The Resume

(1786- )
Third largest city in Tennessee
Population (2007 estimate): 183,546 (city); 665,400 (metro area)
Named after Secretary of War Henry Knox
Home of the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority

Why Knoxville, Tennessee might be annoying:

While the territorial governor was negotiating with the Cherokee, the city's settlers attacked against orders, killing Chief Hanging Maw's wife (1793).
It was the original capital of Tennessee, but lost the gig to Mulfreesboro (1819).
It was known as 'the Underwear Capital of the World' for its many clothing factories.
It lost 10% of its population during the 50s when its textile mills began closing down.
In 'Inside USA' (1948), author John Gunther called it the ugliest city in America.
It was named worst city in America for allergy sufferers because of its pollen counts (2009).

Why Knoxville, Tennessee might not be annoying:

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, was built using Knoxville marble.
Mountain Dew was first marketed in Knoxville (1948).
After Gunther's comments, the city launched a beautification campaign.
It hosted a World's Fair that drew over 11 million visitors (1982).
Its music scene was described by critic Ann Powers as 'Austin without the hype.'
Forbes named it one of America's 'Top 10 Metropolitan Hot Spots.' (2008)

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• American Lung Association's Most Polluted U.S. Metropolitan Areas by Year-round Particles - Soot [2004] (Ranked: 12)
• American Lung Association's U.S. Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Ozone [2003] (Ranked: 9)
• American Lung Association's U.S. Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Ozone [2004] (Ranked: 9)
• American Lung Association's U.S. Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Ozone [2005] (Ranked: 15)
• American Lung Association's U.S. Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Ozone [2006] (Ranked: 14)
• America's Ten Most God-Fearing Cities (Ranked: 10)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 29]
• Cities
• Cities in Tennessee
• Cities in United States
• Forbes' Best Places By Cost of Doing Business [2009] (Ranked: 19)
• Forbes' Best Places By Projected Job Growth [2009] (Ranked: 92)
• Forbes' Best Places For Educational Attainment [2009] (Ranked: 95)
• Forbes' Best Places To Do Business [2006] (Ranked: 5)
• Forbes' Best Places To Do Business [2007] (Ranked: 5)
• Forbes' Best Places To Do Business [2009] (Ranked: 43)
• Miss USA Hosting Locations (Ranked: 1983)
• Old Spice's 100 Sweatiest U.S. Cities [2003] (Ranked: 48)
• Old Spice's 100 Sweatiest U.S. Cities [2004] (Ranked: 57)
• Old Spice's 100 Sweatiest U.S. Cities [2005] (Ranked: 50)
• Old Spice's 100 Sweatiest U.S. Cities [2006] (Ranked: 50)
• Old Spice's 100 Sweatiest U.S. Cities [2007] (Ranked: 43)
• Old Spice's 100 Sweatiest U.S. Cities [2008] (Ranked: 41)
• Profiles 29251-29500 (Ranked: 29257)
• Relocate-America's Top 100 Places to Live [April 2009]
• Satirized on the Simpsons
• Self Magazine's Healthiest US Cities for Women [2006] (Ranked: 59)
• Self Magazine's Healthiest US Cities for Women [2007] (Ranked: 51)
• Self Magazine's Healthiest US Cities for Women [2008] (Ranked: 32)
• U.S. Presidential Library Locations (Ranked: 7)
• World's Fair Host Cities (Ranked: 1982)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 26.32% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 92 Votes: 56.52% Annoying