"The Birthplace of Country Music" - A twin city shared by Virginia and Tennessee
The Virginia-Tennessee state line runs through the heart of downtown Bristol along State Street. But Bristol doesn’t feel divided on a Saturday night in summer, when locals and visitors alike stroll beneath the glow of streetlamps and the bright lights of the Paramount Theater as music drifts from nearby watering holes. Live music is a mainstay here thanks to the 1927 Bristol Sessions, which drew local musicians to town for recording sessions with the Victor Talking Machine Company almost a century ago. What was once called “hillbilly music” found commercial success, and Bristol became known as the "Birthplace of Country Music." Today, the city’s nearly 28,000 enjoy quick access to the outdoors, the downtown vibe and NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bristol also shares the Tri-Cities region with Kingsport and Johnson City, both of which are about 25 miles away. “All three of the Tri-Cities have really nice downtowns,” says Graham Witherspoon, a Tri-Cities real estate agent with True North Real Estate Advisors. “They’ve done a lot of work to each downtown and it’s reflected in how many people have moved here.” More change is also on the horizon with the imminent opening of the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Bristol on the Virginia side of the line.
State Street is lined with restaurants and antique shops, in Bristol.
Bristol also shares the Tri-Cities region with Kingsport and Johnson City.
Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Bristol is located on the Virginia side of the line.
The holiday light show features 3 million lights spread across a 4-mile trek.
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Downtown entertainment on State Street
Country music historians dub the 1927 Bristol Sessions the “Big Bang” of country music. “The amount of talent recorded – the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers – and the technology used, all contributed to bringing country music into Main Street America,” says Charlene Baker, the communications manager for the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music organization. Public art and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum spotlight these music traditions. Bristol is also a stop on the 435-mile Crooked Road, a heritage music trail that swings past dozens of music venues in the hills and hollows of the surrounding Appalachians. But it’s not just banjos and fiddles in Bristol. The 1931 Paramount Theater is a regional performance hall hosting live music, plays, dance performances and the occasional big band orchestra.
State Street is lined with restaurants and indie shops, from clothing boutiques to antique stores. Several restaurants have patios, and the vibe is festive on weekends. One restaurant worth a mention is the Burger Bar, said to be the last place country music legend Hank Williams was seen alive. The new Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Bristol on Gate City Highway, about 2 miles west of downtown, is slated to open in November 2024. It will replace the temporary Bristol Casino, which opened in 2022 as the first casino in Virginia. Overlooking Interstate 81 in Tennessee, The Pinnacle is an outdoor mall home to national retailers such as Bass Pro Shops, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
According to the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, industries with the most employees across Greater Bristol in 2023 were retail trade, government and health care. About 1,400 people are expected to be employed at the new casino. The median household income is $49,130, a 12.6% increase from the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Stroll beneath the glow of streetlamps and the bright lights of the Paramount Theater.
The city is famously known as “The Birthplace of Country Music".
Shop at one of many antique shops along State Street in Bristol.
Dine in at Southern Craft, A Bristol favorite, serving delicious BBQ.
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Outdoor adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Surrounded by rivers and lakes in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bristol is a recreational hotspot for residents of three states: Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. “South Holston Lake is very close,” says Baker, ”and in the summer it is packed.” Part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the man-made lake is famed for its smallmouth bass fishing as well as its boating and water-skiing. Cherokee National Forest, another outdoor hub, hugs 60% of the shoreline. Bristol is 15 miles from the Virginia Creeper Trail, a popular 34-mile rail-trail which links Abingdon, Virginia, with the vast Mount Rogers Recreation Area. Closer to home, families converge on Steel Creek Park to board the kiddie train, explore the nature center and ride the paddle boats.
Bristol is surrounded by rivers and lakes in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Bristol is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
2,200-acre lakefront park with disc golf, a mini train & nature trails at Steele Creek Park.
Tannery Knobs covers over 40 acres of heavily wooded terrain in Johnson City.
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Passionate NASCAR fans at Bristol Motor Speedway
The biggest sport in these parts is loud, fast and extremely popular. And its roots go back to the days of moonshine running, when bootleggers in souped-up cars would try to outrun the federal “revenuers.” These days, NASCAR draws big crowds to Bristol Motor Speedway, which can seat nearly 150,000 spectators and hosts two NASCAR Cup Series races each year. Drag racers blast from the starting line at the adjacent Bristol Dragway, nicknamed Thunder Valley. Music festivals are also popular. The city shuts down State Street for the three-day Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival in mid-September. Local, regional and national acts play for crowds of 30,000 on 14 stages across downtown. “It’s a big collaborative event,” says Baker. “We have around 900 community volunteers over the course of the weekend.”
In late September 2024, Bristol Motor Speedway served as the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center after areas just west of the city were directly hit by Hurricane Helene. Hurricanes are not a common occurrence in Bristol, or Tennessee for that matter. The city experiences all four seasons with mild summers averaging a high of 85 degrees and winters averaging a low of 30 degrees.
Bristol Motor Speedway is a thrilling destination for motorsports enthusiasts in Kingsport.
NASCAR draws big crowds to Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Food City Speedway in Lights is a holiday light show at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Take a lap at "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" at the holiday light show, in Bristol
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Midcentury homes close to churches
The median home price in Bristol is $224,000, compared to the national average of $416,700. The city has more than 13,000 homes, most of which are single-family with a median year built in 1971. These houses cluster in subdivisions like Belle Brook Estates, which is dotted with mid-century homes ranging from $180,000 to $354,000. Homes near Steel Creek Park are a draw for many locals who like to walk to its trails and amenities. A mix of styles, including custom luxury homes, surround the park with prices anywhere from $220,000 to $1 million. With the downtown scene growing in popularity, some opt to rent the areas lofts and apartments.
With Bristol being in the Bible Belt, it’s common for locals to live close to churches of the Christian faith. There are approximately 100 houses of worship in the city, more than a quarter of which are of the Baptist denomination.
Belle Brook Estates is dotted with mid-century homes ranging from $180,000 to $354,000.
Bristol homebuyers can find century-old houses with historic charm closer to downtown.
Homes near Steel Creek Park are a draw for many locals who like to walk to its trails.
Neighborhoods like Belle Brook Estates feature midcentury homes.
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Traveling through Bristol and around the Tri-Cities region
Locals can get around by taking a Bristol Tennessee Transit bus, which operates five days a week. Bristol borders Interstate 81, a busy north-south corridor, which leads 15 miles south to Tri-Cities Airport, served by American and Delta, with direct flights to Charlotte, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth. To get to the other two of the Tri-Cities, it’s a 25-mile drive west to Kingsport from U.S. 11W and 25 miles south to Johnson City from U.S. 11E.
Teachers in Bristol earn high marks statewide
Bristol City School District earns high marks from Niche.com, earning an A-minus grade and garnering the number 3 spot for “Districts with Best Teachers in Tennessee.” There are about 4,000 students in the school district across five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, Tennessee High School. The high school earns a B-plus and its teachers scored an A. There are several private schools in the Bristol area, including faith-based options. Each has an enrollment under 175 students. The city is also home to King University, a private Presbyterian institution.
Bristol City School District earns an A-minus grade from Niche.
The student population of Anderson Elementary is 308 and the school serves PK-5.
Tennessee High School is a public high school located in Bristol, Tennessee.
St. Mary's Catholic School is a Christian, faith-based school for Pre-K through 8th grade.
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5-year drop in crime
Crime in Bristol has fluctuated over the past five years, but is ultimately experiencing a downward trend, according to FBI statistics. In 2023, the violent crime rate was 44.75 per 10,000 people with a total of 124 violent crimes reported. That’s down from 2018, which had a violent crime rate of 63.96 per 10,000 people with 172 violent crimes reported. As for property crime, the rate in 2023 was 284 per 10,000 people with 787 reported property crimes. That’s also down from 2018, which had a property crime rate of 311.64 per 10,000 people with 838 reports.
Compared to the other Tri-Cities, Bristol’s overall crime rate is virtually the same as Johnson City at around 328 crimes per 10,000 people. It’s also lower than Kingsport’s overall crime rate of 428 per 10,000 people.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
