TELLICO VILLAGE, Tenn. — A scenic retirement community in Loudon County is bringing in money and new residents to the area.
According to the Tellico Village Property Owner's Association, the community has almost 11,000 members. It grew by 511 people from 2022 to 2023, boasting a 5% population growth.
Loudon County's population grew from 58,244 people in 2022 to 60,591 in 2023, a 4% population growth.
Tellico Village is not a city, but community members pay a monthly $170 fee to the Tellico Village Property Owner's Association. The fee pays for roads, sewers, water and amenities like the golf course and a yacht club.
"Absolutely an economic boom for Loudon County," said Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw. "Most of the folks out there, they don't have children in our schools. Like most counties in the state, we depend heavily on property tax. They're building very nice homes. And so we're getting good revenue out of that community."
Mayor Bradshaw said the unique community faces unique challenges.
"Their revenue streams are a little bit more limited than what the counties or a city would have," Bradshaw said. "So that makes its own problems, nothing's getting cheaper."
Kevin Kelly and his wife moved to the unincorporated community in 2019 from Long Island, in New York. They enjoy Tellico Lake through the Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Team, where members race in a 20-person canoe.
"Tellico Village has grown exponentially during that five years," Kelly said. "The secret's out. It's beautiful, and the cost of living, low taxes."