Nashville? Chattanooga?

[Sonagi]

I see Nashville and Chattanooga have ESL openings. I rather like Chattanooga's location near the mountains. Likes /dislikes about either city?

[Rural King]

Very different cities on many levels. What are you interested and favorable to is a better question. Give us your likes and dislikes and we may be able to guide you better. I'm sure though many will just give you a break down between the two though if thats what your after.

English as a Second Language is what I'm assuming ESL is. Thats not a bad field to be teaching in, esp. in many parts of Tennessee.

[sleepy]

Nashville will have all the offerings of a big city. Chattanooga less so, although I guess its metro is in excess of 500,000, so it certainly isn't some little small town. If you like urban life, I'd take Nashville, though Chattanooga has a nice downtown.

I have no idea about schools in either city, but for cities at least, Nashville schools are second worst in the state to Memphis. Don't have a clue where Chattanooga ranks.

I think most people who would choose Chattanooga would do so because of the nearby outdoor activities--mountains, whitewater stuff, hang-gliding, etc.

Chattanooga is about midway between Atlanta and Nashville--a couple hours either way, so you've got big city advantages close by.

One of my favorite areas of TN is the Sequatchie Valley--sorta north of Chattanooga. One of the nation's premier hang-gliding areas with incredible scenery.

[Sonagi]

What am I looking for?

A reasonably safe (relative to population) city

With lots of parks and greenery, near a national or state park

Cosmopolitan population

Four-season climate without weather extremes.

[sleepy]

What am I looking for? 

A reasonably safe (relative to population) city

With lots of parks and greenery, near a national or state park

Cosmopolitan population

Four-season climate without weather extremes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1. Well, for crime Memphis and Nashville have been ranked in the top ten worst, although Memphis' murder rate is probably 50% higher. Don't know about Chattanooga. Since it's smaller than the other two, I would presume its crime rate is lower. But like most places, it depends on the neighborhood.

2. Parks--Chattanooga would win this one. Surrounded by mountains and not too far from the Cherokee National Forest and the Smoky Mountains. Nashville has a lot of lakes around the area and parks. Memphis has parks, but no lakes, though kayaking and canoeing in the Mississippi is becoming popular.

3. If by cosmopolitan, you mean diverse, both Nashville and Memphis would likely be moreso than Chattanooga.

4. All those cities have 4 season climates although, depending on where you're from, you would probably find summer to be extreme.

[it's just dave]

sleepy's got it pretty much covered. I like both cities. I was within 8 miles of downtown Chattanooga this morning, but had just left Birmingham and didn't feel much like fighting the traffic, so SLEEPY, I had the top down on the car, zipped off the interstate to 41 and it seems every number in between highway wise, and spent hours in the Sequatchie Valley today. I actually wasn't even familiar with it and never even thought about what was at the bottom of the Plateau. Today, I found out. I agree with you.

[sleepy]

sleepy's got it pretty much covered. I like both cities. I was within 8 miles of downtown Chattanooga this morning, but had just left Birmingham and didn't feel much like fighting the traffic, so SLEEPY, I had the top down on the car, zipped off the interstate to 41 and it seems every number in between highway wise, and spent hours in the Sequatchie Valley today. I actually wasn't even familiar with it and never even thought about what was at the bottom of the Plateau. Today, I found out. I agree with you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I couldn't believe the Sequatchie Valley when I first visited about ten years ago. It's wonderful when you get to the northern edge, the valley ends, and the mountains close in around you around Crossville. I actually thought about moving to the Pikeville area.

[Rural King]

^ Sleepy pretty much covered it. I think you would probably prefer Chattanooga if parks and national/state parks near you are a preferable. Its not all that known for crime compared to its peers as far as I know, has four seasons, etc.

In the other thread you started I mentioned Paducah, Kentucky, a place I think you really should investigate. It has parks, a great downtown, a growing arts district, plenty of commerical/retail/medical, low crime, lower cost of living, etc. Its also very close to Land between the Lakes State Park (20 miles east) and not very far from Reelfoot Lake in TN (an hour/50 miles south) and the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois (20-25miles north). Plus, I would think there would be plenty of ESL postions in Western KY due to farm labor and meat processing facilities in the area, esp. in Mayfield KY (25 miles south), and Murray KY (49 miles south).

Murray is someplace else you might like, it is a mere 10 miles from Land between the Lakes, a college town, has lost cost of living, low crime, some arts, etc, but has much less to offer in most areas than Paducah.

[it's just dave]

All the green is one good reason for living around Nashville. You get, within a couple of hours, the best of Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky State Parks (beautiful), Tennessee State Parks, mountains, valleys, rivers large and small, magnificent gorges, wildlife, Chattanooga is under two hours, the Smokey Mtns, a bit further. Then, if you don't mind the roar of traffic, which I don't, you're back home in Nashville before you know it.

Good luck in choosing. This part of the country offers much to so many.

[satalac]

All the green is one good reason for living around Nashville. You get, within a couple of hours, the best of Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky State Parks (beautiful), Tennessee State Parks, mountains, valleys, rivers large and small, magnificent gorges, wildlife, Chattanooga is under two hours, the Smokey Mtns, a bit further. Then, if you don't mind the roar of traffic, which I don't, you're back home in Nashville before you know it.

Good luck in choosing. This part of the country offers much to so many.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

one thing, if you have any outdoor allergies, DO NOT MOVE TO NASHVILLE. other than that, chattanooga or nashville are a great choice, though it sounds like chattanooga seems like it would fit you better.

[Sonagi]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm leaning toward Chattanooga as I fell in love with hiking while living in Korea and China.

I am from Michigan, so cold and snow don't bother me, but extended periods of hot, muggy weather do. I lived in Houston many years ago, and all I remember about the summer is stepping out of a chilly air-conditioned building and getting blasted by muggy heat. It's easy to live with the cold- just dress in layers and top them off with a down coat. However, there's no escaping the heat if you're outside.

Kentucky looks appealing, too. Not mountainous, but hilly, and further north, so not as hot, as Tennessee, and closer to folks back in Michigan.

[sleepy]

Thanks for all the advice.  I'm leaning toward Chattanooga as I fell in love with hiking while living in Korea and China. 

I am from Michigan, so cold and snow don't bother me, but extended periods of hot, muggy weather do.  I lived in Houston many years ago, and all I remember about the summer is stepping out of a chilly air-conditioned building and getting blasted by muggy heat.  It's easy to live with the cold- just dress in layers and top them off with a down coat.  However, there's no escaping the heat if you're outside.

Kentucky looks appealing, too.  Not mountainous, but hilly, and further north, so not as hot, as Tennessee, and closer to folks back in Michigan.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I would scratch Memphis off the list for climate. I lived in New Orleans for years and visited Houston weekly--and they're worse than TN--but Memphis/Houston/New Orleans are pretty similar for bad summers, and worse than the rest of Tennessee for heat and humidity.

If you're interested in Kentucky, what about Lexington? Not far from the mountains, has a university, it's a fairly large city, not far from Cincy and Louisville and, I'm sure like most places in the US has a need for ESL teachers.

[AceMentor]

1. Well, for crime Memphis and Nashville have been ranked in the top ten worst, although Memphis' murder rate is probably 50% higher. Don't know about Chattanooga. Since it's smaller than the other two, I would presume its crime rate is lower. But like most places, it depends on the neighborhood.

2. Parks--Chattanooga would win this one. Surrounded by mountains and not too far from the Cherokee National Forest and the Smoky Mountains. Nashville has a lot of lakes around the area and parks. Memphis has parks, but no lakes, though kayaking and canoeing in the Mississippi is becoming popular.

3. If by cosmopolitan, you mean diverse, both Nashville and Memphis would likely be moreso than Chattanooga.

4. All those cities have 4 season climates although, depending on where you're from, you would probably find summer to be extreme.

I know this was a while ago but on the parks topic, Nashville largest park system in the country (percy warner and edwin warner being the biggest in nashville).

[ppassafi]

I know this was a while ago but on the parks topic, Nashville largest park system in the country (percy warner and edwin warner being the biggest in nashville).

Well, my vote would be for Louisville. The Hispanic population is booming here, and in fact I cite how fast it is growing below, along with Nashville's. Louisville has great urban neighborhoods and culture, and has great opportunites right in the city--Olmstead parks, and is a rather hilly city. Parks like Cherokee, Shwanee, and Iroqouis are great treasure, and the new Waterfront Park celebrates the city's river heritage with a great green expanse on the ohio River. With a metro of 1.2 million, it is a fairly large city, similar in size to Nashville. Its restaurant and arts scene are well above most similar cities in the south: www.trolleyhop.org and www.Louisvillehotbytes.com give you a small taste. It is one of only 9 US cities to have all the major performing arts groups also.

The Jefferson Memorial Forest is 5,000 acres and is in Louisville-Jefferson county--the largest urban municipal forest in the country, and only 20 minutes from downtown. The hiking and panoramic views here are unprecedented. There are many lakes nearby like Rough River and Taylorsville, and the Red River Gorge is some of the best hiking in the area, all within 30-40 minutes of Louisville.

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:190aW...s+growing&hl=en

"One of the most striking differences among today's immigrants and refugees is where they settle. Nashville is part of a new American frontier sometimes called the "global interior" that runs from Minnesota to Texas where immigrants and refugees have moved in unprecedented numbers since 1990. Of the nation's one hundred largest metropolitan areas, Nashville ranks first in the number of new immigrants arriving from 1991 to 1998 relative to the number of foreign-born counted there in 1990. Atlanta, Georgia is second and Louisville, Kentucky is third."

[ATLBrain]

I know this was a while ago but on the parks topic, Nashville largest park system in the country (percy warner and edwin warner being the biggest in nashville).

Didn't the Beaman forest add thousands of acres to that total park acreage. I think some others on this site could add info about that. It's a huge amount of land north of downtown.

I lived in Nashville for 4 years, and really loved it. I still go there whenever I get a chance (4 times a year). I think it's the perfect size and has a great entrepreneurial spirit. It's also a very welcoming city. As a Jew, I've felt welcome in all circles of the community. It's also urban enough, but not too crowded and dirty. Oddly enough, it feels to me a lot like Dallas although it looks nothing like it (that's a good thing).

One more thing, I'd suggest getting in contact with the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in Nashville and Chattanooga. Nashville's is very active in promoting their businesses and community interests.

[it's just dave]

Beaman is a beautiful place, tucked away in the rugged hill country north of the city. The ridge trails are amazing.

Here's some info you might find interesting, Brain:

http://www.nashville.gov/parks/beaman.htm

[smeagolsfree]

You cant go wrong with Nashville or Chattanooga. I have lived in both and like both. Besides living in Chattanooga, you are close to Nashville and Atlanta for the cosmopolitan feel. There is a lot of hiking potential outside of Chattanooga as well.

[Hankster]

A lot depends on what your personal likes and dislikes are when choosing between Nashville and Chattanooga to live. I've lived in both and must say so I feel I'm qualified to compare the two. Nashville has pro sports, more restaurants, more nightspots, and a lot more entertainment choices in general than Chattanooga; but that's not to say that Chattanooga is lacking in those areas either, especially for a town it's size. Nashville on the other hand has some of the negative things that are generally associated with larger cities: more traffic, and longer commuting times by being much more spread out (more sprawl). The climate in Nashville is a little more harsh, but not significantly so, and Nashville is farther away from the mountains and the beaches. If you like hiking, mountain biking, rick climbing, canoeing, etc., I must say that Chattanooga has a significant edge on Nashville. Even hang gliding is a popular activity in Chattanooga, if you're so inclined. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either city...both are premier places to live in.