Maryville, TN

The great outdoors is calling — from Blount County, that is — and you’re going to want to answer that phone! Home to 133,000 residents, this fast-growing East Tennessee county sits at the doorstep of the beautiful Smoky Mountains and offers residents every outside activity imaginable, from walking, running or biking the nearly 15-mile greenway that winds through Maryville and Alcoa to hiking the dozens of trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park to boating, fishing and tubing on the nearby Little River. Blount County’s assets don’t just stop at outdoor recreation, though. With major companies like Clayton Homes, metal producer Arconic, consumer products company Newell Brands, Cirrus Aircraft, and automotive components manufacturer DENSO here, a slew of great job opportunities are available. And residents can feel safe in this area knowing they have access to 13 regional hospitals, including a campus for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.