Regional Profile

Visitors to East Tennessee are sometimes surprised by the richness of its resources.  The region is centrally located within a day's drive of 70 percent of the U.S. markets, supported by a pro-business environment and talented workforce, driven by a diverse economy, and blessed with mild seasons and natural beauty. 

East Tennessee Regional Profile.pdf

Location 
15-counties in the Knoxville-Oak Ridge region:

 








Accessibility

• Junction of I-40, I-75, and I-81 
• Major regional airport with more than 120 flights daily and 19 non-stop destinations 
• Rail service: Norfolk Southern, CSX, and local short-line railroads 
• Barge service: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway System 
• Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains

Population

• Population of 1,136,419
• Population breakdown by age:
      >19                  276,661
      20-24                 74,827
      25-44               2828,869
      45-64               315,135
      65-74                107,851
      75+                    79,076
  Source: US Census, Decision Data 2012

Workforce

• Workforce of 570,000
• Over 65,000 college and university students 
• 50,000 technical professionals
• Over 10,000 students concentrating in mathematics, science or engineering
• 45,000 employed in manufacturing

Education

• University of Tennessee flagship campus 
• 7 four-year liberal arts colleges 
• 4 two-year community colleges 
• 1 technical institution 
• 4 technology training centers 
• Numerous vocational and specialty schools 
• 2 top-rated secondary school systems

Technology

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Oak Ridge Center for Manufacturing and Material Science 
• Jaguar and Kraken Supercomputers
• National Transportation Research Center
• Spallation Neutron Source

Lifestyle 

• Cost of living:       11% below the national average
• Housing costs:     14% below the national average
• Healthcare costs:  8% below the national average 
• 4 distinct seasons
  • Annual average temperature: 58 degrees
  • Average high: January 49 degrees, July 86 degrees
  • Average low: January 28 degrees, July 69 degrees
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Nation’s most-visited park
• Big South Fork Wilderness Area 
• 7 TVA lakes, Tennessee River and dozens of smaller rivers
• 2 symphonies
• Ballet company
• Opera company
• Fine arts museum
• Nationally recognized zoo
• Collegiate football and basketball
• AA Chicago Cubs affiliate baseball team
• Professional ice hockey team 

ETEDA Services

• Custom-tailored information packages to assist in decision making
• Economic overview
• Data/information
• Real estate services
• Transportation analysis
• Utility reports
• Local employer interviews