Kingsport, Tennessee

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

Kingsport
City
Broad Street in Downtown Kingsport
Broad Street in Downtown Kingsport
Flag of Kingsport
Flag
Official seal of Kingsport
Seal
Official logo of Kingsport
Logo
Nickname: 
The Model City[1]
Location of Kingsport in Sullivan and Hawkins counties, Tennessee
Location of Kingsport in Sullivan and Hawkins counties, Tennessee
Kingsport is located in Tennessee
Kingsport
Kingsport
Kingsport is located in the United States
Kingsport
Kingsport
Coordinates: 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
 • MayorPatrick Shull
 • City ManagerChris McCartt
Area
[2]
 • City
53.52 sq mi (138.63 km2)
 • Land52.60 sq mi (136.24 km2)
 • Water0.92 sq mi (2.38 km2)
Elevation
1,211 ft (369 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • City
55,442
 • Rank12th in Tennessee
 • Density1,053.95/sq mi (406.93/km2)
 • Urban
98,411 (US: 316th) [3]
 • Metro
309,283 (US: 161st)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
37660, 37662, 37663, 37664, 37665 & 37669
Area code423
FIPS code47-39560
GNIS feature ID1303478[5]
Websitewww.kingsporttn.gov

Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, its population was 55,442.[6] Lying along the Holston River, 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. It is the largest city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, which had a population of 307,613 in 2020.[7] The metro area is a component of the larger Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, with a population of 508,260 in 2020.

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]

  1. ^ "Welcome to Our Kingsport Neighborhoods". Kingsport Maps. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "Quickfacts: Kingsport city, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. August 12, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  8. ^ "Kingsport, TN". Best Places for Business and Careers 2019. Forbes. Retrieved October 30, 2020.