A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Bristol, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 State Street in downtown Bristol, Tennessee (left) and Bristol, Virginia (right) | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
| Nickname: The Birthplace of Country Music | |
| Motto: A Good Place to Live | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 36°36′N 82°11′W / 36.600°N 82.183°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Independent city |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| • Mayor | Becky Nave |
| • Vice Mayor | Jake Holmes |
| • City Manager | Randall C. Eads |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.00 sq mi (33.66 km2) |
| • Land | 12.87 sq mi (33.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.32 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,680 ft (512 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 17,219 |
| • Density | 1,300/sq mi (510/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 24201, 24202 |
| Area code | 276 |
| FIPS code | 51-09816[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492633[3] |
| Website | www |
Bristol is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,219.[4] It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State Street. It is surrounded on three sides by Washington County, Virginia, which is combined with the city for statistical purposes. It is a principal city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, which had a population of 307,614 in 2020.[5] The metro area is a component of the larger Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, with a population of 508,260 in 2020.
History
Evan Shelby first appeared in what is now the Bristol area around 1765. In 1766, Shelby moved his family and settled at a place called Big Camp Meet (now Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia). It is said that Cherokee Indians once inhabited the area and the Indian village was named, according to legend, because numerous deer and buffalo met here to feast in the canebrakes. Shelby renamed the site Sapling Grove (which would later be changed to Bristol). In 1774, Shelby erected a fort on a hill overlooking what is now downtown Bristol. It was an important stopping-off place for notables such as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark, as well as hundreds of pioneers' en route to the interior of the developing nation. This fort, known as Shelby's Station was actually a combination trading post, way station, and stockade.[6]
By the mid-nineteenth century, when surveyors projected a junction of two railroad lines at the Virginia-Tennessee state line, Reverend James King conveyed much of his acreage to his son-in-law, Joseph R. Anderson. Anderson laid out the original town of Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia and building began in 1853.[6]
Samuel Goodson, who owned land that adjoined the original town of Bristol TN/VA at its northern boundary (Beaver Creek was the dividing line), started a development known as Goodsonville. Anderson was unable to incorporate Bristol across the state lines of Tennessee and Virginia. In 1856, Goodsonville and the original Bristol, Virginia were merged to form the composite town of Goodson, Virginia.[6]
Incorporation for Bristol, Tennessee and Goodson, Virginia occurred in 1856. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroads reached the cities in the late summer of 1856. Due to having two different railroads companies, two depots served the cities; one in Bristol, Tenn. and the other in Goodson, Va. However, the depot located in Goodson continued to be referred to as Bristol, Virginia. In 1890, Goodson, Virginia once again took the name Bristol.[6]
The Grove, Solar Hill Historic District, and Walnut Grove are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
Geography
Bristol is in southwestern Virginia.[8] It is bordered to the west, north, and east by Washington County, Virginia, and to the south by the city of Bristol in Sullivan County, Tennessee.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34.1 km2), of which 13.0 square miles (33.7 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 1.07%, is water.[9] Little Creek and Beaver Creek flow south through the city; Little Creek flows into Beaver Creek two blocks south of the state line in Tennessee. Beaver Creek is a tributary of the South Fork Holston River.
The city is served by Interstates 81 and 381, and by U.S. Routes 11, 19, 58, and 421. I-81 leads northeast 149 miles (240 km) to Roanoke, Virginia, and southwest 113 miles (182 km) to Knoxville, Tennessee. Interstate 381 (I-381) is a spur from Interstate 81 that provides access to Bristol, Virginia, United States. It runs for 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) from the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue (State Route 381) and Keys/Church Streets in Bristol at exit 0 north to Interstate 81. The I-81 interchange, the only one on I-381, is signed as exits 1A (I-81 north) and 1B (I-81 south). US 11 and US 19, running parallel to I-81, lead northeast 15 miles (24 km) to Abingdon, Virginia. US 11 splits into routes 11W and 11E in Bristol; US 11W leads west-southwest 23 miles (37 km) to Kingsport, Tennessee, while US 11E and US 19 lead south-southwest 25 miles (40 km) to Johnson City, Tennessee. US 58 runs with I-81 northeast for 17 miles (27 km) before splitting off to the east just beyond Abingdon; US 58 and 421 together lead west 27 miles (43 km) to Weber City, Virginia. US 421 leads southeast 33 miles (53 km) to Mountain City, Tennessee.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Bristol has a marine west coast climate abbreviated as Cfb.[10]
| Climate data for Bristol-Johnson City Area (1991-2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.5 (8.1) |
50.9 (10.5) |
59.4 (15.2) |
69.4 (20.8) |
77.1 (25.1) |
83.8 (28.8) |
86.4 (30.2) |
85.8 (29.9) |
80.7 (27.1) |
70.2 (21.2) |
58.7 (14.8) |
49.5 (9.7) |
68.2 (20.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 36.4 (2.4) |
40.0 (4.4) |
47.4 (8.6) |
56.4 (13.6) |
64.7 (18.2) |
72.3 (22.4) |
75.6 (24.2) |
74.5 (23.6) |
68.6 (20.3) |
57.3 (14.1) |
46.4 (8.0) |
39.3 (4.1) |
56.6 (13.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.3 (−3.2) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
35.4 (1.9) |
43.3 (6.3) |
52.3 (11.3) |
60.7 (15.9) |
64.7 (18.2) |
63.2 (17.3) |
56.4 (13.6) |
44.3 (6.8) |
34.2 (1.2) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
44.9 (7.2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.65 (93) |
3.81 (97) |
3.96 (101) |
3.79 (96) |
3.82 (97) |
3.92 (100) |
5 (130) |
3.76 (96) |
2.84 (72) |
2.52 (64) |
3.14 (80) |
3.76 (96) |
43.97 (1,122) |
| Source: NOAA[11] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,562 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,902 | 85.8% | |
| 1900 | 4,579 | 57.8% | |
| 1910 | 6,247 | 36.4% | |
| 1920 | 6,729 | 7.7% | |
| 1930 | 8,840 | 31.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,768 | 10.5% | |
| 1950 | 15,954 | 63.3% | |
| 1960 | 17,144 | 7.5% | |
| 1970 | 14,857 | −13.3% | |
| 1980 | 19,042 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 18,426 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 17,367 | −5.7% | |
| 2010 | 17,835 | 2.7% | |
| 2020 | 17,219 | −3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17] | |||
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 16,099 | 14,652 | 90.27% | 85.09% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,000 | 1,008 | 5.61% | 5.85% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 49 | 55 | 0.27% | 0.32% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 121 | 159 | 0.68% | 0.92% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 4 | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 24 | 36 | 0.13% | 0.21% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 317 | 850 | 1.78% | 4.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 221 | 455 | 1.24% | 2.64% |
| Total | 17,835 | 17,219 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 17,367 people, 7,678 households, and 4,798 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,346.4 inhabitants per square mile (519.8/km2). There were 8,469 housing units at an average density of 656.6 units per square mile (253.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.54% White, 5.57% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,678 households, out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,389, and the median income for a family was $34,266. Males had a median income of $28,420 versus $20,967 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,311. About 13.2% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to Bristol's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[19] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Bristol | 676 |
| 2 | Electro-Mechanical Corporation | 600 |
| 3 | OfficeMax | 500 |
| 4 | Sprint PCS | 428 |
| 5 | US Solutions | 367 |
| 6 | Strongwell | 350 |
| 7 | Commonwealth of Virginia | 250 |
| 8 | Shearer's Foods | 225 |
| 9 | Ball | 218 |
| 10 | Aerus | 201 |
| 11 | United Parcel Service | 193 |
Culture
"Birthplace of Country Music"
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Bristol was recognized as the "Birthplace of Country Music", according to a resolution passed by the US Congress in 1998;[20] residents of the city had contributed to early country music recordings and influence, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located in Bristol.
In 1927 record producer Ralph Peer of Victor Records began recording local musicians in Bristol to attempt to capture the local sound of traditional "folk" music of the region. One of these local sounds was created by the Carter Family. The Carter Family got their start on July 31, 1927, when A.P. Carter and his family journeyed from Maces Spring, Virginia, to Bristol, Tennessee, to audition for Peer who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded.
On the early hours of January 1, 1953, Hank Williams stopped in Bristol during some of the last moments of his life. He was being driven to a concert in Canton, Ohio by Charles Carr. Carr stopped outside a hamburger joint today named Burger Bar and asked Williams if he wanted to eat, to which Williams responded negatively.[21]
Since 1994, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has promoted the city as a destination to learn about the history of the region and its role in the creation of an entire music genre. The Alliance is organizing the building of a new Cultural Heritage Center to help educate the public about the history of country music in the region.[22]
Professional sports
Bristol hosted the Bristol Pirates baseball team of the Appalachian League from 1969 to 2020. 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 Pirates were replaced by a new franchise named the Bristol State Liners[23] in the revamped league designed for rising college freshman and sophomores.[24]
Former NASCAR driver Kelly Denton is from the city.
On the Tennessee side, Bristol is home to Bristol Motor Speedway, the "world's fastest half mile", which hosts two NASCAR CUP SERIES races, two races per year on the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one race per year on the GANDER RV and OUTDOORS Truck Series, and various other racing events. The complex includes the Bristol Dragway, nicknamed "Thunder Valley", referencing the hills that echo the engine noise back toward the crowd.
Government
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 5,347 | 68.50% | 2,313 | 29.63% | 146 | 1.87% |
| 2016 | 4,892 | 69.62% | 1,835 | 26.11% | 300 | 4.27% |
| 2012 | 4,780 | 64.71% | 2,492 | 33.73% | 115 | 1.56% |
| 2008 | 4,579 | 62.22% | 2,665 | 36.21% | 115 | 1.56% |
| 2004 | 4,275 | 63.58% | 2,400 | 35.69% | 49 | 0.73% |