Kingsport Spirit

Second in a Series

Safety isn’t just about statistics. It’s also about how a place feels when you walk its downtown streets, drive its roads, or raise your family there. Kingsport’s long history of thoughtful planning has created a city that feels safe by design, not just by numbers.

When Kingsport was incorporated in 1917, its core wasn’t built haphazardly. It was laid out as one of America’s first true “garden cities”—a model that combined the best of urban convenience with the openness and greenery of small-town life. Wide rights-of-way, intuitive street grids, and neighborhoods linked to schools, parks, and community spaces were part of the blueprint from the beginning. More than a century later, those choices continue to define Kingsport’s sense of security and livability.

One subtle but powerful example is street orientation. Many of Kingsport’s downtown corridors are tilted about 45 degrees from the east-west line of the horizon, which means they catch sunlight from morning to evening. In summer, these wide streets are bright and welcoming well into the evening, encouraging activity and discouraging the shadows that can make other cities feel unsafe. In winter, the angled layout helps soften the low afternoon sun, ensuring sidewalks and storefronts remain visible and inviting.

Most major Tennessee cities rely on a strict east–west street grid, often paired with narrower rights-of-way and taller buildings. This combination can exaggerate shadows and create a darker, more canyon-like feel in their downtowns, especially during the shorter days of winter. Sidewalks fall into shade more quickly, and even when the actual level of safety is no different, the environment can feel more closed in and less secure simply because natural light doesn’t reach the street as easily.

Kingsport’s designers understood that light equals life, and they built a city that maximizes visibility, clarity, and openness year-round. Add in plentiful parks, greenways, and gathering spaces, and it’s no surprise residents consistently describe Kingsport as safe, family-friendly, and welcoming.

Kingsport’s story proves that when a city is planned with people in mind, safety isn’t just enforced—it’s designed into the very fabric of the community.

Kingsport: A city where safety has been part of the plan since day one.