Kingsport Spirit

Many of us remember when Kingsport was a commuter town—factories were built, and people came here to work. For many, securing a blue-collar job with a steady paycheck was the ultimate goal. Each morning, a steady stream of headlights flowed into town, and at day’s end, taillights disappeared as the whistle signaled the workday’s close.

But times have changed. Today, many residents choose a reverse commute, living in Kingsport while working elsewhere. And why not? Kingsport offers an attractive suburban lifestyle—beautiful parks, a vibrant downtown, top-tier schools, strong churches, accessible healthcare, and everyday conveniences like specialty coffee, grocery stores, pharmacies, streaming services, and a thriving restaurant scene with plenty of delivery options.

It’s also important to recognize that Kingsport is more than just Ridgefields, Fairacres, and Preston Forest—it includes Colonial Heights, Fall Creek, and Rock Springs, too. With new developments emerging in these neighborhoods along I-81 and I-26, commuting to nearby cities has never been easier. And with the rise of remote work, some residents don’t commute at all.

The Census Bureau’s OnTheMap tool sheds light on these evolving employment patterns. There’s often talk about people living in Johnson City and working in Kingsport, but you might be surprised to learn that more Kingsport residents work in Johnson City (2,969) than vice versa (2,337).

In fact, while 76.6% of Kingsport’s workforce is employed within 24 miles of home, nearly 3,500 residents (17.7%) work at jobs headquartered more than 50 miles away. Some make long commutes, while others work remotely—the data doesn’t specify.

Even more striking is the sheer number of employment locations. Kingsport residents work in 514 different cities! Some commute or telecommute to Knoxville (462 people), Nashville (277), Chattanooga (172), Memphis (170), and Oak Ridge (93). Others are scattered across the country—one Kingsport resident each is employed in 272 different cities, spanning from San Diego to St. Petersburg, Seattle to Boston.

So the next time you pass by a house and wonder, Who lives there? or What kind of job do they have?—remember, their paycheck may come from far beyond our region, yet it stretches much further here in Kingsport.