Norris, Tennessee

Norris is a National Historic City.  The Museum of Appalachia is a popular attraction on the outskirts of Norris. Norris is a short distance from both the Norris Dam and Big Ridge State Parks.   The entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places, because of its historic relevance from the 1930's as housing for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) workers. Norris was built as a model planned community by the TVA to house workers building Norris Dam. This small town was named in honor of Nebraska Senator George W. Norris, a long-term supporter of TVA. This small town design was based on the English garden city movement of the 1890s. Roads followed the contour of the terrain, houses did not always face the street, and large common areas were maintained for use by residents.  Norris is one of the least cluttered downtown (if you can call it that) areas of any small town (if you can call it that) I have seen. The following is the sum total of  establishments in the downtown area:  1 school, 1 playground, 1 soccer field, 1 drug store, 1 grocery store, 1 gas station, 1 bank, 1 restaurant, 1 library.  You won't find any fine restaurants, boutiques or historic district in this small town, but you may want to investigate this small town when formulating your retirement plans.  If you seek a life in the slow lane, check out the turtles pace of Norris, Tennessee.