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Tri-Cities, Tennessee facts for kids

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Tri-Cities
Combined statistical area
Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN–VA
Fun Fest Balloons Kings View.jpg
Johnson City.jpg
State Street - Bristol, TN-VA.jpg
Images, from top down, Kingsport skyline, Johnson City skyline, downtown Bristol, TN–VA
Country Flag of United States.svg United States
State Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee
Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia
County
Population
 (2020)
 • 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.

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

Virginia Counties and Cities

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)

Mid-Sized Cities (10,000 to 50,000 People)

Smaller Towns (1,000 to 10,000 People)

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.

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