Pikeville offers a small-town lifestyle in scenic Sequatchie Valley
The small city of Pikeville is the quiet seat of Bledsoe County, known for its scenic Sequatchie Valley setting. Sweeping views of the Cumberland Plateau and proximity to one of Tennessee’s largest state parks attact outdoorsy homebuyers. “Tennessee is big for outdoor recreation anyhow, but there’s a lot of horseback riding going on around here,” says Realtor Matthew Bleasdale of Crye-Leike Brown Real Estate, who has about a decade of experience. He says Pikeville is one of those “blink-and-you'll-miss-it type of towns,” surrounded by farmland. But its increasingly lively historic downtown district hints at a near-future growth spurt. New traffic lights are even in the works. “It’s a nice little downtown area that they’ve been fixing up and revitalizing.”
Pikeville homes sell for below the national median
Cottages, farmhouses, manufactured and ranch-style homes are common. Many have long driveways, detached garages and broad, grassy lawns shaded with tulip poplars and oaks. Eastern redbuds and dogwoods flower purple and white in the spring, while maples turn a fiery red in the fall. Prices typically range between $140,000 and $880,000. Small, manufactured homes can sell for under $100,000. Large custom-built homes can range from $1.2 million to $2.6 million. The median is around $250,000, which is below the national median of about $420,000 reported by the National Association of Realtors.
The Sequatchie River is prone to flooding, and Bledsoe County is vulnerable to tornadoes.
Above-average Bledsoe County High offers career/tech-focused electives
Pikeville is zoned to the Bledsoe County School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche. Out-of-district transfers are allowed by application. Pikeville Elementary (C-plus) serves kids between preschool and fifth grade. Older students go to Bledsoe County Middle (C) and Bledsoe County High (B-minus) between sixth and 12th grades. High schoolers may take electives at the Bledsoe County Career & Technical Center, which offers programs of study in subjects such as construction, agriculture, education and marketing.
Fall Creek Falls State Park and in-town Pikeville parks
Fall Creek Falls State Park, about 15 miles away, sprawls over nearly 30,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau. It’s one of Tennessee’s most-visited state parks, popular for rock climbing, hiking, biking, boating and fishing. The park’s 18-hole golf course hosts the annual Pikeville Fall Festival’s golf tournament in October. The autumn celebration continues with a vendor fair, a pageant and children’s activities downtown. At the south end of Main Street, the City of Pikeville Park has a playground, a paved path and picnic areas. Bledsoe County youth sports teams play at Anderson Fields, by the Bledsoe County Fairgrounds and The Lab, a modern gym and athletic training facility.
Historic downtown shopping, dining and attractions
Main Street is anchored by the County Courthouse and lined with banks, pharmacies and medical offices, including Pikeville Family Dentistry and Eye Centers of Tennessee. The walkable, historic business district is the heart of the city’s shopping and dining scene, with boutiques, antique malls and locally owned eateries. Red Bird Mercantile, a women’s clothing shop, is next to Miller’s Bread, a bakery and café with sidewalk seating. Main Street Stage hosts summer concerts next to Ember’s, a popular ice cream parlor. The Bledsoe County Public Library and historic sites, like the John Bridgman House, built in 1815 for Pikeville’s founder, and the Dr. James A. Ross House, Medical Office & Museum of Bledsoe County History, are also downtown. For groceries, the Pikeville Farmer’s Market is held at the pavilion by the library on Saturday mornings between April and September, and there’s a Piggly Wiggly nearby.
Quick access to Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital and highways
Dial-a-ride transportation is available through the Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency, or SETHRA. Rides may be reserved by calling the Bledsoe County number on the SETHRA website. Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital is within about 4 miles of most homes. The big regional employer is on the north side of town, near the intersection of State Road 30 and U.S. Route 127. Chattanooga Regional Airport is about 60 miles south via Route 127 and State Road 153.
