Kingsport, Tennessee

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"Kingsport" redirects here. For other uses, see Kingsport (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Kingston, Tennessee.

Kingsport, Tennessee
City
City of Kingsport
A Fun Fest balloon floats over Kingsport.
A Fun Fest balloon floats over Kingsport.
Nickname(s): 
The Model City[1]
Location of Kingsport in Sullivan and Hawkins counties, Tennessee
Location of Kingsport in Sullivan and Hawkins counties, Tennessee
Coordinates: 36°32′N 82°33′W / 36.533°N 82.550°W / 36.533; -82.550Coordinates: 36°32′N 82°33′W / 36.533°N 82.550°W / 36.533; -82.550
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountiesSullivan, Hawkins
Settled1771
Chartered/Rechartered1822, 1917
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorPat Shull
 • Vice MayorColette George
 • City ManagerChris McCartt
Area
[5]
 • City53.57 sq mi (138.74 km2)
 • Land52.64 sq mi (136.35 km2)
 • Water0.92 sq mi (2.39 km2)
Elevation
1,211 ft (369 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • City48,205
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
54,127
 • RankUS: 694th
 • Density1,028.17/sq mi (396.98/km2)
 • Urban
106,571 (US: 291st)
 • Metro
309,283 (US: 161st)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
37660, 37662, 37663, 37664, 37665 & 37669
Area code(s)423
FIPS code47-39560
GNIS feature ID1303478[3]
Websitewww.kingsporttn.gov

Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee; most of the city is in Sullivan County and the city is the largest in both counties, but is the county seat of neither. As of the 2010 census the population was 48,205;[2] as of 2019 the estimated population was 54,127.[6]

Kingsport is the largest city in the Kingsport–Bristol–Bristol, TN–VA, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which had a population of 309,544 as of 2010.[7] The MSA is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN–VA, Combined Statistical Area—commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region. Census data from 2006–2008 for the Tri-Cities Combined Statistical Area estimates a population of 496,454.

Kingsport is commonly included in what is known as the Mountain Empire, which spans a portion of southwest Virginia and the mountainous counties in northeastern Tennessee. The name "Kingsport" is a simplification of "King's Port", originally referring to the area on the Holston River known as King's Boat Yard, the head of navigation for the Tennessee Valley.[8]

History[]

Kingsport was developed after the Revolutionary War, at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Holston River. In 1787 it was known as "Salt Lick", for an ancient mineral lick. It was first settled along the banks of the South Fork, about a mile from the confluence. The Long Island of the Holston River is near the confluence, which is mostly within the present-day corporate boundaries of Kingsport. The island was an important site for the Cherokee, colonial pioneers and early settlers, and specifically mentioned in the 1770 Treaty of Lochaber.

Early settlements at the site were used as a staging ground for other pioneers who were traveling overland on the Wilderness Road leading to Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap. First chartered in 1822, Kingsport became an important shipping port on the Holston River. Goods originating for many miles around from the surrounding countryside were loaded onto barges for the journey downriver to the Tennessee River at Knoxville.

Kingsport in 1937

In the Battle of Kingsport (December 13, 1864) during the Civil War, a force of 300 Confederates under Colonel Richard Morgan stopped a larger Union force for nearly two days. An army of over 5,500 troops under command of Major General George Stoneman had left Knoxville to raid Confederate targets in Virginia: the salt works at Saltville, the lead works at Wytheville, and the iron works in Marion. While Col. Morgan's small band held off a main Union force under Major General Cullem Gillem on the opposite side the Holston River, Union Col. Samuel Patton took a force of cavalry to a ford in the river 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north and came down behind the Confederates. Out-numbered, out-flanked, and demoralised by the bitter winter weather, Col. Morgan surrendered. The Confederates suffered 18 dead, and 84 prisoners of war were sent to a Union prison in Knoxville.[9]

The city lost its charter after a downturn in its fortunes precipitated by the Civil War.

On September 12, 1916, Kingsport residents demanded the death of circus elephant Mary (an Asian elephant that performed in the Sparks World-famous Shows Circus). She had killed city hotel worker Walter Eldridge, who was hired by the circus the day before as an assistant elephant trainer. Eldridge was attacked and killed by the elephant while he was leading her to a pond. The elephant was impounded by the local sheriff. Leaders of several nearby towns threatened to prevent the circus from performing if it included the elephant. The circus owner, Charlie Sparks, reluctantly decided that the only way to quickly resolve the situation was to hold a public execution. On the following day, she was transported by rail to Erwin, Tennessee, where a crowd of over 2,500 people assembled in the Clinchfield Railroad yard to watch her hang from a railroad crane.[10]

Re-chartered in 1917, Kingsport was an early example of a "garden city". Part of it was designed by city planner and landscape architect John Nolen of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was nicknamed as the "Model City" from this plan, which organized the town into areas for commerce, churches, housing and industry. Most of the land on the river was devoted to industry. Most of the Long Island is now occupied by Eastman Chemical Company, which is headquartered in Kingsport. As part of this plan, Kingsport built some of the earliest traffic circles (roundabouts) in the United States.

Kingsport was among the first municipalities to adopt a city manager form of government, to professionalize operations of city departments. It developed its school system based on a model promoted by Columbia University.

Pal's Sudden Service, a regional fast-food restaurant chain, opened its first location in 1956 and is headquartered in Kingsport. In 2001, Pal's Sudden Service, won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, becoming the first restaurant company to receive the award.[11]

Geography[]

Kingsport is located in western Sullivan County at

 WikiMiniAtlas
36°32′N 82°33′W / 36.533°N 82.550°W / 36.533; -82.550 (36.5369, −82.5421),[12] at the intersection of U.S. Routes 11W and 23. Kingsport is the northwest terminus of Interstate 26. US 11W leads east 22 miles (35 km) to Bristol and southwest 28 miles (45 km) to Rogersville, while US 23 leads north 38 miles (61 km) to Big Stone Gap, Virginia. I-26 and US 23 lead south 8 miles (13 km) to Interstate 81 and 83 miles (134 km) to Asheville, North Carolina.

The city is bordered to the west by the town of Mount Carmel, to the southeast by unincorporated Colonial Heights, and to the northeast by unincorporated Bloomingdale. The Kingsport city limits extend west into Hawkins County and north to the Virginia border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 50.8 square miles (131.5 km2), of which 49.8 square miles (129.0 km2) are land and 0.93 square miles (2.4 km2), or 1.86%, are water.[2] Most of the water area is in the South Fork Holston River.

Climate[]

hideClimate data for Kingsport, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1916–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26) 		82
(28) 		89
(32) 		92
(33) 		98
(37) 		104
(40) 		102
(39) 		103
(39) 		102
(39) 		95
(35) 		83
(28) 		80
(27) 		104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 46.4
(8.0) 		50.9
(10.5) 		60.1
(15.6) 		70.5
(21.4) 		78.0
(25.6) 		84.4
(29.1) 		87.0
(30.6) 		86.3
(30.2) 		81.2
(27.3) 		70.8
(21.6) 		59.2
(15.1) 		49.5
(9.7) 		68.7
(20.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 36.9
(2.7) 		40.3
(4.6) 		48.1
(8.9) 		57.6
(14.2) 		66.0
(18.9) 		73.2
(22.9) 		76.5
(24.7) 		75.5
(24.2) 		69.8
(21.0) 		58.4
(14.7) 		47.3
(8.5) 		39.9
(4.4) 		57.5
(14.2)
Average low °F (°C) 27.3
(−2.6) 		29.6
(−1.3) 		36.2
(2.3) 		44.7
(7.1) 		54.0
(12.2) 		62.1
(16.7) 		66.0
(18.9) 		64.6
(18.1) 		58.3
(14.6) 		46.1
(7.8) 		35.5
(1.9) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		46.2
(7.9)
Record low °F (°C) −18
(−28) 		−11
(−24) 		−2
(−19) 		18
(−8) 		30
(−1) 		39
(4) 		46
(8) 		45
(7) 		32
(0) 		19
(−7) 		2
(−17) 		−7
(−22) 		−18
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.88
(99) 		4.05
(103) 		4.14
(105) 		4.05
(103) 		3.76
(96) 		3.71
(94) 		5.05
(128) 		3.81
(97) 		2.98
(76) 		2.43
(62) 		3.17
(81) 		4.00
(102) 		45.03
(1,144)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.7
(4.3) 		1.6
(4.1) 		0.7
(1.8) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		1.0
(2.5) 		5.1
(13)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 12.1 11.5 12.9 11.5 12.2 11.7 12.8 10.2 8.6 7.8 9.7 12.2 133.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.1 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 2.6
Source: NOAA[13][14]

Neighborhoods[]

There are several neighborhoods located within Kingsport, offering different lifestyles:[1]

  • Allandale
  • Amersham
  • Bloomingdale
  • Borden Village
  • Carter's Valley
  • Cliffside
  • Colonial Heights
  • Cooks Valley
  • Downtown
  • Edinburgh
  • Fairacres
  • Fort Robinson
  • Gibson Town
  • Green Acres
  • Highland Park
  • Hillcrest
  • Huntington Hills
  • Indian Springs (Fall Creek & Airport)
  • Litz Manor
  • Lynn Garden
  • Malabar Heights
  • Meadowview
  • Midtown
  • Morrison City
  • Orebank
  • Preston Forest
  • Preston Hills
  • Ridgefields
  • Riverfront
  • Riverview
  • Rock Springs
  • Sevier Terrace
  • Sullivan Gardens
  • Tellico Hills
  • White City

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19205,692—
193011,914109.3%
194014,40420.9%
195019,57135.9%
196026,31434.5%
197031,93821.4%
198032,0270.3%
199036,36513.5%
200044,90523.5%
201048,2057.3%
202055,44215.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
2018 Estimate[16]

As of the census of 2000, there were 44,905 people, 19,662 households and 12,642 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,018.9 per square mile (393.4/km2). There were 21,796 housing units at an average density of 494.6 per square mile (191.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.32% White, 4.07% African American, 0.79% Asian, 0.24% American Indian/Alaska Native, 0.02% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 0.34% some other race, and 1.06% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 19,662 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,524, and the median income for a family was $40,183. Males had a median income of $33,075 versus $23,217 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,549. About 14.2% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Municipal[]

Kingsport uses the council-manager system, which was established in 1917 when the city was re-chartered. Kingsport is governed locally by a seven-member Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The citizens elect the mayor to a two-year term and the six aldermen to four-year terms. The elections take place in odd numbered years, with the mayor and three aldermen elected every two years. New terms begin on July 1. The board elects a vice mayor from among the six aldermen. The council or board hire a professional city manager.

Current composition of BMA[]

Member Position First Elected Term Ends
Patrick W. Schull Mayor July 1st, 2019 June 30, 2023
Collete George Vice Mayor/Alderman July 1st, 2013 June 30, 2025
Betsy Cooper Alderman July 1st, 2017 June 30, 2025
Paul Montgomery Alderman July 1st, 2021 June 30, 2025
Darrel R. Duncan Alderman July 1st, 2019 June 30, 2023
James Phillips Alderman July 1st, 2019 June 30, 2023
Tommy Olterman Alderman July 1st, 2015 June 30, 2023

Past municipal election results[]

2021

In May of 2021, incumbent Mayor Patrick Schull fought off three challengers, but won with 63.8% of the vote.

2021 Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Patrick W. Schull (incumbent) 3,362 63.8
Nonpartisan Brian Woliver 1,295 24.6
Nonpartisan Michael Lathrop 567 10.6
Nonpartisan William Eugene Cody (write-in) 42 0.0
Total votes 5,266 100

Aldermen Collette George (who also serves as a county commissioner for Sullivan County) and Betsy M Cooper ran for re-election to another 4 year term and won. Alderman Jennifer Adler decided not to run for re-election. Political new-comer Paul Montgomery won the most votes in race beating out Bob Harshbarger (son of Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger), Joe Carr (who ran for Mayor in 2019), Sara Buchanan, Wesley Combs, Gerald Sensabaugh (the former Safety for the Dallas Cowboys), and J.S. Moore.

2021 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Paul W. Montgomery 2,918 19.6
Nonpartisan Collete George (incumbent) 2,264 15.2
Nonpartisan Betsy M Cooper (incumbent) 2,249 15.1
Nonpartisan Bob Harshbarger 1,924 12.9
Nonpartisan Joe Carr 1,674 11.3
Nonpartisan Sara Buchanan 1,525 10.3
Nonpartisan Wesley Combs 1,000 6.7
Nonpartisan Gerald Sensabaugh 936 6.3
Nonpartisan J.S. Moore 361 2.4
Total votes 14,869 100

2019

In 2019, county commissioner Patrick W. Schull ran for mayor and won with 42.64% of the vote, beating out former State Representative Nathan Vaughn (who also served as an alderman in the late 1990's), Mike McIntire (Vice Mayor of Kingsport), Joe Carr, and Dennis Mabb. Incumbent mayor John Clark decided not to run for re-election.

2019 Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Patrick W. Schull 2,452 42.64
Nonpartisan Nathan Vaughn 1,626 28.27
Nonpartisan Mike McIntire 1,392 24.20
Nonpartisan Joe Carr 218 3.79
Nonpartisan Dennis Mabb 63 1.10
Total votes 5,751 100

Incumbent alderman Tom Olterman ran for re-election, and won alongside Darrel R. Duncan (who ran in 2017 and 2015), and James Phillips.

2019 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Darrel R. Duncan 3,154 21.60
Nonpartisan Tom Olterman (incumbent) 2,791 19.12
Nonpartisan James Phillips 2,719 18.62
Nonpartisan Chris Bulle 2,481 16.99
Nonpartisan Charles D. Honaker Jr. 2,313 15.84
Nonpartisan Chris Mills 1,141 7.82
Total votes 14,599 100

2017

Incumbent Mayor John Clark won re-election with no opposition.

2017 Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Clark (incumbent) 2,449 100
Total votes 2,449 100

Alderman Collette George ran for re-election to a second four year term as Alderman of Kingsport. Joining her are Betsy Cooper and Jennifer Adler. The three beat out Darrell Duncan (who would win in 2019), Robert H Williams, F.D. Cross II, Mark Vicars Jr, and businessman Robert Ellis.

2017 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Collette George (incumbent) 2,054 20.50
Nonpartisan Betsy M. Cooper 1,755 17.52
Nonpartisan Jennifer Adler 1,472 14.69
Nonpartisan Darrell R. Duncan 1,449 14.46
Nonpartisan Robert H. Williams 1,195 11.93
Nonpartisan F.D. Rack Cross II 893 8.91
Nonpartisan Mark Vicars Jr. 794 7.92
Nonpartisan Robert Ellis 407 4.06
Total votes 14,599 100

2015

Incumbent mayor Dennis Phillips decided not to run for re-election, instead Alderman John Clark ran and took his place. He beat out former State Representative and Alderman Nathan Vaughn, Alderman Tom Parham, Mike Freeman, and 2013 runner-up Gary Lane.

2015 Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Clark 2,655 41.36
Nonpartisan Nathan Vaughn 1,570 24.46
Nonpartisan Tom Parham 1,238 19.29
Nonpartisan Mike Freeman 543 8.46
Nonpartisan Gary Lane 413 6.43
Total votes 6,419 100

Mike McIntire ran for re-election and won. Thomas Segelhorst ran for re-election and lost.

2015 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Mike McIntire (incumbent) 2,754 16.79
Nonpartisan Michele Mitchell 2,461 15.00
Nonpartisan Tommy Olterman 2,146 13.08
Nonpartisan Darrell R. Duncan 2,070 12.62
Nonpartisan Thomas K. Segelhorst (incumbent) 1,784 10.88
Nonpartisan Robert Ellis 1,726 10.52
Nonpartisan William Sumner 1,693 10.32
Nonpartisan Jessie Hensley 938 5.72
Nonpartisan J.S. Moore 487 2.97
Nonpartisan Brad Tingelhoff 344 2.10
Total votes 15,412 100

2013

2013 Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Dennis R. Phillips (incumbent) 2,462 57.10
Nonpartisan Gary Lane 1,850 42.90
Total votes 4,312 100
2013 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan John Clark 2,788 24.14
Nonpartisan Tom Parham (incumbent) 2,596 22.47
Nonpartisan Collette George 2,490 21.56
Nonpartisan Linda D. Buckles 2,019 17.48
Nonpartisan Eric Kerney 1,658 14.35
Total votes 11,551 86.58

2011

2011 Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Dennis R. Phillips (incumbent) 1,493 100
Total votes 1,493 100
2011 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Mike McIntire 1,805 21.34
Nonpartisan Jantry Shupe (incumbent) 1,718 20.31
Nonpartisan Tom Segelhorst 1,632 19.29
Nonpartisan Mike Locke 1,621 19.16
Nonpartisan Michael Smelser 995 11.77
Nonpartisan Bill Hillman 414 4.89
Nonpartisan Rod Monroe 273 3.23
Total votes 8,459 100

State[]

The Sullivan County portion of Kingsport is represented in the Tennessee House of Representatives by the 1st and 2nd State Representative districts and the Hawkins County portion by the 6th district. Currently serving in these positions are Representatives John Crawford, Bud Hulsey, and Scotty Campbell respectively.[17] In the Tennessee State Senate, the Sullivan County portion of Kingsport is represented by the 4th Senatorial District and the Hawkins County portion by the 8th district. State Senator Jon Lundberg and State Senator Frank Niceley currently serve in these positions. All of these elected officials are members of the Republican Party.[18]

Federal[]

Kingsport is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Republican Diana Harshbarger of the 1st congressional district.

Education[]

Colleges and universities[]

While no college or university has its main campus within the city, these institutions have branch campuses in Kingsport:

  • East Tennessee State University
  • King University
  • Lincoln Memorial University
  • Milligan University
  • Northeast State Community College

King, Lincoln Memorial, Milligan and Northeast State are all located in the Kingsport Academic Village complex in downtown Kingsport.[19][20] East Tennessee State offers general education courses in the Hawkins County (westernmost) portion of the city, with more advanced courses at the Academic Village.[21]

Kingsport City Schools[]

Residents of Kingsport are served by the Kingsport City Schools public school system. It operates eight elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. In addition, Kingsport has eight private academies, most with religious affiliation.

List of Kingsport city schools
  • John Adams Elementary School
  • Andrew Jackson Elementary School
  • Andrew Johnson Elementary School
  • John F. Kennedy Elementary School
  • Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
  • Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
  • George Washington Elementary School
  • Ross N. Robinson Middle School
  • John Sevier Middle School
  • Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Cora Cox Academy (formerly New Horizons Alternative School)
  • Dobyns-Bennett Excel[22][23]

Former school for African-Americans[]

Douglass High School in Kingsport was one of the largest African-American high schools in the region when it closed for desegregation in 1966.[24] The school's former building on East Walnut Avenue (now East Sevier Avenue) was a historic Rosenwald School, built in 1929–30 with a combination of funds from the city, private citizens and the Rosenwald Fund. Although during the years of segregation the Douglass Tigers football team was not allowed to play white teams, the Tigers won a Tennessee state football championship a state basketball championship in 1946, and a state basketball championship in 1948. The present building, built in 1951 at 301 Louis Street, is now the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex, named for Douglass' former principal.

Medical[]

Kingsport is the location of two hospitals:

  • Holston Valley Medical Center
  • Indian Path Community Hospital

Military[]

  • The vessel SS Kingsport Victory, which later became USNS Kingsport, was named in honor of the city.

Notable people[]

  • Lisa Alther, author, born and grew up in Kingsport
  • Edward L. Ayers, Bancroft Prize-winning historian and ninth president of the University of Richmond, raised in Kingsport
  • Barry Bales, Grammy Award-winning musician with Alison Krauss and Union Station
  • Fredrick 'Pal' Barger, founder of Pal's Sudden Service
  • James F. Barker, president of Clemson University (1999–2013)
  • Nick Castle, actor who played Michael Myers in the original Halloween, was born in Kingsport and makes appearances at the local haunted houses.
  • Jeff Chapman-Crane, Appalachian artist
  • Harry Coover, inventor of Super Glue
  • Denny Crawford, professional football player
  • Amy Dalley, country music artist
  • Bobby Dodd, College Football Hall of Fame inductee as both a football player (University of Tennessee) and coach (Georgia Institute of Technology)
  • Bobby Eaton, professional wrestler
  • Elle and Blair Fowler, online beauty retailers who spent part of their childhoods in Kingsport
  • Daniel Kilgore, professional football player, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Cliff Kresge, Nationwide Tour golfer who splits his time between homes in Kingsport and Florida
  • Blake Leeper, Paralympic silver medallist[25]
  • Cripple Clarence Lofton, noted boogie-woogie pianist and singer, born in Kingsport
  • Matt Mahaffey, musician, frontman of pop/rock band Self
  • Brownie and Stick McGhee, brothers and blues musicians, grew up in Kingsport and other East Tennessee towns
  • Ken Mellons, country music artist
  • John Palmer, former NBC News correspondent, born in Kingsport and a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Jimmy Quillen, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (1963–1997)
  • John Shelton Reed, sociologist and essayist, author or editor of eighteen books, most of them dealing with the contemporary American South
  • Selwa Showker "Lucky" Roosevelt, Chief of Protocol of the United States from 1982-1989 and former journalist for the Washington Post, married Archibald B. Roosevelt, grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt
  • Coty Sensabaugh, cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Gerald Sensabaugh, retired NFL cornerback, played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys
  • LeRoy Sprankle, high school multi-sport coach, author, and general manager of the
  • Adam Steffey, bluegrass artist
  • Bill Streever, biologist and author
  • Cyrus Thomas, entomologist and ethnologist
  • Steven Williams, actor who starred in 21 Jump Street and The Blues Brothers
  • Charles Wright, poet who spent part of his childhood and adult life in Kingsport

Local media[]

Newspapers[]

Television[]

Kingsport shares a television market with Johnson City and Bristol, VA. WCYB-TV (NBC; THE CW on DT2) in Bristol, WEMT-TV (FOX) in Greeneville, WETP-TV (PBS) in Sneedville and WJHL-TV (CBS; ABC on DT2 aka ABC Tri-Cities) in Johnson City that's all to serve Kingsport.

AM radio[]

FM radio[]

Sports[]

A black and white photograph of thirteen men arranged in two rows, standing and kneeling, on a baseball field. They are wearing light baseball uniforms with dark stripes and "Kingsport" written on the chest.
The 1921 Kingsport Indians were the first professional baseball team from Kingsport.

The city is home to the Kingsport Axmen, a collegiate summer baseball team of the Appalachian League.[26] The nickname is in reference to frontiersman Daniel Boone, who began the Wilderness Road in Kingsport.[26] The Axmen play their home games at Hunter Wright Stadium,[27] which is named after former mayor Hunter Wright.[28]

Professional baseball was first played in Kingsport, by the Kingsport Indians in the Appalachian League from 1921 to 1925.[29] The team went dormant for 12 years before it returned to the circuit as the Kingsport Cherokees from 1938 to 1955—with the exception of the 1942 season as the Kingsport Dodgers and as members of the Mountain States League in 1953 and 1954.[29] The club was later known as the Kingsport Orioles (1957), Kingsport Pirates (1960–1963), Kingsport Royals (1969–1973), and Kingsport Braves (1974–1979).[29] The Kingsport Mets were members of the Appy League from 1980 to 2020, except for the 1983 season when the New York Mets temporarily relocated the team to Sarasota, Florida, as the Gulf Coast League Mets, while their home ballpark was being renovated.[29] In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Mets were replaced by the Axmen, a new franchise in the revamped league designed for rising college freshman and sophomores.[30]

Economy[]

Eastman Chemical Company has its world headquarters in Kingsport.[31] Domtar operates a paper mill in Kingsport. Domtar has temporarily shut this plant down from uncoated freesheet paper manufacturing and plans to convert the plant by 2023 to be able to create containerboard.[32] Holston Army Ammunition Plant operated by BAE Systems' Ordnance Systems, Inc. manufactures a wide range of secondary detonating explosives for the Department of Defense.[33]

In 2019, Kingsport's gross metropolitan product was reported to be US$14.1 billion.[8]

Recreation[]

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation manages several parks within the city.

Kingsport Police Department[]

Kingsport Police Department
AbbreviationKPD
Agency overview
Formed1917
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionKingsport, Tennessee, United States
General nature
  • Local civilian police
Operational structure
Sworn members99
Unsworn members57
Agency executive
  • Dale Phipps, Interim Police Chief
Website
http://police.kingsporttn.gov

Kingsport Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency for the city.[34]

In 2006, the KPD consisted of 104 sworn officers, 44 full-time non-sworn officers, and 17 part-time non sworn officers.[35] The budget for 2005 was $8,602,800.[36] The KPD has twelve SWAT members that train regularly. KPD SWAT responded to thirteen emergency calls during 2005.[37]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Welcome to Our Kingsport Neighborhoods". Kingsport Maps. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Kingsport city, Tennessee". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  6. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. ^ U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Demographic Profile Data, Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Kingsport, TN". Best Places for Business and Careers 2019. Forbes. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Thomas R. Ramsey, Jr., The Raid, (Kingsport Press, 1973)
  10. ^ Schroeder, Joan V. "The Day They Hanged an Elephant in East Tennessee", Blue Ridge Country
  11. ^ Reuters: Pal's Sudden Service Shares Secret of its Success
  12. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  14. ^ "Station: Kingsport, TN". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  15. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  16. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "Tennessee House of Representatives, Members". Archived from the original on October 27, 2008.
  18. ^ "Tennessee State Senate, Members". Archived from the original on September 19, 2008.
  19. ^ Wagner, Rick (May 3, 2016). "Tusculum, UT leave Kingsport Higher Education Center". Kingsport Times-News. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "About KAV - The Kingsport Academic Village". The Kingsport Academic Village. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "ETSU at Kingsport". www.etsu.edu. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  22. ^ "D-B EXCEL". dbexcel.k12k.com. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  23. ^ Hinds, Allie (February 14, 2017). "Alternative high school experience "DB-Excel" gets new home in Kingsport". WJHL. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  24. ^ "Douglass High School (1926-1966) - 1A 143 - Kingsport, TN - Tennessee Historical Markers on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com.
  25. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b McClung, Andrew (February 5, 2021). "Kingsport Appy League Team Unveils 'Axmen' as New Name". WCYB. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  27. ^ "Hunter Wright Stadium". Kingsport Axmen. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  28. ^ "Hunter Wright Stadium information". Kingsport Mets. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Kingsport, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  30. ^ "MLB, USA Baseball Announce New Format for Appalachian League". Major League Baseball. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  31. ^ "About Eastman Chemical Company". www.eastman.com.
  32. ^ "Kingsport Paper Mill - Domtar". www.domtar.com.
  33. ^ "The United States Army - Joint Munitions Command". www.jmc.army.mil. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  34. ^ Kingsport Police Department Archived April 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Kingsport Police Department, Annual Report Archived December 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ Kingsport Police Department, Budget Archived April 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ Kingsport Police Department, Swat Team Archived April 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

Further reading[]

  • Long, Howard. Kingsport: A Romance of Industry. Overmountain Press (October 1993) 304 pages. ISBN 0-932807-89-5
  • Spoden, Muriel Millar Clark. The Long Island of the Holston: Sacred Island of the Cherokee Nation. (1977) 32 pages. ASIN: B0006WOGAM
  • Wolfe, Margaret Ripley. Kingsport Tennessee: A Planned American City. University Press of Kentucky (November 1987) 259 pages. ISBN 0-8131-1624-4
  • Kingsport Tennessee: The Planned Industrial City, Kingsport Rotary Club, 1946.

External links[]

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