7 Tennessee Towns People Are Fleeing As Soon As Possible

Tennessee is a state that has many attractions and advantages, such as low taxes, beautiful scenery, diverse culture, and free college tuition. However, not all of its towns are equally appealing to its residents. Some towns are experiencing population decline, high crime rates, poor infrastructure, or lack of opportunities. Here are seven Tennessee towns that people are fleeing as soon as possible.

1. Whiteville

Whiteville is a town in Hardeman County, with a population of 3,148 in 2020. It has a high poverty rate of 35.6%, and a high violent crime rate of 1,177 per 100,000 people. The town also suffers from a lack of economic development and educational attainment. Only 10.9% of the residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the median household income is $25,833. Whiteville has been losing population since 2000, when it had 4,638 residents.

2. Cumberland Gap

Cumberland Gap is a town in Claiborne County, with a population of 476 in 2020. It is located near the historic Cumberland Gap, a natural pass through the Appalachian Mountains that was used by pioneers and settlers. However, the town has little to offer to its residents in terms of modern amenities and opportunities. The town has a low median household income of $28,750, and a high poverty rate of 30.5%. The town also has a low population density of 97 people per square mile, making it isolated and remote.

3. Orme

Orme is a town in Marion County, with a population of 115 in 2020. It is one of the smallest towns in Tennessee, and also one of the most declining. The town has lost more than half of its population since 2000, when it had 242 residents. The town is known for its water shortage problems, which forced it to ration water for several hours a day in the past. The town also has a low median household income of $31,250, and a high poverty rate of 27.8%.

4. Viola

Viola is a town in Warren County, with a population of 128 in 2020. It is another small and shrinking town in Tennessee, having lost 23% of its population since 2000, when it had 166 residents. The town has a low median household income of $32,500, and a high poverty rate of 26.6%. The town also has a low educational attainment level, with only 6.3% of the residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher.

5. Toone

Toone is a town in Hardeman County, with a population of 330 in 2020. It is a town that has been plagued by violence and tragedy in recent years. In 2016, a former employee of a local factory shot and killed two people and injured three others. In 2017, a house fire killed a mother and her four children. The town also has a high poverty rate of 25.8%, and a low median household income of $34,375.

6. Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove is a town in Henry County, with a population of 85 in 2020. It is the smallest town in Tennessee, and also one of the most declining. The town has lost 37% of its population since 2000, when it had 135 residents. The town has a low median household income of $36,250, and a high poverty rate of 25%. The town also has a low population density of 42 people per square mile, making it sparsely populated and rural.

7. Rives

Rives is a town in Obion County, with a population of 287 in 2020. It is a town that has been losing population since 1990, when it had 436 residents. The town has a low median household income of $37,500, and a high poverty rate of 24.4%. The town also has a low educational attainment level, with only 8.8% of the residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Conclusion

These are some of the towns in Tennessee that people are fleeing as soon as possible. They are towns that have various challenges and disadvantages, such as population decline, crime, poverty, lack of development, and isolation. While Tennessee as a state has many benefits and attractions, these towns do not reflect them. Therefore, people are looking for better places to live and work in Tennessee or elsewhere.