Editing Blountville, Tennessee

{{Redirect|Blountville}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Blountville
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Sullivan-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Sullivan County Courthouse in Blountville
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = TNMap-doton-Blountville.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Blountville, Tennessee
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Tennessee]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Tennessee|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Sullivan County, Tennessee|Sullivan]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1795
|named_for                = [[William Blount]]

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='47'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 12.78
|area_land_km2            = 12.78
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.93
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.93
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{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}}</ref>
|population_total         = 3120
|population_density_km2   = 244.12
|population_density_sq_mi = 632.22

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 469
|elevation_ft             = 1539
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|32|0|N|82|19|35|W|region:US-TN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 37617
|area_code                = [[Area code 423|423]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 47-06740<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1305297<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Blountville''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in and the [[county seat]]<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&statecode=tn |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025113444/http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=%2Fcffiles%2Fcounties%2Fstate.cfm&statecode=tn |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> of [[Sullivan County, Tennessee]]. The population was 3,074 at the [[United States Census, 2010|2010 census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> and 3,120 at the 2020 census.   It is the only Tennessee county seat not to be an [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] city or town.

Blountville is part of the [[Kingsport–Bristol–Bristol metropolitan area]], which is a component of the [[Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area]], commonly known as the "[[Tri-Cities, Tennessee|Tri-Cities]]" region.

==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 {{convert|600|acre|ha}} of land bought by James Brigham in 1782. In 1792 Brigham gave {{convert|30|acre|ha}} to Sullivan County for use as a county seat and established a hotel nearby.<ref name=Taylor/> 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.<ref name="archiveshistory">{{Cite web|title=Historic Sullivan, Archives and Tourism {{!}} County History|url=http://www.historicsullivan.com/archives_history.htm|access-date=January 12, 2022|website=www.historicsullivan.com}}</ref>  By 1830, the settlement had 209 residents, two churches, six stores, two taverns, ten mechanics, one doctor, and one lawyer.<ref name=Taylor>Oliver Taylor, ''Historic Sullivan: A History of Sullivan County, Tennessee'', 1909, [https://archive.org/details/historicsullivan00tayl/page/n182 <!-- pg=137 --> Chapter XIX, Blountville] (pages 137-148), The King Printing Co., Sullivan County (Tenn.), 330 pages</ref>

On the afternoon of September 22, 1863, during the [[American Civil War|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 States Army|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.historicsullivan.com/events_2010_06_19.htm |title=Sullivan County Civil War Days |access-date=September 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007033748/http://historicsullivan.com/events_2010_06_19.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name=archiveshistory/>

If Blountville were an [[incorporated town]], it would qualify as the second oldest municipality in Tennessee (second only to [[Jonesborough, Tennessee|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, Tennessee|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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}

===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]].<ref>Carolyn Sakowski, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rLBrUbj02IcC&pg=PA79 Touring the East Tennessee Backroads]'', pages 79-82</ref> 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.<ref name="Finch2009">{{cite book|author=Jackie Sheckler Finch|title=Tennessee: A Guide to Unique Places|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NoKR0DIwgsAC|access-date=November 22, 2011|date=July 1, 2009|publisher=Globe Pequot|isbn=978-0-7627-5057-3|page=6}}</ref>

==Geography==
Blountville is located at {{Coord|36|32|0|N|82|19|35|W|type:city}} (36.533312, -82.326474).<ref name="GR1">{{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}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|4.9|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 2959
|2010= 3074
|2020= 3120
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
[[Image:Blountville-deery-inn-tn1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Old Deery Inn|The Deery Inn]] in Blountville, built circa 1785&ndash;1801]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Blountville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4706740&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 26, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 2,921
| 93.62%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 66
| 2.12%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 3
| 0.1%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 12
| 0.38%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 77
| 2.47%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,959 people, 1,060 households, and 763 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|518.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of {{convert|198.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.01% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.32% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.20% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.88% of the population.

There were 1,060 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 16.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 127.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,609, and the median income for a family was $41,594. Males had a median income of $31,842 versus $18,163 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $16,173. About 3.0% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

==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 school (government funded)|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<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timesnews.net/news/education/watch-now-closing-of-blountville-schools-prompts-motorcycle-tales-memory-walks/article_277eed20-a91a-11eb-9e61-37367c516df3.html | title=Watch now: Closing of Blountville schools prompts motorcycle tales, Memory Walks | date=May 2, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.supertalk929.com/2021/08/16/two-sullivan-county-closed-schools-may-see-new-life-for-future-public-use/ | title=Two Sullivan County Closed Schools May See New Life for Future Public Use | date=August 16, 2021 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Blountville is the site of the [[Tri-Cities Regional Airport]], located in Blountville primarily because of its central location between [[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]], [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]], [[Bristol, Tennessee|Bristol, TN/VA]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}  [[NASCAR]] champion [[Alan Kulwicki]] died in an airplane crash near Blountville.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/race/jul99/damato25072499.asp |title=Honor stirs up fond memories of Kulwicki |author=Gary D'Amato |access-date=July 25, 2007 |publisher=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=July 25, 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013092917/http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/race/jul99/damato25072499.asp |archive-date=October 13, 2007 }}</ref>

==Recreation==
Blountville's [[historic district (United States)|historic district]] includes two 18th-century buildings&mdash; the [[Old Deery Inn]] and the Anderson Townhouse&mdash; 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.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coord|display=title|36.533312|-82.326474}}

{{Sullivan County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Blountville, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Sullivan County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Tennessee]]
[[Category:County seats in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1792]]