Moved to Kingsport from San Fran in 2019 - 12/24/2021

I retired and decided not to have Calif swallow up my retirement money. I like it here, but then, I have friends here. There are some lovely areas along Orebank Road and in Fair Acres neighborhood and also in Johnson City at Boones Creek Road. Watauga Lake near Elizabethton is so lovely it will blow your mind. The people are lovely, as you would expect. I think some people might be self conscious that this is not a "university town" or "sophisticated" like Nashville or Charlotte, but I could care less. If I wanted to be overcharged for everything and get stuck in traffic jams, then I would have chosen those places. If I want to see a concert, I can drive to Asheville or Knoxville. After living in Chicago, LA, and San Fran my whole career, Kingsport is heaven.

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Industrial Town - 9/7/2021

I’ve lived in Kingsport over 22 years. Beauty abounds around Kingsport, but it is an industrial town with all the odors and pollution that accompany such a town. This also means there is a strong tax base to fund good education. The healthcare system is one of the worst in the nation and you won’t find any culture or much entertainment, unless you like going to car races.

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Nine inches of snow is complete BS. - 11/11/2020

When is the last time Kingsport got 9" of snow? This is ridiculous. The last time they did get a decent snowfall they didn't even get 9" and it was record setting so obviously this is a lie. Also, the whole place stinks to high heaven of Eastman and the paper plant. Ewww.

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Laid back community with access to everything - 9/1/2020

I have lived in the Kingsport area my entire life. We have just the right mix of business and leisure. We have all of the shopping one would need along with wonderful parks, rivers, and mountain scenery. We can visit over half of the U.S. population within a day's drive, but our traffic is low. There is never a shortage of weekend trip destinations. We have great local medical providers while UT, Vanderbilt, Duke, etc., are just a few hours away. You will not find a more "neighborly," welcoming community than Kingsport!

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Kingsport culture - 8/7/2015

My spouse is a sweet latina, do you think it will be a problem for her there?

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Kingsport culture - 8/7/2015

My spouse is a sweet latina, do you think it will be a problem for her there?

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Where's the snow? - 9/16/2012

I moved here from Florida with the expectation of change of seasons;the seasons change and it is wonderful, but only snows a few days out of the year. Melts right away in most cases. If it's going to be that cold I deserve snow!

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Jobs - 12/3/2009

If you want to work in the healthcare industry, you're good to go. Other than that, there are only a few good companies. The city is something of a "retirement community".

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A Retiree's Biewpoint - 2/5/2009

We lived here in Kingsport when we first married in 1968. In 1973 we moved to Rogersville (30 mi.). When we both retired we moved back to Kingsport in 2004. We bought our condo for 130,000 in 2004 and, according to Zillow, our unit is now valued at 200,500 (2009). The cost of almost everything is lower here than the rest of the United States. Many retirement communities are sprouting up. They are improving the city with colleges and technical training centers. Shopping malls are coming in and the existing malls are being improved. Tennessee Eastman is a great contributor to our community. A great place to live! We look at mountains all around. We're not far from the ocean here, a day's drive. LP

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All I Have to do is Look Out My Window - 4/3/2008

Looking out my back window tells me that this is the place for me. I can see most of Kingsport from my back deck. Bays Mountain, both hospitals, downtown, the snow in winter, the color of autumn, everything in bloom and the mountains turning green in summer! I see many churchs, schools, hospitals, parks, shopping areas, transit systems, etc. Short distances away are the world renowned Barter Theatre, the UT Vols, Biltmore, and many more cultural and entertaining spots. Churches of every denomination, schools that are excellent, wildlife to see, lakes to enjoy are at every turn in the road. Quality of life...what more could you ask for?

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Where I Live - 4/1/2008

My wife and I are retired in Kingsport Tn.We stayed here after I retired and are glad we did.No traffic,mild climate with four seasons,low cost of living and good quality of life.

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Great Town.........Slow Down............ - 3/29/2008

If your looking for a great place to live with a much slower pace this is it. People call you "honey" here and you can get tea that tastes like it was made for hummingbirds! Wal-mart is still a big deal and you will likely see 4 people you know there. They have all the major brand name stores now (even a Starbucks!!) WOW! We have trails, mountain biking, rivers, lakes, streams, dams, trout, every activity you can think of. Big Topics of Interest: gas prices, the new target, bristol motor speedway, who got a DUI last week... you know stuff like that.... Anyway it's a small town with a lot of heart. I don't know what the heck "quality of life means" (some ad. guru came up with that one) but if I were to give it from 1 to 10 (10best) I would give a 7!

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cost of living - 9/17/2007

Kingsport has very affordable housing. it is a place where you can actually to have a parent stay home with the kids. We have beautiful mountains, nice people, a regional airport and we're close to other interesting and larger cities like Asheville and Knoxville. Our downtown is revitalizing and there are lots of new projects and improvements being funded by the city government. All in all, a very nice place to live with a nice pace.

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Great place to live - 6/27/2007

We have wonderful parks, great people, good schools, affordable housing, and a great climate. The business growth is phenomenal, with Kingsport Pavilion opening this fall and new businesses locating here, it will only become better.

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Would be wonderful, except for one MAJOR problem.. - 3/22/2007

I moved to Kingsport with my family 8 months ago, and the town does have several good qualities. The housing is reasonable, it is big enough to have some nice activities without being too large, good shopping and an incredible amount of restaurants for a town this size, and the people are generally friendly. Only one problem...Eastman Chemicals. The smell is unbearable. People who have lived here their whole lives don't even smell it, and typically get upset when it is mentioned because they feel Eastman is a good thing due to the number of jobs it brings to the town. But at what cost? I have lived by some factories, but this is unbelievable! The whole town smells like a giant bottle of nail polish remover. We live in the country miles from the factory and STILL have to smell it in our own home when we open our windows. Our lease is up next month and we are out of here as soon as possible.

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City of Mediocrity...and odors! - 11/19/2006

Kingsport people are friendly - but they are not as whole educated or diverse enough to be able to actively develop a thriving community. Many people are long-time natives of Kingsport and stay here simply because they cannot fathom dealing with a busier more demanding life. As a result, the town is quiet but filled with narrow-minded, small town people who keep change at bay and create a stagnant place that is difficult at best to raise children, particularly if you are interested in exposing your family to culture, art, diversity, and intelligent growth.

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Kingsport - a rare gem! - 9/20/2006

Where to begin. Great schools and climate, low crime rate and cost of living, strong medical community, abundant outdoor recreation, beautiful mountains and lakes, and a very friendly community, make Kingsport one of the best places we've ever lived! Kingsport's Downtown, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen in the early 1900's, is undergoing a major revitalization. Several buildings have been restored with many more in progress. Great antique shopping! This summer the 1st annual Twilight ALIVE Concert Series (various genres) began, adding 12 FREE weekly outdoor concerts to the already successful Bluegrass on Broad weekly concerts. People go to New Orleans to hear Jazz, Chicago to hear Blues, and they go to Kingsport to hear Bluegrass! The new streetscapes on Broad St. are incredible and make the Downtown very walkable. The City has created the perfect environment for small businesses to be successful in their Downtown, especially since it is a free WiFi hotspot. They have a 9-mile Greenbelt that runs from one end of the city to the other. It mostly runs through tree-shaded areas and along the Holston River and creeks. Last year, the community constructed a new skatepark along the path between Downtown and the river. Just off the path along the river, is the site where Daniel Boone started the Wilderness Trail that began the Westward movement of the U.S. We love to visit big cities (and do often), but all in all we can't imagine a better place to live than Kingsport, TN. John and Angela

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model city - 6/27/2006

kingsport,tn is termed a model city

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Kingsport is in Sullivan County - 4/17/2006

Kingsport is in Sullivan County & is 1 of 3 primary towns in the Tri-Cities of Upper East TN, near VA & NC state borders.

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You have my attention - 2/22/2006

Please Norman, don't tell anybody else, it will be ruined!!LOL Sounds wonderful, I am planning a visit in April, you have given me more to look foreward to!

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