Dig Deeper on New Market
Morristown is a nondescript town located along I-81, a major transportation route. It sits at the northwestern base of the Great Smoky Mountains, east of Knoxville. Owing to a low-cost workforce and a central location relative to U.S. markets, the town has a diverse, industrial base of auto parts, furniture, office supplies and other manufacturing. Downtown is small, original, and has some historic interest.
An overhead sidewalk and “Skymart” was built in the late 1960’s, an unusual feature for this size of town. Recreational opportunities center on the large Cherokee Lake to the west and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the east. Knoxville provides some city amenities and services not available locally. Costs of living and housing are the biggest attraction.
Morristown is located in a flat, green valley nestled between the Appalachians to the east and Clinch Mountain to the west. The valley is a mix of open agricultural land and deciduous forest. The climate is mainly continental with some subtropical influence, giving variable weather with periods of summer heat and humidity. The angle of nearby mountains allows warm moist air to approach from the southwest, but the elevation keeps evenings relatively cool. Winters are cool and variable with some periods of snow, but accumulations seldom last.