Tennessee is a great place to live because it has low taxes, beautiful scenery, a lot of different cultures, and free college costs. Still, not all of its places are as appealing to its people. Fewer people are living in some towns because of things like high crime rates, bad infrastructure, or a lack of chances. People are leaving these seven Tennessee towns as soon as possible.
1. Whiteville
Whiteville is a town in Hardeman County. In 2020, 3,148 people lived there. It has a lot of poor people (35.6%) and a lot of serious crimes (1,177 per 100,000 people). A lack of economic growth and educational success also hurts the town. The typical household income is $25,833, and only 10.9% of the people who live there have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Whiteville has been losing people since 2000 when 4,638 people were living there.
2. Cumberland Gap
The town of Cumberland Gap is in Claiborne County. It had 476 people living in it in 2020. The famous Cumberland Gap is close by. This was a natural pass through the Appalachians that early settlers and pioneers used. On the other hand, the town doesn’t have many modern conveniences or chances to offer its people. There are a lot of poor people in town (30.5% of households make less than $28,750 a year). Also, only 97 people are living in the town per square mile, which makes it very solitary and far away.
3. Orme
Orme is a town in Marion County. In 2020, 115 people lived there. There aren’t many people living there, and the town is falling apart. Since 2000, when there were 242 people living in the town, more than half of them have moved away. The town is known for having trouble with running out of water. In the past, they had to limit water use for several hours a day. There are also a lot of poor people in town—27.8% of households make less than $31,250 a year.
4. Viola
Viola is a town in Warren County. In 2020, there were 128 people living there. This is another small Tennessee town that is getting smaller. Since 2000, when it had 166 people living there, it has lost 23% of its population. There are a lot of poor people in town—26.6% of households make less than $32,500 a year. The town also has a low level of schooling; only 6.3% of the people who live there have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
5. Toone
Toone is a town in Hardeman County. In 2020, 330 people lived there. In the past few years, there has been a lot of violence and sadness in this town. In 2016, a person who used to work at a nearby plant shot and killed two people and hurt three others. In 2017, a house fire killed a mom and her four kids. A lot of people in the town are poor—25.8%—and the typical household income is only $34,375.
6. Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is a town in Henry County. In 2020, 85 people lived there. The town is the smallest in Tennessee and one of the worst places to live. Since 2000, when there were 135 people living in the town, 37% of them have moved away. There are a lot of poor people in town—25% of households make less than $36,250 a year. Also, there are only 42 people living in the town per square mile, which makes it mostly rural and lightly populated.
7. Rives
Rives is a town in Obion County. In 2020, there were 287 people living there. The number of people living in this town has been going down since 1990 when there were 436 of them. Most households in the town make less than $37,500 a year, and 24.4% of them are poor. The town also has a low level of schooling; only 8.8% of the people who live there have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Conclusion
These are some Tennessee places that people are leaving as soon as possible. These are places that face many problems and issues, including a loss of residents, crime, poverty, slow growth, and being cut off from other areas. Tennessee is a great state with lots of great things to see and do, but these towns don’t show that. People are looking for better places to live and work in Tennessee and other places.