Tri-Cities, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tri-Cities
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Combined statistical area
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| Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN–VA | |
   Images, from top down, Kingsport skyline, Johnson City skyline, downtown Bristol, TN–VA
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee Virginia |
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| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 514,899 (87th) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
The Tri-Cities is a special area in the United States where three main cities come together. These cities are Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol. They are located in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Bristol is unique because it's a twin city, with one part in Tennessee and the other in Virginia.
This region also includes many smaller towns and communities. The Tri-Cities area is considered one large population center. It is the fifth-largest in Tennessee.
Contents
What is a Combined Statistical Area?
The Tri-Cities area is officially known as a Combined Statistical Area (CSA). This means it's a group of nearby cities and towns that are connected by jobs and daily life. It's like a big neighborhood made up of several smaller ones.
Before the early 2000s, the Tri-Cities was called a single Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Now, it's a CSA with two main parts: the Johnson City area and the Kingsport–Bristol, TN–VA area.
Counties in the Tri-Cities Area
The Tri-Cities area covers several counties in both Tennessee and Virginia.
Tennessee Counties
- Carter County
- Greene County
- Hancock County
- Hawkins County
- Johnson County
- Sullivan County
- Unicoi County
- Washington County
Virginia Counties and Cities
- Scott County
- Washington County
- City of Bristol (This is an independent city, meaning it's not part of a county.)
Communities in the Tri-Cities
Many different communities make up the Tri-Cities region. They range from large cities to smaller towns and even unincorporated places.
Largest Cities (Over 50,000 People)
- Johnson City, Tennessee (a main city)
- Kingsport, Tennessee (another main city)
Mid-Sized Cities (10,000 to 50,000 People)
- Bristol, Tennessee (a main city)
- Bristol, Virginia (a main city)
- Elizabethton, Tennessee
- Greeneville, Tennessee
Smaller Towns (1,000 to 10,000 People)
- Abingdon, Virginia
- Blountville, Tennessee
- Bluff City, Tennessee
- Church Hill, Tennessee
- Erwin, Tennessee
- Gate City, Virginia
- Glade Spring, Virginia
- Gray, Tennessee
- Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Mosheim, Tennessee
- Mountain City, Tennessee
- Mount Carmel, Tennessee
- Rogersville, Tennessee
- Sneedville, Tennessee
- Surgoinsville, Tennessee
- Tusculum, Tennessee
- Unicoi, Tennessee
- Weber City, Virginia
Who Lives in the Tri-Cities?
In the year 2000, about 480,091 people lived in the Tri-Cities area. Most of the people were White (96.22%). About 2.12% were African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 0.92% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average income for a family in the area was about $37,254 per year.
Getting Around the Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities area has good transportation options. Two major interstate highways, I-26 and I-81, cross paths here. Other important interstates like I-40, I-77, and I-75 are also nearby.
Tri-Cities Regional Airport
The Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) helps people travel by air. It has flights to major cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Orlando. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines and American Eagle Airlines fly from here. The airport also handles cargo, helping businesses move goods.
Major Highways
Many important highways run through the Tri-Cities area, making it easy to travel by car.
Interstate Highways
US Highways
US 11
US 11E
US 19
US 19E
US 19W
US 23
US 58
US 321
US 421
Learning in the Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities area is home to many colleges and universities. This means there are lots of chances for people to continue their education after high school.
Colleges and Universities
- East Tennessee State University
- Emory & Henry College
- King University
- Milligan College
- Northeast State Community College
- Tusculum University
- University of Virginia's College at Wise
- Virginia Highlands Community College
- Walters State Community College
The Kingsport Higher Education Center in downtown Kingsport brings together classes from several colleges, including The University of Tennessee.
All-America City Award
In 1999, the Tri-Cities region received the special All-America City Award. This award is given each year by the National Civic League to ten cities in the United States.
The award celebrates communities where people work together to solve problems and achieve great things. It's a very old award, started in 1949. Over 500 communities have won it!
Sister Cities Around the World
The Tri-Cities has "sister city" relationships with places in other countries. This helps build friendships and understanding between different cultures.
