The Gateway To The Great Smoky Mountains

Hometown is more than a word, it is more than a place. It is a feeling. A feeling that brings peace and comfort. While I was not born in Maryville, I do call it my home town. This town in rich with history, culture, and in recent years a fantastic artistic movement.

On Areavibes.com, Maryville Tennessee is rated with a livability score of 84 out of 100. Statistically Maryville ranks 94% better than other cities in Tennessee based on crime rates, education, unemployment rates, housing, cost of living, and amenities. This exceptional city is much more than just numbers, it is also a community.

Fort Craig also known as Craig's Fort was just a bunch of cabins enclosed off to ward settlers from attacks from the Cherokee. In 1795, John Craig donated 50 acres of land for the settling of the town. In 1850 the town population was reported as 513 people. The town has grown to an estimated population 29,742 in 2019.

There have been some notable people from this small humble town. There have been football and basketball stars, political figures, authors, actors, and various types of artists. In the more recent of the 226 year span Maryville has been nestled between the mountains and valleys, we have seen an up-rise in musicians to come from our wonderful town. We have had the pleasure of being the birth place of Jack Greene, Mike Cross, Jackie Lee, and Laurel Wright of The Young Fables. Country and folk music runs deep in the roots of the south and it is no different in the small city that neighbors Knoxville. The Young Fables did a song called "Crazy" which is a spin on the classic Patsy Cline tune. To me, hearing a classic southern country song sang by an up and coming country music band, is a beautiful way to bring the past and present together.

Maryville has always been a home for the arts. This is one of the biggest reasons why I feel such at home here. There is Clayton Center for the Arts which is located in Maryville College. This venue was a decade long project that included both public and private funding. The name Clayton means a great deal in the area, as Clayton Homes is the second largest employer in the city, there is also Clayton-Bradley Academy which is a STEM school also located Maryville , and many other businesses connected to the name. Inside the center they have also named the halls, rooms, theatres, and foyers after influential people.

Not only is Maryville a hub for arts but it is also a center for business. With the airport just one town over, there is a buzz of industrial companies located in Maryville. Denso is the leading employer in the city, which manufactures automotive components. Newell Brands also has a location in Maryville and they fall as the sixth largest employer in the area. They manufacture a large amount of products that exist in homes all across America including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Sunbeam, Mr. Coffee, Yankee Candle, and Krazy Glue. There are plenty of small businesses opening in the area as well which is great for revitalization. There is Tips Signs which is a sign and banner service, retail locations like Beds To Go, dozens of restaurants and cafes, and plenty of places to buy and fix vehicles.

A great venue for events or just an ice cream cone is Capitol Theatre. It is by far my favorite place in Maryville. Not only is it a historic location, but its' ice cream shop is a nerd haven. They originally opened in 1934 and closed as a movie theatre in the 1970s. It currently boasts a dinner theatre venue, a screen for special occasions, a dance floor, and a catering kitchen. It has been the host to many weddings and corporate events.

All of these words are facts and statistics. However, there is a reason why so many people have put down roots here in Maryville. There is a sense of peace and community. Whether you are walking through Bicentennial Greenbelt Park, shopping at the Foothills Mall, or journeying down the Foothills Parkway you will be surrounded by beautiful mountains, historical views, and never ending hospitality. While I was not born here, I am blessed to call Maryville my hometown.