2021 FACT BOOK s u l l i v a n c o u n t y Buying a House That Needs Work? Get a Purchase Plus Mortgage 100% financing plus up to $30,000 for upgrades or renovations Certain restrictions apply Apply Online Today! Important Information: Interest on the portion of the credit extension that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes; and the consumer should consult with a tax adviser for further information regarding the deductibility of interest and charges. Subject to credit approval. Certain restrictions apply. 800.999.2328 2 FACT BOOK JANUARY 2019 Contents Page 4-5 Why Kingsport Page 6-7 What We Make Page 8-11 Education Page 12 Best Things About Sullivan County Page 14-15 Entertainment Welcome Page 18 Transportation From the desk of Richard Venable Page 20 Ballad Health Welcome to the 2021 Sullivan County Fact Book! Page 22 Sullivan County History Page 24 Tri Cities Airport This book offers a comprehensive look at what makes Sullivan County such a special place and truly the jewel of Northeast Tennessee. Written and assembled Page 26-29 Sullivan County statistics and facts by the staff of the Kingsport Times News, the 2021 Sullivan County Fact Book represents the best of our county and what makes it unique. Page 28 Bristol Motor Speedway The pages that follow tell the story of our compelling history, as well as our Page 30-31 Outdoor Recreation business and industrial communities that keep our economy robust. Combine those stories with the snapshots of the amenities that draw people here and you have a broad vision of those of us who already call Sullivan County home and why we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The 2021 Sullivan County Fact Book quite simply tells the story of how we came to be, who we are, and offers a few glimpses into our bright, promising future. So sit back and enjoy. And welcome to this tour of my home, Sullivan County, Tennessee! Richard Venable County Mayor Sullivan County, TN Copyright 2020. Kingsport Publishing Company FACT BOOK JANUARY 2021 3 Why Kingsport? By Jeff Fleming When you live with someone or something every day, you tend to take it for granted. It’s no differ- ent with the place you choose to call home. Companies like Hallmark have built their entire business on the premise of appreciation. They successfully translated the concept to television and each year millions of viewers tune in to vicari- ously experience that perfect place. In the past, jealousy and FOMO (fear of missing out) led many to seek a fast-paced urban environ- ment in a never-ending effort to ‘keep up with the Joneses’. But there’s a new term, “JOMO” (joy of missing out.) The pandemic taught us to slow down, value our interpersonal relationships, seek work-life For child-rearing millennials, there are great protected local, state, and national parklands that balance, and search out smaller places with schools and a strong sense of family – and sports afford unparalleled recreational opportunities. amazing public amenities. facilities. The four season climate changes in equivalent three month periods, shaving off the stifling heat When you take inventory of what really mat- For retirees, it’s a great place to stretch those of summer or prolonged freezing of winter. Our ters…friendly neighbors, great neighborhoods, retirement funds as far as possible – and stay fall foliage is like New England, and our spring excellent schools, churches, safety, local shops/ active. blooms rival the cherry blossoms in Washington, restaurants, a vibrant arts and music community, DC. and a strong feeling of belonging…Kingsport is a For remote workers, you can telecommute pretty special place. anywhere in the world from here (and lower your Our built environment is pretty special, too. Not costs). many towns were master-planned by one of For debt-burdened graduates, Kingsport is one of America’s foremost town planners. The handi- the most affordable places in America. Kingsport enjoys natural assets that are just that work is still evident today – more than 100 years – natural. We’re surrounded by the tallest peaks later – with ample streets, schools, sidewalks, in eastern North America. A recent map by NOAA trees, parks, and playgrounds throughout. In illustrates a history of tornado tracks, clearly many ways, a street scene in Kingsport re- highlighting the protective shelter of the surround- sembles an early 20th century Norman Rockwell ing mountains. Just a little east or west and that painting. shelter disappears. The New York Times featured the ‘safest places to avoid a natural disaster’ There are no traffic jams or lengthy commutes. (wildfire, earthquake, hurricane) and Kingsport is Interstates 81 and 26 provide easy access to at the top of the list. 70% of the nation’s population – or if you prefer, Tri Cities Airport is served by Delta, American, Our water, sourced from the headwaters of the and Allegiant. And we’re equidistant from the continental divide, are as naturally-pristine as Atlantic Ocean, Mississippi River, Great Lakes it gets. We’re blessed with millions of acres of and the Gulf. 4 FACT BOOK JANUARY 2021 Our region boasts three tertiary care medical oceanography, robotics, and coding. And the ‘x-factor’…the Kingsport Spirit. Since its centers and an integrated network of healthcare very inception, Kingsport has had a philanthropic providers. East Tennessee State University is Last, but not least, Tennessee’s tax advantages heart for people helping people. home to one of Tennessee’s two public medical are simply unparalleled. With no income tax, schools and Mountain Home VA Center provides low property tax, no layers of special taxes (like When you add it all up, Kingsport is big enough to convenient, accessible care for veterans. schools, fire), no taxes on inheritance/estates, no have excellent amenities, but small enough for a wheel tax, no annual tax on vehicles, boats, or hometown feel at an incredibly affordable price. Kingsport is the corporate headquarters of East- RV’s, it sounds almost too good to be true – but Many are beginning to discover this hidden gem man, a Fortune 500 company, which attracts it is. Utility costs are exceedingly affordable and that we simply call home. diverse, global talent with a cosmopolitan outlook our city provides amazing services directly to your that drives our schools to offer coursework in curbside. Town and Country Realty is a locally owned and operated business providing profes- sional real estate service since 1981 to the Northeast Ten- nessee and Southwest Virginia areas. Our Professional Realtors® and staff have years of listing, marketing, selling, referral and relocation experiences to assist buyers and sellers alike. We are dedicated to making the sale or purchase of property easy, efficient and enjoyable. Our goal at Town and Country Realty, whether buying or selling, is to facilitate a very positive experience. Town & Country Realty believes education and training for every phase of a real estate career is a top priority. Real estate is an ever-changing business and staying on the cutting edge is critical to success. Our website, www.townandcountryrealty.org aggressively markets the homes listed within the Tennessee/Virginia Regional MLS and the Southwest Virginia MLS. With a strong presence on realtor.com, we are also able to showcase properties world- wide. 423.245.8212 Office * 304 E. Center Street, Kingsport, TN * 423.245.8313 Fax FACT BOOK JANUARY 2021 5 What we make Northeast Tennessee is home to key manu- facturers who make things for the nation and the planet. EASTMAN Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. Eastman makes specialty products that go and textiles which cannot be mechanically BAE SYSTEMS into housewares, medical devices, textiles and recycled or are difficult to recycle,” Eastman With BAE Systems as its contractor, the tires, for example. says. “These scale technologies can comple- Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HAAP) ment current mechanical recycling technolo- manufactures a wide range of explosives for Eastman employs approximately 14,500 gies and enable brand owners and others the U.S. Department of Defense at the 6,042- people around the world and serves custom- in the value chain to achieve their ambitious acre site. ers in more than 100 countries. The company goals for waste reduction and commitments had 2019 revenues of approximately $9.3 on recycled content.” An ongoing modernization effort at the facility billion and is headquartered in Kingsport. calls for decommissioning a coal steam plant DOMTAR by 2023 and bringing a natural gas steam Eastman is committed to working across the Domtar is closing the uncoated freesheet plant online in 2021. An expansion of its in- value chain to create real and actionable manufacturing operation at its Kingsport mill dustrial waste water treatment plant happened solutions towards a true circular economy. and the Ridgefields converting center, but will in 2020. Eastman believes that sustainable solutions enter the linerboard packaging market with the to plastic waste are in reach and is deter- conversion of the Kingsport paper machine. BELL HELICOPTER mined to play its part in the world’s collective In Piney Flats, Bell Helicopter’s Tennessee response. When Domtar idled the mill in April, the facility Service Center can do customization, repair employed 304 workers. The converted mill is and overhaul, or maintenance. “We have developed, operated and proven expected to directly employ approximately 160 technologies that unlock value in plastics workers. A payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a agreement calls on Domtar to maintain a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – Bell minimum of 140 full-time jobs.