Officially chartered in 1917, Kingsport received its name from an early boatyard known as William King's port. Kingsport is located in the northeast corner of Tennessee, just a few short miles from the Virginia line and only 45 minutes from North Carolina. Kingsport's population is 41,300. The City is part of Sullivan County, the state's fifth largest county, with a population of 150,600. The Tri-Cities Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 454,000.
Temperatures are mild year round.
Kingsport boasts an average annual temp. Relative humidity ranges from 72 to 90 percent. Development of railroads in 1910 opened the way for industry and commerce, heralding a new age of growth and prosperity. Piece by piece, Kingsport city fathers laid plans for the future. Drawn by the emerging vision, business leaders began to take note.