TECHNICAL REPORT SERIES:

DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE'S
RESIDENTS AND WORKERS

June 2004

In this Report:

• Introduction
• The People Who Live Downtown
• The Demographic Characteristics of Downtown Residents
• Defining Downtown Knoxville
• The People Who Work Downtown
• The Demographic Characteristics of Downtown Workers

For most American cities, the downtown core serves as the cultural, social, and economic heart of the community. It is the city’s public and corporate face, the center in which people gather to live, work, and play. Post-World War II suburbanization led to a major shift in the residential and commercial functions of America’s downtowns, but they remain today essential urban centers.

Knoxville’s downtown is no exception. It is home to the city’s highest employment density, with workers in major corporate headquarters, service operations, and government offices. It offers attractions such as the Old City and Market Square, with shopping and festival opportunities. In addition, the area supports a residential component for those wanting to live in the center city.

This report examines the characteristics of the thousands of people who work downtown and those who have made it their home. The two groups are very different and will be studied in terms of demographic traits such as age, race, education, employment, and income.