Sevier County didn’t need a magazine to tell the world we’re a great spot for retirees. Those who have chosen this area for their post-work years already know it.

Retirement Lifestyles Magazine, a quarterly publication which claims a circulation of around 100,000, put Sevier County on its list of the top 11 “retirement hotspots” in the South.

It’s no wonder. Our property taxes are the lowest in the state. We have mountains. We have attractions like Dollywood and the aquarium. Dollywood provides employment for hundreds of retirees each year. The medical care available in both Sevier and Knox counties is second to none. Our Senior Center offers activities every weekday — many of them free.

Yes, housing in Sevier County can be steep, but there are options, and a growing number of units set aside for seniors that come with subsidized rents. We have walking trails, outstanding recreation centers in each city, and public transportation that can take you from Sevierville to Gatlinburg for pennies.

While Sevier County has battled the effects of the recession, its tourism economy is relatively stable. No great swings up or down that can create problems.

And of course, we have Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with walking trails, gorgeous scenery, Cades Cove, elk, waterfalls and volunteer opportunities. Almost everything you can do in the Smokies is free and it’s a wonderful source of exercise to keep fit.

Is Sevier County perfect? What place for retirees is? One can find fault with any community. However, our assets overwhelm our downsides. We have so much to offer retirees, and that’s why Sevier County is drawing more attention such as the rating from Retirement Lifestyles Magazine.

Communities across America are actively recruiting seniors to come to their areas to live after their working days are over. The competition for this segment of society is intense. But few of those places can match us for quality of life and community assets.

Favorable attention such as what we got from the magazine will enhance our stature among retirees and make us even more desirable as a place to settle after retirement.