Downtown Kingsport is the epicenter of Kingsport, one of Northeast Tennessee’s Tri-Cities along with Johnson City and Bristol. Known as the Model City, Kingsport was initially designed as an experiment in city planning, and Downtown’s physical landscape reflects that fact. The neighborhood’s main avenue, Broad Street, leads straight from the train station past the library and city hall to several houses of worship around Church Circle, one of the first roundabouts ever installed in the country. Like many downtowns in the region, Downtown Kingsport declined in the late 20th century, with residents and small businesses moving out and the loss of parks to industrial development. But around the turn of the millennium, the neighborhood returned to its roots with a city-driven master plan to help improve the residential and commercial landscape. Today, Downtown Kingsport is on the upswing, with residents and visitors enjoying its businesses and attractions.
Local restaurants and shops along Broad Street
Downtown Kingsport is the city’s commercial core and includes various local businesses. “It’s growing more and more, and there are different businesses that are popping up all the time, lots of restaurants and shops that are opening,” says Dianne Corey, a Realtor with Keller Williams Kingsport. These are most prominent along Broad Street, which divides the city into east and west, as notated in the city’s street names. A Kingsport staple, Macado’s is a restaurant and bar with a homey atmosphere, while the Stir Fry Cafe offers Asian dishes and specialty cocktails. Shoppers can duck into spots like PD’s Records and Hudson’s General Store and Antiques. Standalone fast-food restaurants are farther from the neighborhood’s center, including the Kingsport-based chain Pal’s Sudden Service. The nearest grocery store is a Food City directly across Clinchfield Street from Downtown.
Macado's in Downtown Kingsport is known for its quirky interior, adorned with cartoon art, antiques, and pop culture memorabilia.
Downtown Kingsport residents do not have to go far to get groceries, as Food City is right in the neighborhood.
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City events held within Downtown
The city of Kingsport’s annual events mainly center on Downtown. Many occur in Centennial Park, including the city’s “Red, White & BOOM” Fourth of July event. The celebration includes fireworks and music, with past performers including Night Ranger. Downtown Kingsport is also the terminus of the Santa Train, which runs through Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee with Kris Kringle waving to kids off the back of the caboose. Once the train arrives in Kingsport, he makes his way to Centennial Park to headline Santa’s Depot, an annual holiday market. Fun Fest is a broader, city-wide celebration in July that includes neighborhood block parties and culminates in a three-day concert series at Dobyns-Bennett High’s J. Fred Johnson Stadium.
The Kingsport Farmers Market is open seasonally on Clinchfield Street and includes products from regional farmers and artisans. The market is open Saturdays from around May through the end of November, and on Wednesdays from May through September.
Visitors can find a wide array of products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meats, artisan crafts, and fresh flowers at the Kingsport Farmers Market.
The Final Friday Food Truck Rally, held in Downtown Kingsport, is a fun community event featuring a range of international foods.
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Loft condos above the neighborhood's businesses
The gridded streets of Downtown are home to townhouses, condos and apartments. Several properties in the neighborhood’s commercial heart have businesses on the first floor and loft-style condos above them, with large windows and exposed brick. “A really cool thing that they have is the Loft Tour for homes that are above the businesses in Downtown,” Corey says. This self-guided tour is held in April. Condos here often sell between the low $100,000s and low $300,000s, depending on condition and size. The few townhomes in the area rarely see the market, though the most recent sale was in the upper $300,000s.
You can find lofts above businesses in renovated historical buildings throughout Downtown Kingsport.
While townhomes are rarely on the market, they can sell in the high $300,000s.
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Parks for all ages along the neighborhood's edges
Green spaces dot the blocks of Downtown, especially on the neighborhood’s edges. The Kingsport Carousel opened in the summer of 2015 and is a popular attraction across Clinchfield Street from the neighborhood. The park around the carousel includes a playground and an event space that can be rented for parties. Centennial Park has a fountain kids can splash around in during the summer. The Kingsport Greenbelt also skirts the outside of the neighborhood, and the 11-mile trail through the city is popular with runners and bikers. Skateboarders and bikers can go to the nearby Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park to practice their skills in the bowls and on the quarter pipes and stairs. The 10,000 square foot park is open from dawn until dusk.
Centennial Park has a splash park and is also home to several Downtown Kingsport events, including the Fourth of July celebration and Santa’s Depot around Christmas time.
The Kingsport Greenbelt stretches 11 miles, making it perfect for bikers and joggers.
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Highly rated schools, with a focus on high school sports
Students in Downtown Kingsport can attend Kingsport City Schools, starting at either Andrew Jackson Elementary or Abraham Lincoln Elementary. Jackson receives a B grade from Niche, and Lincoln gets an A-minus. John Sevier Middle School receives a B-plus, while Dobyns-Bennett High receives an A. Dobyns-Bennett’s boys basketball team is the all-time winningest high school basketball team in the country, with 2,405 total wins in its 108 seasons. The boys and girls basketball teams play at the high school’s Buck Van Huss Dome, which can seat 5,500 spectators.
Students from Downtown Kingsport can begin their education at Andrew Jackson Elementary, rated B by Niche.
Downtown Kingsport students continue their education at John Sevier Middle School, rated B-plus by Niche.
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A walkable neighborhood, but buses and highways to get around the region
Most residents of Downtown Kingsport own cars to get around the city, but the neighborhood is walkable, with tree-shaded sidewalks leading past restaurants and shops. The Kingsport Area Transit Service provides bus transportation throughout the city, originating from the KATS Transit Center in the southeast corner of Downtown. Interstate 26 is roughly a mile west and connects to Interstate 81, leading throughout the Tri-Cities. About 13 miles away, Tri-Cities Airport has flights to hubs including Atlanta and Charlotte.
GreatSchools:
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
684
Median Age
42
Population under 18
18.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$22,642
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$59,118
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
82%
College Graduates
24.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
12.6%
% Population in Labor Force
48.7%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
49/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
77/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
