:Bristol, Tennessee

Before 1852, the land where Bristol is located was owned by Reverend James King. His son-in-law, Joseph R. Anderson of Blountville, Tennessee, bought {{convert|100|acre}} of the plantation and named it Bristol.{{Cite web|title=History of Bristol {{!}} Bristol, TN - Official Website|url=https://www.bristoltn.org/389/History-of-Bristol|website=www.bristoltn.org|access-date=June 1, 2020}} The G.W. Blackley House, one of the oldest houses in Bristol, was constructed in 1869.

{{further|Bristol sessions|Music of East Tennessee}}

File:Bristol, Tennessee Guitar at the corner of State Street and Volunteer Parkway. .jpg

The U.S. Congress declared Bristol to be the "Birthplace of Country Music", according to a resolution passed in 1998, recognizing its contributions to early country music recordings and influence, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located in Bristol."Birthplace of Country Music", AmericasLibrary.gov, 2011, web: [http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/tn/es_tn_bristol_1.html AL].

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, who got their start on July 31, 1927, when A.P. Carter and his family journeyed from Maces Spring, Virginia, to Bristol to audition for Ralph Peer, who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded. That same visit by Peer to Bristol also resulted in the first recordings by Jimmie Rodgers.David Sanjek, "All the Memories Money Can Buy: Marketing Authenticity and Manufacturing Authorship", p. 155–172 in Eric Weisbard, ed., This is Pop, Harvard University Press, 2004. {{ISBN|0-674-01321-2}} (cloth), {{ISBN|0-674-01344-1}} (paper). p. 158.

Since 1994, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has promoted the city as a destination to learn about country music and the city's 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."BCMA - Birthplace of Country Music Alliance", BCMA, 2012, webpage: [http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/ BCMA]. On August 1, 2014, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum opened in Bristol, Virginia to commemorate the historical significance of the Bristol sessions. The museum features a 24,000-ft building that houses core exhibits, space for special exhibits, a performance theater, and a radio station.

Every year, during the third weekend in September, a music festival called the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion takes place. The festival is held downtown, where Tennessee and Virginia meet, and it celebrates Bristol's heritage as the birthplace of country music."Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion", BristolRhythm.com, 2011, webpage: [http://www.bristolrhythm.com/ BR]

Bristol is located in the northeast corner of Tennessee, at {{Coord|36|34|9|N|82|11|51|W|type:city}} (36.569135, −82.197489).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

Bristol is located 20.95 miles east of Kingsport, Tennessee, 21.51 miles northeast of Johnson City, Tennessee, 38.74 miles northwest of Boone, North Carolina, 105.96 miles northeast of Knoxville, Tennessee, and 132.61 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|29.5|sqmi|km2|1}}, of which {{convert|29.4|sqmi|km2|1}} are land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2|1}} (0.44%) is covered by water.

Like much of the rest of the state, Bristol has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), although with significantly cooler temperatures, especially in the summer, due to elevation; it is part of USDA hardiness zone 6b, with areas to the southwest falling in zone 7a.{{cite web |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |author=United States Department of Agriculture |publisher=United States National Arboretum |url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |authorlink=United States Department of Agriculture |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303152208/http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html |archivedate=March 3, 2015 }} The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from {{convert|35.2|F|1}} in January to {{convert|74.6|F|1}} in July, while, on average, 8.8 days have temperatures at or below freezing and 17 days with highs at or above {{convert|90|F|0}} per year. The all-time record low is {{convert|−21|F|0}}, set on January 21, 1985, while the all-time record high is {{convert|103|F|0}}, set on June 30, 2012.

Precipitation is low compared to much of East Tennessee, averaging {{convert|41.0|in|mm}} annually, and reaches a low during autumn. The rainiest calendar day on record is October 16, 1964, when {{convert|3.65|in|mm}} of rain fell; monthly precipitation has ranged from {{convert|0.02|in|mm}} in October 2002 to {{convert|12.70|in|mm}} in July 2012. Bristol's normal (1981–2010) winter snowfall stands at {{convert|13.3|in|cm}}, significantly more than what most of Tennessee receives. The most snow in one calendar day was {{convert|16.2|in|cm}} on November 21, 1952, while the most in one month is {{convert|27.9|in|cm}} during March 1960, which contributed to the winter of 1959–60, with a total of {{convert|51.0|in|cm}}, finishing as the snowiest on record.

{{Weather box

| single line = Y

| location = Bristol, Tennessee (Tri-Cities Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1937–present

| Jan record high F = 79

| Feb record high F = 82

| Mar record high F = 85

| Apr record high F = 90

| May record high F = 94

| Jun record high F = 103

| Jul record high F = 102

| Aug record high F = 101

| Sep record high F = 100

| Oct record high F = 94

| Nov record high F = 84

| Dec record high F = 78

| year record high F = 103

| Jan avg record high F = 67.4

| Feb avg record high F = 69.8

| Mar avg record high F = 76.6

| Apr avg record high F = 83.8

| May avg record high F = 87.4

| Jun avg record high F = 91.6

| Jul avg record high F = 93.0

| Aug avg record high F = 92.2

| Sep avg record high F = 90.1

| Oct avg record high F = 83.3

| Nov avg record high F = 74.9

| Dec avg record high F = 67.9

| year avg record high F = 94.3

| Jan high F = 46.5

| Feb high F = 50.9

| Mar high F = 59.4

| Apr high F = 69.4

| May high F = 77.1

| Jun high F = 83.8

| Jul high F = 86.4

| Aug high F = 85.8

| Sep high F = 80.7

| Oct high F = 70.2

| Nov high F = 58.7

| Dec high F = 49.5

| year high F = 68.2

| Jan mean F = 36.4

| Feb mean F = 40.0

| Mar mean F = 47.4

| Apr mean F = 56.4

| May mean F = 64.7

| Jun mean F = 72.3

| Jul mean F = 75.6

| Aug mean F = 74.5

| Sep mean F = 68.6

| Oct mean F = 57.3

| Nov mean F = 46.4

| Dec mean F = 39.3

| year mean F = 56.6

| Jan low F = 26.3

| Feb low F = 29.2

| Mar low F = 35.4

| Apr low F = 43.3

| May low F = 52.3

| Jun low F = 60.7

| Jul low F = 64.7

| Aug low F = 63.2

| Sep low F = 56.4

| Oct low F = 44.3

| Nov low F = 34.2

| Dec low F = 29.2

| year low F = 44.9

| Jan avg record low F = 7.6

| Feb avg record low F = 11.9

| Mar avg record low F = 18.4

| Apr avg record low F = 27.7

| May avg record low F = 36.9

| Jun avg record low F = 49.0

| Jul avg record low F = 56.2

| Aug avg record low F = 54.5

| Sep avg record low F = 43.3

| Oct avg record low F = 28.8

| Nov avg record low F = 19.4

| Dec avg record low F = 13.2

| year avg record low F = 4.5

| Jan record low F = −21

| Feb record low F = −15

| Mar record low F = −2

| Apr record low F = 21

| May record low F = 30

| Jun record low F = 38

| Jul record low F = 45

| Aug record low F = 43

| Sep record low F = 33

| Oct record low F = 20

| Nov record low F = 5

| Dec record low F = −9

| year record low F = -21

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.65

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.81

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.96

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.79

| May precipitation inch = 3.82

| Jun precipitation inch = 3.92

| Jul precipitation inch = 5.00

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.76

| Sep precipitation inch = 2.84

| Oct precipitation inch = 2.52

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.14

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.76

| year precipitation inch = 43.97

| Jan snow inch = 3.0

| Feb snow inch = 3.0

| Mar snow inch = 1.1

| Apr snow inch = 0.1

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.3

| Dec snow inch = 1.7

| year snow inch = 9.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 12.7

| Feb precipitation days = 12.7

| Mar precipitation days = 13.6

| Apr precipitation days = 11.7

| May precipitation days = 12.6

| Jun precipitation days = 12.4

| Jul precipitation days = 12.8

| Aug precipitation days = 10.8

| Sep precipitation days = 8.4

| Oct precipitation days = 8.5

| Nov precipitation days = 9.8

| Dec precipitation days = 12.2

| year precipitation days = 138.2

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 2.8

| Feb snow days = 2.7

| Mar snow days = 1.1

| Apr snow days = 0.2

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.4

| Dec snow days = 1.6

| year snow days = 8.8

| source 1= NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mrx

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = May 28, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013877&format=pdf

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| title = Station: Bristol Tri City AP, TN

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| access-date = May 28, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 1647

|1890= 3324

|1900= 5271

|1910= 7148

|1920= 8047

|1930= 12005

|1940= 14004

|1950= 16771

|1960= 17582

|1970= 20064

|1980= 23986

|1990= 23421

|2000= 24821

|2010= 26702

|2020= 27147

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 27854

| estref = {{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bristolcitytennessee/AFN120217 |date=May 16, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 16, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 30, 2013}}
2018 Estimate{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:47&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,147 people, 11,450 households, and 6,808 families residing in the city.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, 24,821 people, 10,648 households, and 6,825 families were residing in the city. The population density in 2000 was 846 people per square mile (326.5/km{{sup|2}}). The 11,511 housing units averaged 392.2 per square mile (151.4/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 95.15% White, 2.97% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.68% of the population.

Of the 10,648 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were not families. Nearly 32% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the age distribution was 21.1% under 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,039, and for a family was $37,341. Males had a median income of $28,210 versus $21,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,535. About 11.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

File:BMS-Front Grandstand.jpg

Bristol is the location of Bristol Motor Speedway, a motorsports venue that hosts several NASCAR events. It is also home to Bristol Dragway, which hosts the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals, an NHRA national event.

A Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Minor League Baseball affiliate, the Bristol Pirates, played its home games at DeVault Memorial Stadium in Bristol, Virginia, from 1969 to 2020. In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League, in which the Pirates played, was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Pirates were replaced by a new franchise in the revamped league designed for rising college freshman and sophomores.{{cite web|title=MLB, USA Baseball Announce New Format for Appalachian League|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-usa-baseball-announce-new-format-for-appalachian-league|website=Major League Baseball|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020}}

• King University
• Graham Bible College

Bristol Tennessee City Schools operates public schools serving almost all of the city, with Tennessee High School being its public high school. Small sections are in the Sullivan County School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47163_sullivan/DC20SD_C47163.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Sullivan County, TN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=September 24, 2021}} Page 14 (13/21) shows sections of Bristol in the Sullivan County district.

Television:

• WCYB-TV (NBC Channel 5.1)
• WCYB-DT2 (CW Channel 5.2)
• WEMT-TV (FOX Channel 39.1)

Note-WEMT is licensed to Greeneville, Tennessee, but co-located with sister station WCYB-TV.

• WZAP (AM 690 kHz) Christian
• WFHG (FM 92.9 MHz) SuperTalk WFHG
• WWTB (AM 980 kHz) The Sports Fox
• WXBQ (FM 96.9 MHz) Twenty-four Carrot Country
• WAEZ (FM 94.9 MHz) Electric 94.9
• WEXX (FM 99.3 MHz) The X 99.3
• WTFM (FM 98.5 MHz) WTFM 98.5
• WBCM-LP (FM 100.1 MHz) WBCM Radio Bristol

• Bristol Herald Courier{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldcourier.com/ |title=Bristol Herald Courier |website=heraldcourier.com}}

The Bristol Fire Department has 82 full-time and six part-time employees. It responds to over 5,000 calls per year and has five stations. The department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristoltn.org/172/Fire-Rescue |title=Fire Department |website=Bristol, Tennessee |access-date=January 1, 2023 }}

The Bristol Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency for the city. The department has 73 sworn officers and 27 civilian support staff. It also makes use of citizen volunteers as an auxiliary staff, which saves the department over $100,000 annually.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristoltn.org/200/Police-Department |title=Police Department |website=Bristol, Tennessee |access-date=November 26, 2023 }}

• Clarence Ashley, old-time musician
• George Lafayette Carter, entrepreneur
• John I. Cox, Governor of Tennessee (1905−1907)
• Cara Cunningham, internet celebrity/blogger
• Tennessee Ernie Ford, singer, actor, entertainer (1919–1991)
• Justin Grimm, professional baseball player for the Oakland Athletics
• Doyle Lawson, Grammy-nominated bluegrass musician and front man of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
• Dave Loggins, songwriter, recording artist
• David Massengill, folk singer/songwriter
• Jayma Mays, actress
• Ricky Morton, professional wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer. One half of tag team Rock N Roll Express
• Eureka O'Hara, famous drag queen
• Chase Owens, professional wrestler
• Davyd Whaley, American painter

• Rader v. State (1880)

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Phillips, V.N. Bud. (1992) Bristol Tennessee/Virginia: A History-1852-1900. Johnson City: Overmountain Press. {{ISBN|0-932807-63-1}}

{{Commons category|Bristol, Tennessee}}

{{EB1911 poster|Bristol (Tennessee)}}

• [http://www.bristoltn.org/ City of Bristol official home page]

{{Sullivan County, Tennessee}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Tennessee

Category:Cities in Sullivan County, Tennessee

Category:Divided cities

Category:East Tennessee

Category:Twin cities

Category:Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area