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Move to Kingsport – January 2025
The Move To Kingsport program was one of several initiatives launched following the 1999 Economic Summit. It was among five non-traditional economic strategies designed to help the city navigate significant downsizing in domestic manufacturing, a sector crucial to Kingsport’s industrial heritage. The other four strategies focused on higher education (notably a downtown campus), tourism (including…
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A Southerner’s Take on Europe
Somehow, my social media feed has been flooded with British takes on America and Americans—many of them reconsidering deep-seated stereotypes. One of the more common ones? That Americans don’t travel internationally much. But as some Brits are discovering, there’s a reason for that: the sheer scale of the U.S. They explain to their friends back…
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The Very First Census Provides Shocking Insights
On a recent visit to the Kingsport Public Library, I came across a stack of books slated for removal. Most were duplicates of old census records for various Tennessee counties and surrounding states. Since these records are now readily available online, it makes sense that Kingsport wouldn’t need to store documents for counties in Middle…
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Is Kingsport Growing or Dying?
I know I’m a city planning geek who thinks way too much about this stuff, but have you ever wondered what the “right size” for a city really is? Of course, the answer depends on individual preferences. But even if you find a city that feels like the perfect fit, how can you be sure…
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Finance: Love It or Hate It, It Matters
Finance. Ugh. It’s a topic that’s both critically important and endlessly dull for many. But let’s break it down in a way that actually matters: Just like managing a personal budget, is your government living within its means? Is it making politically popular promises it can’t sustain? Is it simply kicking the can down the…
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Kingsport’s Next Big Opportunity: Who Will Build the Future?
Month after month, Move To Kingsport reports on the number of newcomers making this their home. In 2024 alone, 661 families moved here from 49 states! Curious about the state of new construction, we took a quick look at single-family homes built since 2020 currently on the market in comparable cities. The results were surprising:…
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The TRI Advantage
On a recent recruiting trip to Long Island, NY, with Tennessee Tourism, one of the most frequently asked questions was about airport accessibility. Our team usually includes representatives from various parts of the state, and this trip featured folks from Nashville, Knoxville, and the Tri-Cities. As a Tri-Cities resident, I was able to share my…
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2024: Kingsport Led the Region in Home Sales
Housing has been a hot topic nationwide. Typically, the hottest sales markets tend to overheat home prices as well. Kingsport bucked that trend and added a cherry on top–the highest performing schools in the region for 2024. as compiled by Move To Kingsport. Source: Northeast Tennessee Board of Realtors. Don Fenley does a great job…
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Meet the Burchfields
As I delve into my family tree, small details breathe life into the stories of my ancestors. They seem like fictional characters, yet they are my flesh and blood. I marvel at the hardships they endured and feel grateful for the relative safety and predictability of my own life. Take my maternal grandfather, Charles Blaine…
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Tennessee: Less Taxing
We recently participated in the annual Ideal Living show in partnership with Retire Tennessee. Each year, local chambers of commerce and tourism organizations collaborate to answer questions at this bustling event, where attendees explore relocation options. This past weekend, we were in Greater New York (Long Island). Over the next few weeks, we’ll visit New…
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Kingsport Spirit 