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Of Vols & Gators
The University of Tennessee Volunteers & University of Florida Gators are bitter enemies in the Southeastern Conference. Many know that legendary Gator coach Steve Spurrier hails from Johnson City, Tennessee, but did you know that Gainesville, Florida–home of the Gators–is named after General Edmund Pendleton Gaines of Kingsport, Tennessee? The name “Volunteers” stems from the…
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Find new life in a small city.
Embracing Experiences, Balance, and Relationships When it comes to choosing where to live, people’s priorities have evolved over time. Gone are the days when material possessions and financial success were the sole determinants of happiness. According to a recent survey by Charles Schwab, a significant majority of respondents favored intangible qualities and experiences over material…
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Time.
Our days, hours, and minutes are numbered from our very first childhood memory until our last moment of consciousness. Time is a finite, exceptionally precious commodity. Like electricity, time is one of the most awesome natural forces in the universe. It is mysterious, powerful, and transformative. It can be harnessed for good, but it can…
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All things in moderation.
My grandmother used to say, “All things in moderation.” (For the record, she wasn’t talking about alcohol, as she abhorred the stuff.) How much growth is good? When does it slip into the category of undesirable? What if we shrank? How would businesses survive? How would families get by? A growth of 5%-10% per decade…
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Kingsport is a great place to live AND work
Many still think of Kingsport and Oak Ridge as cities of commerce and industry–places to commute into work, but at the end of the day they return home elsewhere. Cities like Maryville, on the other hand, are viewed as “bedroom communities”–cities where a significant percentage of residents work elsewhere. The Census Bureau now has an…
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Tri-Cities: Not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
Sustainable growth is the goal, but what does that mean? A growth rate that is not too hot and not too cold, but just right. A population growth of 5%-10% per decade is required for a healthy, sustainable economy without growth-related issues like traffic, crime, and erosion of quality of life. The Census Bureau just…
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A Favored Land.
In my marketing bullet points for attracting newcomers to our region, I always talk about the natural assets that are God-given. Our region enjoys: Cool summers reminiscent of New England Mild winters comparable to Atlanta High/Low temperature ranges akin to California’s Wine Country Ample rain for lush green vegetation like the Pacific Northwest Sunny days…
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Big Stone Gap.
By Jeff FlemingMarch 29, 2023 I can summarize my familiarity with Big Stone Gap into six things: (1) the legendary football legacy of the Powell Valley Vikings, now merged with the Appalachia Bulldogs to form Union High School, (2) the presence of Mountain Empire Community College, (3) interaction with LENOWISCO in transportation planning across state…
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Sobel, Valk, and the American Dream.
By Jeff Fleming, KingsportSpirit.comas published in the Kingsport Times-NewsMarch 26, 2023 Kingsport lost two iconic names last month–Norman Sobel and Sarah Valk. With so many trying to divide us these days, it’s important to remember that Kingsport was founded as a melting pot of people from around the region and around the globe. It was…
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Walnut Hill, the most historic home you’ve probably never heard of.
I remember when City Manager Ray Griffin wanted stationary commemorating the three phases of Kingsport history—settlement, the first incorporation (1822), and the second incorporation (1917). That’s right, Kingsport was incorporated twice. The actual port city was incorporated in 1822 but lost its charter after the Civil War. The current city was incorporated in 1917. The…
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