John C Calhoun, southern statesman and vice president under Andrew Jackson, was quoted as saying, "The Lenoir Estate in Loudoun County is the most princely property in Tennessee. It has all the picturesque environments and attractive surroundings of an English baronial estate." This "princely property" was newly established as Lenoir City in 1890.
Lenoir City is the largest city in Loudoun -- the county known as being the "Lakeway to the Smokies." This medium-size city has a population of 8,642 residents who are lucky enough to benefit from some truly breathtaking mountain views in every season. If all this talk about the nearby Smoky Mountains gives you the impression that Lenoir City is isolated, however, then you'll be pleased to hear that there are four major federal highways going right through the city. These include Route 11, which runs along the river shore in an east-to-west direction; U.S. Route 321, which runs north to south; and Interstate 75 and U.S. Route 70. Both of the latter intersect on US-321 in the northern section of the city.
Moving to Lenoir City, TN
If the call of all those Appalachian Trails is just too much temptation, grab your hiking boots and start walking. Lenoir City is mostly owner-occupied, so you might get to know quite a few trails before something becomes available -- must be all that gorgeous scenery and mountain air keeping everyone happy.
Take a Hike
While you're yodeling your way through the mountains, it can't hurt to pick up the pace of your hunt for rental properties in Lenoir City. One place to start looking might be The Cove at Creekwood Park, located at 245 Creekwood Lane. Not only can you find one- to three-bedroom apartments here, but the complex is also conveniently situated near US-321, Interstate 75 and U.S. Route 70. There are also plenty of amenities to enjoy there, including a state-of-the-art fitness center to melt away your stress and the two chocolate bars you ate before bedtime; a clubhouse for all those dance parties you'll want to host; a business center for (ho-hum) business; and a washer and dryer in each unit to wash away all of the evidence from any of the aforementioned activities.
Be on the lookout
Let the real estate agents and apartment property managers be your apartment locators, as they will likely be the first to know about any vacancies. You might even consider taking your search for those new one-bedroom apartments up a notch or two by bringing these property hunters shiny apples and showing them your best attempt at a Tennessee accent. What are we saying here? Become a familiar face, but not the kind you want to smack with a fly swatter. Sometimes it really does help to know someone.
Be ready
Whenever availability is scarce, you have to be ready to move at the speed of lightning. Being ready, in this case, means having your current credit history, proof of your identity and employment, at least two references and some of that green stuff we all love so much. Generally speaking, you'll need one month's rent up front plus the required security deposit. The deposit amount differs from place to place, so get that information in advance to ensure your piggy bank is as full as you need it to be.
Neighborhoods
There are no real neighborhoods to speak of here. However, whatever part of Lenoir City you choose, it is sure to be mellower than most cities you're used to. Whether it's because people have something better to do, or they are just overcome by the beauty of their surroundings; it's not entirely clear. Again, because rentals are scarce, you might just have to go with the flow on that one.
Living in Lenoir City, TN
Lenoir City has a plethora of restaurants to try and try again until you find your favorite. There are, of course, the usual round of chain restaurants, like Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (great if you love your chicken and dumplings) or Ruby Tuesdays. There are also, however, many other tempting restaurants to choose from, including Takoyaki Japanese Steak and Sushi, Cinco Amigos and Casa Fiesta, Calhoun's or Good Eats.
When your belly is full of good food and you want to know more about the history of your new town, head on over to the Cotton Mill Warehouse at 150 Bussell's Ferry Road, followed by the Cotton Mill on Town Creek. The warehouse is a private residence now, but you can still check it out from the road. It was built ca. 1830 to hold raw cotton and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The story of the Cotton Mill is both interesting and tragic. It was saved from being burned to the ground during the Civil War only to be set on fire by arsonists in 1991. Unfortunately, that fire destroyed any hopes for its restoration. The ruins are still there, however, and visitors are encouraged to stop by. There aren't any gift shops selling coffee or t-shirts, but it is still a cool part of local history worth seeing. Finally, if we haven't teased you enough with the tales of the Smoky trails, check them out! Even if you don't particularly like exercise, you cannot help but stop and smell the great outdoors.