Community culture

How do y’all feel about making friends in Knoxville? I’ve had friends and acquaintances move to other cities from here and they say they find them much friendlier and more easy going when it comes to meeting people. Does the community culture here feel a bit cliquey and difficult to anyone else? If so, why do you think that is? I’m not a Knoxville native but I have lived here about 11 years.