offer in the way of quietness, less crime or at least less violent crimes, less traffic, fewer red lights, and a more peaceful place to live. Knox County is a wonderful county if you like the "limelight" and want a lot of things to do on a Saturday night. Yet, Knox County has much more violent crimes and a lot more crime period. Almost all of the roads are red light to red light, and the traffic is horrific even on the "less traveled" routes.

In Knox County there are two major roads which one really does not want to be on during rush hour traffic. Actually, when I lived there, I didn't like them at any time of the day. They are Kingston Pike and Middlebrook Pike. Cumberland Avenue, which is right in the middle of the University of Tennessee campus and also known as "The Strip", is one road you do not want to travel on a Friday night.

The main roads in Jefferson County are Highway 92 and Highway 11-E. Now both of these have red lights, but there are only about five or six on 11-E and four on 92. There are six on 92 with four of them being in Dandridge and two in Jefferson City. Thus, there are about 12 or more miles of Highway 92 that have not red lights what so ever until you get to Jefferson City. Now if you have no problems with red lights, you would do fine in Knox County.

Now I am not trying to put down any type of law enforcement agencies or officers. I admire them all for what they have to go through. However, there is a difference in these also between Know and Jefferson Counties. The officers in Knox County are always so busy that they cannot always stop to help people whose cars may have broken down et cetera. It has never failed that if we even pull over to the side of the road just to check something or use the phone, an officer has stopped to check on us and make sure we were alright.

One thing about the law enforcement (actually the Sheriff himself) in Jefferson County, they will not put up with any drugs or marijuana in their county. Jefferson County has several drug arrests along with a lot of D.U.I.'s and driving on suspended licenses. However, if you ever read the local Jefferson County newspaper and the "Police Blotter" you will notice that the majority of the arrests are people from out of town.

I actually have to be honest and say that I cannot say much about either one of the counties "cleanliness". Both of them do have litter problems. However, both of them continuously work on trying to get them cleaned up. They let the inmates go out and pick up trash along the roadways.

One other thing that Knox County has that Jefferson does not is a public bus transportation system. This is the way a lot of people get to work in Knox County. However, there is still major traffic tie ups and snarls during rush hour. Plus, the number of wrecks in Knox County is much higher than Jefferson. The accidents in Knox County are usually more serious also.

I hope this gives you an idea of where you want to live if you ever move to East Tennessee and have to decide between these two counties.

Sources:

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County_Tennessee retrieved August 22, 2009

www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/TN_Knox.htm retrieved August 22, 2009