Blountville, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blountville
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Sullivan County Courthouse in Blountville
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Location of Blountville, Tennessee
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Sullivan |
| Founded | 1795 |
| Named for | William Blount |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.93 sq mi (12.78 km2) |
| • Land | 4.93 sq mi (12.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,539 ft (469 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,120 |
| • Density | 632.22/sq mi (244.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37617
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-06740 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1305297 |
Blountville is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Sullivan County, Tennessee. The population was 3,074 at the 2010 census and 3,120 at the 2020 census. It is the only Tennessee county seat not to be an incorporated city or town.
Blountville is part of the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area, commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
Contents
History
The area that is now Blountville is thought to have been the location of a longhunter fort prior to its permanent settlement. The site of the town was part of a tract of about 600 acres (240 ha) of land bought by James Brigham in 1782. In 1792 Brigham gave 30 acres (12 ha) to Sullivan County for use as a county seat and established a hotel nearby. Blountville was laid off as a town and established as the county seat in 1795. The county's first courthouse and jail was a log structure. In 1825 it was replaced with a brick building. By 1830, the settlement had 209 residents, two churches, six stores, two taverns, ten mechanics, one doctor, and one lawyer.
On the afternoon of September 22, 1863, during the Civil War, the town was the scene of the four-hour-long Battle of Blountville. During a major expedition into East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, a Union Army unit attacked Confederate troops at Blountville. The town was shelled in the fighting and the courthouse was burned in the battle, which forced the Confederates to withdraw. The courthouse was rebuilt within the old walls in 1866. The current courthouse dates from a major construction that was done in 1920; it also includes additions made in 1958.
If Blountville were an incorporated town, it would qualify as the second oldest municipality in Tennessee (second only to Jonesborough); however, it was unincorporated at one point in order to avoid having redundant government services for such a small area and population. This unique status has led to some odd results, including a lawsuit in which it was ruled that neighboring Kingsport was not allowed to annex areas of Sullivan County within a defined distance of the courthouse, in effect ensuring that the county seat could not be annexed out of existence.
Historic district
Several of Blountville's surviving 18th and 19th century buildings are included in an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Deery Inn was built in the late 1700s and consists of three buildings: a two-story log home, a three-story stone house and a two-story frame building. All buildings are next to each other and attached. The home is a private residence.
Geography
Blountville is located at 36°32′0″N 82°19′35″W / 36.53333°N 82.32639°W (36.533312, -82.326474).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.9 square miles (13 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 2,959 | — | |
| 2010 | 3,074 | 3.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,120 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,921 | 93.62% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 66 | 2.12% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.1% |
| Asian | 12 | 0.38% |
| Other/Mixed | 77 | 2.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 41 | 1.31% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,120 people, 1,036 households, and 683 families residing in the CDP.
Motocross
On June 1, 2013, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship was held at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville. This was the first time the Pro Motocross Championship was held in the South in 15 years. The 2013 Built Ford Tough Tennessee National was the first ever Pro National held at Muddy Creek Raceway.
Education
Blountville has five public schools. The three elementary schools are Holston, Indian Springs, and Central Heights Elementary School. The new middle school is Sullivan Central Middle School. High school students attend the recently opened West Ridge High School. The community is also the site of Northeast State Community College.
Elementary and middle school students formerly attended the Blountville Elementary & Middle School just outside the downtown area until closing in May 2021 and is the first time in 200 years that no school has operated in the community
Transportation
Blountville is the site of the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, located in Blountville primarily because of its central location between Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, TN/VA. NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki died in an airplane crash near Blountville.
Recreation
Blountville's historic district includes two 18th-century buildings— the Old Deery Inn and the Anderson Townhouse— and several notable 19th-century structures. Appalachian Caverns and Boone Lake are located just south of Blountville.
Notable people
- Lannie Haynes Martin (1874–1938), poet and editor
- Ron Ramsey, 49th Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee.
See also
In Spanish: Blountville para niños
