Kingsport, TN Summary

The city of Kingsport (population 41,300), located on the Holston River, lies in the northeastern corner of Tennessee near the borders of Virginia and North Carolina.

Nestled in historic frontier country, Kingsport saw pioneers Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone trail the Wilderness Road into Kentucky around 1775.

The town muddled along until the arrival of the railroad in 1909.

Kodak’s founder, George Eastman, was one of the industrialists who founded the Eastman Chemical Company, together with Kingsport Press, now the largest Bible manufacturer in the United States.

Though lauded as America’s “Model City,” Kingsport was one of the nation’s most polluted cities until the 1970s.

Several buildings provide the visitor with a glimpse of Kingsport’s former frontier. The Exchange Place, housed on a former plantation, was once a resting point on the Great Stage Road, as well as an important place for exchanging colonial currency. Its eight outbuildings include a granary, store, smokehouse, and the cabin quarters of the plantation’s slaves. Restored to its original condition is the Netherland Inn, dating back to 1818, which operated as a tavern and inn for nearly 100 years. On the edge of the city is Allandale Mansion, a 50-year-old edifice once dubbed Kingsport’s “White House.” Bequeathed to the city by its owner, it has some beautifully landscaped gardens.

Close to the city is Bays Mountain Park, a 3,000-acre parkland that features many species of birds, mammals, and a wealth of outdoor activities including a river barge ride. The park also has a planetarium and a natural wolf environment.

Kingsport is serviced by the Tri Cities Regional Airport and also by bus along I-81.