Awards & Mentions for Knoxville



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2024


2024 - Knoxville named as one of the Best Places to Retire. Source: RealEstate.USNews.com, February 2024.

2024 - Knoxville named one of Best Football Cities for Fans. Source: WalletHub.com, February 2024.

2024 - Knoxville named in 25 Cheapest Places to Live. Source: Kiplinger.com, February 2024.

2024 - University of Tennessee ranked Among America's Best Large Employers. Source: Forbes.com, February 2024.

2024 - Knoxville named One of MovieMaker's Best Small Cities and Towns to Live and Work as a MovieMaker. Source: MovieMaker, January 2024.


2023


2023 - Knoxville named one of the Safest Cities in America. Source: WalletHub.com, October 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named one of the Best Baseball Cities. Source: WalletHub.com, October 2023.

2023 - University of Tennessee named One of America's Top Colleges. Source: Forbes.com, October 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named one of the 10 Largest Cities (Relatively) Safe from Climate Change. Source: LifeHacker.com, September 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named No. 4 Best Arts District in the country by USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice 2023 poll. Source: USA Today 10Best.com, June 2023.

2023 - Navitat Knoxville named No. 10 Best Aerial Adventure Park in the country by USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice poll. Source: USA Today 10Best.com, June 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named No. 21 in 150 Best Places to live in the U.S. in 2023-2024. Source: U.S. News, June 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named No. 10 in Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024. Source: U.S. News, June 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named No. 10 of 25 Best Places to Live in the South. Source: U.S. News, June 2023. 

2023 - Knoxville named No. 7 Best U.S. Destination on a Budget by USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice poll. Source: USA Today 10Best.com, May 2023. 

2023 - Zoo Knoxville's Boyd Family Asian Trek voted No. 8 Best Zoo Exhibit in the country by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Source: USA Today 10Best.com, March 2023.

2023 - According to Moody's Analytics, Knoxville is the Third-Most-Protected U.S. City from the assorted threats and impacts of climate change. Source: Moody Analytics, March 2023.

2023 - Knoxville Special Events' Kid A' Riffic Fun in the Park was awarded Best Children's Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Festivals & Events Association (SFEA). February 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named one of the Happiest Cities in the U.S. Source: WalletHub.com, February 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named in the Top 50 Concert Market Rankings. Source: Pollstar, February 2023.

2023 - Knoxville named One of MovieMaker's Best Small Cities and Towns to Live and Work as a Movie Maker. Source: MovieMaker, January 2023.


2022


2022 - Knoxville named No. 33 of 150 Best Places to Live Near the Mountains by U.S. News. Source: U.S. News, November 2022.

2022 - Knoxville named No. 7 in Top 25 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In. Source: Kiplinger.com, August 2022.

2022 - Knoxville named in top 12 Best Mid-Size Cities in the U.S. Source: SpaceWise, June 2022

2022 - Knoxville named Top 25 Best Places to Retire. Source: Forbes.com, May 2022.

2022 - Knoxville named No. 43 Best Places to Retire. Source: U.S. News, May 2022.

2022 - Knoxville named No. 2 City in US for Crafting. Source: DesignBundles.net, May 2022.

2022 - Knoxville ranked in Top 20 Cities that People Moved to in 2021. Source: HireAHelper.com, January 2022.

2022 - Knoxville ranked in 2022 Top 10 Housing Markets for Gen X. Source: Knock.com, January 2022.

2022 - Knoxville named one of the Best Cities for Jobs. Source: WalletHub.com, January 2022.

2022 - Knoxville named Top 10 Hidden Gems of the Housing Market in 2022. Source: Realtor.com, December 2021.


2021


2021 - Knoxville was named to the Top 50 Best Cities to Live. Source: RealEstate.USNews.com, July 2021.

2021 - Knoxville was named to the Top 50 Best Cities to Retire. Source: RealEstate.USNews.com, July 2021.

2021 - Knoxville earned Tree Cities of the World Recognition. Source: TreeCitiesoftheWorld.org, March 2021.

2021 - Knoxville among best cities in the 2021's Best Cities for Jobs report by WalletHub. Source: WalletHub.com, January 2021.


2020


2020 - Knoxville named among 2020's Best College Towns & Cities in America. Source: WalletHub.com, December 2020.

2020 - Knoxville ranked among the 100 Best Places to Live in 2020 by Livability. Source: Livability.com, October 2020.

2020 - Knoxville ranked in the Top 25 Best Places to Get Married in the United States. Source: WalletHub.com, February 2020.

2020 - Knoxville named #1 Best City for Pet Lovers by Apartment Guide. Source www.ApartmentGuide.com, February 2020.

2020 - Knoxville named one of MovieMaker's Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker by MovieMaker Magazine. Source: www.MovieMaker.com, January 2020.

2020 - Knoxville named one of the top five Trending U.S. Destinations for 2020 by Conde Nast Traveler. Source: www.CNTraveler.com, January 2020.


2019


2019 - Knoxville named one of the 10 Totally Underrated U.S. Cities by The Discoverer travel blog. Source: www.Discoverer.com, December 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named 2020 Concert City of the Year by ticket purchasing company Vivid Seats. Source: www.VividSeats.com, December 2019.

2019 - City surpasses - a year early - its goal of reducing municipal greenhouse gas emissions (2005 levels) by 20 percent by 2020. Source: Mayor Madeline Rogero Newsletter, November 2019. 

2019 - Knoxville named Tennessee's Coolest City by AFAR Travel Magazine. Source: www.AFAR.com, August 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named one of College Football's Greatest College Towns by Sports Illustrated. Source: www.SI.com, August 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named in the Top 50 Best Places to Live in the USA by U.S. News & World Report. Source: www.RealEstate.USNews.com, April 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America by Livability.com. Source: www.Livability.com, March 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named #1 Best City for Pet Lovers by Apartment Guide. Source www.ApartmentGuide.com, February 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named one of the Best Cities to Start a Restaurant in a report by Bid-On-Equipment. Source: www.Bid-On-Equipment.com, February 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named sixth Least Expensive Place to Live in the 2018 Annual Average Cost of Living Index by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Source: www.COLI.org, February 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named one of MovieMaker's Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker by MovieMaker Magazine. Source: www.MovieMaker.com, January 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named one of The 7 Most Recession-Proof Cities in the U.S. by Livability. Source: www.Livability.com, January 2019.

2019 - Knoxville named as one of the Best Maker Cities in the U.S. by Popular Mechanics. Source: www.PopularMechanics.com, January 2019.

2018


2018 - Whittle Springs Golf Course named one of the Most-Improved Golf Courses in 2018 by Golf Advisor. Source: www.GolfAdvisor.com, December 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named the Best City in America for Pet Lovers by the Apartment Guide Blog. Source: www.ApartmentGuide.com, November 2018.

2018 - Knoxville's Yassin's Falafel House named Nicest Place in America by Readers Digest. Source: www.ReadersDigest.com, October 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the Best Bike Cities in America by Bicycling Magazine. Source: www.Bicycling.com, October 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the Best Places to Retire by U.S. News & World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, October 2018.

2018 - Knoxville selected a Top Retirement Destination by Where to Retire Magazine. Source: www.WhereToRetire.com, October 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the Cities Americans Are Flocking To by 24/7 Wall Street. Source: www.247wallst.com, July 2018.

2018 - Knoxville ranked as a Top 20 U.S. Summer Travel Destination by WalletHub. Source: www.WalletHub.com, May 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the 10 Smaller Cities Poised to Become Powerhouses by Realtor.com. Source: www.Realtor.com, May 2018.

2018 - Knoxville listed among Top 20 Cheapest College Towns by Student Loan Hero. Source: www.StudentLoanHero.com, May 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the 20 Most Hipster Cities in the U.S. by MoveHub. Source: www.ThisIsInsider.com, April 2018.

2018 - Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) wins 2018 Gold Award in Safety and Security from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Source: www.APTA.com, April 2018.

2018 - Knoxville recognized as a member of AARP's Network of Age-Friendly Communities. Source: www.CNBC.com, April 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the Best Places to Retire. Source: Forbes.com, March 2018.

2018 - Knoxville was named one of the 10 Best U.S. Mountain Bike Towns with the Lowest Cost of Living by SingleTracks. Source: www.SingleTracks.com, March 2018.

2018 - Knoxville named one of the Top 10 Best Affordable Places to Live by Livability. Source: www.Livability.com, February 2018.


2017


2017 - Knoxville's Market Square named one of Great Public Spaces in America by the American Planning Association. Source: www.Planning.org, October 2017.

2017 - Knoxville named one of Five Surprising Southern Food Towns by Garden & Gun Magazine. Source: www.GardenAndGun.com, September 2017.

2017 - Knoxville named one of 10 Cities Where Outdoor Lovers Can Actually Afford to Live by Realtor.com. Source: www.Realtor.com, July 2017.

2017 - Knoxville Area Transit was given the 2017 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award for small transit systems  (less than 4 million passenger trips/year) by the American Public Transportation Association. Source www.APTA.com, June 2017.

2017 - Knoxville named the Best Place to Retire Early in 2017 by Magnify Money. Source: www.MagnifyMoney.com, March 2017.

2017 - Knoxville named eighth in list of Best Cities for Dog Owners by consumer-oriented data aggregating site ValuePenguin. Source: www.ValuePenguin.com, February 2017.

2017 - Knoxville named in top 10 among big cities in Travel+ Leisure's America Favorite Cities. Source: www.TravelAndLeisure.com, February 2017.

2017 - Knoxville named as one of the 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.RealEstate.USNews.com, January 2017.


2016


2016 - Knoxville named as one of the American Cities Adding the Most Jobs This Year. Source: www.247WallSt.com, December 2016.

2016 - Readers of Travel & Leisure voted Knoxville a Top 10 City in America's Favorite Cities for Christmas Lights. Source: www.TravelAndLeisure.com, December 2016.

2016 - Knoxville named as a Top Retirement Destination by Where to Retire magazine. Source: www.WhereToRetire.com, September/October 2016.

2016 - Knoxville named an Etsy Maker City. Source: www.Etsy.com, September 2016.

2016 - WalletHub named Knoxville as one of 2016's Most Fun Cities in America. Source: www.WalletHub.com, September 2016.

2016 - PureWow named Knoxville as one of the 19 Best College Towns in America. Source: www.PureWow.com August 2016.

2016 - Knoxville named third-best U.S. city in Best Cities for Pizza Lovers study from SmartAsset. Source: www.SmartAsset.com, August 2016.

2016 - Readers of Travel + Leisure voted Knoxville a Top 10 City in America's Friendliest Cities. Source: www.TravelAndLeisure.com, July 2016.

2016 - Readers of Travel + Leisure voted Knoxville a Top 10 City in America's Favorite Cities for Barbecue. Source: www.TravelAndLeisure.com, June 2016.

2016 - Readers of Travel + Leisure voted Knoxville a Top 10 City in America's Favorite Places. Source: www.TravelAndLeisure.com, May 2016.

2016 - Knoxville named a 2016 Playful City USA Community by KaBOOM! Source: www.Kaboom.org, May 2016.

2016 - Travel Channel named Knoxville as fifth on its list of 9 Hip Towns That Are National Park Getaways. Source: www.TravelChannel.com, April 2016.

2016 - Thumbtack Journal named Knoxville a Top Place for Yoga Instructors to Make a Living. Source: www.Thumbtack.com/blog, March 2016.

2016 - Knoxville named 15th Best City for Women-Owned Businesses by WalletHub. Source: www.WalletHub.com, January 2016.

2016 - University of Tennessee named in Top 100 Best College Values for 2016 by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Source: www.Kiplinger.com, December 2015. 

2016 - Knoxville named a Best Value City for 2016. Source: www.Trivago.com, September 2015.


2015


2015 - Knoxville voted the 2015 Top Big City in reader's poll by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. Source: www.BlueRidgeOutdoors.com, November 2015.

2015 - Knoxville Chamber Awarded 5-Star Accreditation by U.S. Chamber. Source: www.USChamber.com, November 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named in top five for 10 Best Cities for Small Businesses by CNN Money. Source: www.Money.CNN.com, August 2015.

2015 - Visit Knoxville named the Tennessee Destination Marketing Organization of the Year by Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association. Source: www.VisitKnoxville.com, August 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named in Forbes' Best Places for Business and Careers. Source: www.Forbes.com, July 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named Number 1 in Top Burger Cities by Grubhub. Source: www.Time.com, June 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named one of the 10 Best Cities to Relocate To in the U.S. by Huffington Post. Source: www.HuffingtonPost.com, April 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named second in Forbes' Most Affordable Cities in 2015. Source: www.Forbes.com, March 2015.

2015 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Nuclear Engineering and Supply Chain Management and Clinical Law Training Graduate Programs Ranked in the Top 10 Among All Universities by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, March 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named in Top 100 for Global Growth in World's 300 Largest Metro Companies by Brookings Institution / Global Metro Monitor. Source: www.Brookings.edu, January 2015.

2015 - Knoxville named in Top 100 Best Places to Live by Livability. Source: www.Livability.com, November 2014.


2014


2014 - Knoxville named second in Top 10 Best Places to Retire by Livability. Source: www.Livability.com, November 2014.

2014 - Knoxville named as a Millennial Magnet City by USA Today as a city that attracts young, college-educated workers and keeps them in the area as they start families. Source: www.USAToday.com, October 2014.

2014 - Knoxville named a Hip Town. Source: www.HipGreenScene.com, September 2014.

2014 - Knoxville ranked the Most Exciting City in Tennessee by Movoto. Source: www.Movoto.com, July 2014.

2014 - Knoxville named second in Top 10 Best Midsize Cities for College Graduates by MyLife. Source: www.MyLife.com, July 2014.

2014 - Knoxville named third Most Well Read City in America. Source: www.Amazon.com, May 2014.

2014 - Knoxville named #2 Best College Sports Town in America. Source: www.Answers.com, May 2014.

2014 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Business Administration Named in Top 10 in Nation for most popular business schools by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, May 2014.

2014 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Nuclear Engineering and Supply Chain Management Graduate Programs Ranked in the Top 10 Among All Universities by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, March 2014.

2014 - Knoxville ranked in top five of America's Most Affordable Cities by Forbes. Source: www.Forbes, March 2014. 


2013


2013 - Knoxville ranked seventh in Top 10 Best Places to Retire by Livability. Source: wwwLivability.com, November 2013.

2013 - Knoxville was designated a Platinum Valley Sustainable Community by TVA. The Valley Sustainable Community program recognizes the importance of sustainability efforts to economic development. Knoxville is the first to earn a Platinum distinction, the highest rating. Source: www.KnoxvilleChamber.com, September 2013.

2013 - Knoxville ranked in the Top 50 of Best Places for Business and Careers, according to Forbes. A few things our great city was cited for include: major industries of Energy, Telecommunications and Financial Services; unemployment rate 6.9%; cost of living 4.5% below national average. Source: www.Forbes.com, September 2013.

2013 - Knoxville ranked in the Top 3 Best Big Cities by Blue Ridge Country Magazine for their Best of the Mountains Readers Poll. Source: www.BlueRidgeCountry.com, June 2013.

2013 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Business Administration named in Top 10 in Nation's Most Popular Business Schools by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, June 2013.

2013 - Knoxville, Knox County named Top Ranked Let's Move! City in the Nation by National League of Cities. Source: www.NLC.org, April 2013.

2013 - Knoxville named as one of Top 10 Outdoor Adventures Via Public Transportation by Outdoor Magazine. Source: www.OutsideOnline.com, January 2013.

2013 - Knoxville named #2 on the list of Happiest Cities to Work in Right Now by CareerBliss. Source: www.Forbes.com, January 2013.


2012


2012 - Knoxville named in a Brookings Institution Report as One of Three Cities in the Country to Have Recovered from the Recession. Source: www.Reuters.com, November 2012.

2012 - Knoxville wins IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Grant. Source: www.IBM.com, November 2012. 

2012 - Knoxville named as a Finalist for Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge. Source: www.Bloomberg.org, November 2012 

2012 - Knoxville's Gay Street named one of 10 Great Streets for 2012 by the American Planning Association. Source: www.Planning.org/GreatPlaces, October 2012.

2012 - Knoxville ranked in the Top 10 for Economic Growth Potential by Business Facilities Magazine. Source: www.BusinessFacilities.com, August 2012.

2012 - Knoxville named one of 20 Best Vacation Destinations by Frommers. Source: www.Frommers.com, June 2012.

2012 - Knoxville named one of 25 Best Places to Retire in 2012 by Forbes. Source: www.Forbes.com, June 2012.

2012 - Knoxville named as one of the Best Mid-Size Cities for Jobs by Forbes. Source: www.Forbes.com, May 2012.

2012 - Knoxville named as one of 10 Fastest Growing U.S. Cities by ManpowerGroup. Source: www.Money.CNN.com, April 2012.

2012 - Knoxville named as one of the two metropolitan areas for Best Cities for Jobs This Spring by ManpowerGroup. Source: www.Forbes.com,  March 2012.

2012 - Knoxville named one of Best Sports Cities in the South by Bleacher Report. Source: www.BleacherReport.com March 2012.

2012 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Nuclear Engineering, Supply Chain Management & Logistics, and Printmaking Graduate Programs Ranked in the Top 10 Among All Universities by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, March 2012.


2011


2011 - Knoxville ranked in the Top 25 Cities for Economic Security in MetroTrends by Urban Institute. Source: www.Urban.org, December 2011.

2011 - Knoxville Chamber named 2011 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Source: www.ACCE.org, August 2011.

2011 - Knoxville named Most Dog Friendly City in the Southeast by Dog Fancy Magazine. Source: www.PRNewswire.com, August 2011.

2011 - Knoxville named in Brookings Institute Report as Nation's Fastest Growing Area for Green Jobs. Source: www.Brookings.edu, July 2011.

2011 - Knoxville ranked 5th on Kiplinger's 10 Best Value Cities for 2011. Source: www.Kiplinger.com, July 2011.

2011 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Business, Engineering, and Law Graduate Programs Ranked in the Top 10 Among All Universities by U.S. News and World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, March 2011.

2011 - University of Tennessee named as one of the 100 Best Value Colleges for 2011 by Princeton Review. Source: www.USAToday.com, February 2011.

2011 - Knoxville ranked second on Amazon.com's Country's Top 20 Most Romantic Cities. Source: www.Amazon.com, February 2011. 

2011 - Knoxville ranked seventh in 10 Best Cities for College Grads by Livability. Source: www.Livability.com, 2011. 

2011 - Knoxville ranked first in 10 Best Food Festivals by Livability. Source: www.Livability.com, 2011.


2010


2010 - Knoxville named one of the Best Cities for New College Grads by BusinessWeek Magazine. Source: www.Bloomberg.com/BusinessWeek Magazine, August 2010.

2010 - Knoxville ranked seventh Top Metro for Alternative Energy Industry Leaders by Business Facilities Magazine. Source: www.BusinessFacilities.com, August 2010. 

2010 - Knoxville ranked fifth Top Metro for Economic Growth Potential by Business Facilities Magazine. Source: www.BusinessFacilities.com,  August 2010 .

2010 - Knoxville ranked fourth Best City for Real Estate Investments by the Weekend Investor in the Wall Street Journal. Source: www.WSJ.com, August 2010. 

2010 - Knoxville ranked sixth on the list on Top Ten Mid-Markets of the Decade by Southern Business & Development. Source: www.SB-D.com,  2010.

2010 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Supply Chain Management and Logistics Undergraduate Program Ranked #9 Among All Universities by U.S. News & World Report. Source: www.USNews.com, 2010. 

2010 - Knoxville selected as an Editor's Location Pick in Business Facilities. Source: www.BusinessFacilities.com, 2010. 

2010 - Knoxville ranked eighth on the America's Best Places To Raise A Family list by Forbes Magazine. Source: www.Forbes.com/Forbes June 2010.

2010 - University of Tennessee named as one of the 100 Best Value Colleges for 2010 by Princeton Review. Source: www.USAToday.com, February 2010.