Kingsport, TN

Kingsport is a city located in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and is the county seat of Sullivan County. The population was 17,898 at the 2010 census. Kingsport is known as the "Garden City of the South" for its many parks and gardens, which make up a significant part of its attraction to tourists and residents alike.

Real estate in Kingsport ranges from modest starter homes to luxurious estates that can accommodate up to 20 or more guests. The city's central location within Sullivan County and easy access to Interstate 40 make it an ideal place to live, work, and play.

The city's history dates back to 1786 when Colonel James Robertson built a fort on what is now known as Fort Hill overlooking the confluence of the Elk River with the Holston River. The settlement that grew around Robertson's fort became known as "Robertson's Station." In 1821, William Blount purchased Robertson's Station and renamed it Blountstown after his father-in-law. In 1827, John Sevier purchased Blountstown from William Blount and renamed it Kingsport in honor of King George III of England.

Kingsport experienced rapid growth during the mid-19th century due to its strategic location along important transportation routes between Nashville and Knoxville. By 1860, Kingsport had reached a population of 1,500 people; by 1880, this number had increased tenfold to 10,000 people. This rapid growth caused significant problems for Kingsport; most notably an inadequate water supply resulting from heavy use by industry and agriculture in addition to increasing demand from rapidly growing residential areas.

In 1892, local businessmen formed the Kingsport Water Works Company with funding from local investors and private donations; this company was instrumental in providing adequate water supplies for both residential areas and industry throughout Sullivan County by 1914. Despite these successes however, by 1920 Kingsport was experiencing financial difficulties due to high rates charged by the water works company coupled with decreased demand resulting from World War I and subsequent economic recession; this led to municipal bankruptcy in 1923.

Despite these challenges however, during the 1920s and 1930s Kingsport experienced another period of rapid growth due to its position as a center for shopping (due in part to opening of several large department stores), medical services (due in part to establishment of several hospitals), education (due in part to establishment of several colleges),and manufacturing (due in partto establishmentof several major industrial plants). This periodof rapid growth also ledto significant problemsforthecityincludinganunsatisfactorywatersupplyresultingfromheavyindustrialandagriculturaluseandincreasingdemandfromrapidlygrowingresidentialareasalongwithmalfunctioningpublictransportationsystems(particularlythestreetcar system).

Despite these challenges however,,duringthe 1940s through 1970s KingsportshapeditsselfintoathomeoftheSouthbydevelopingnewresidentialareasalongwithcommercialandindustrialzonesinthesouthwestpartofthesettlementwhile maintainingitstraditionalresidencesinthesoutheastpartofthesettlement.(see map below) Today,, Kingsportscharterstreets(suchasMainStreetandDowntown Kingsport)continuetotraversebothregionswhileofferingamarketplacefortraditionalresidencesinthewestpartofthesettlementandaninnovativebusinessesinetheeastpartofthesettlement.(see map below)