Tag: History
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Sullivan 250 | 1779: Why Sullivan County Took Its Name
11th in a 12-part monthly series to commemorate Sullivan County’s role in the 250th birthday of the United States of America November | 11 of 12 Have you ever wondered how Sullivan County got its name? The answer takes us back to 1779, when Tennessee didn’t even exist. We were part of North Carolina, and…
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Football & History: From East Tennessee to Florida
Last night, I noticed that Blountstown, Florida, was playing at Sevier County, Tennessee, some 500 miles from home. That’s roughly the distance from Kingsport to Memphis, except these schools aren’t even in the same state. How did they find each other? I have no idea. But seeing “Sevier” and “Blount” together sent me down a…
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Solid Rock(y Top)
Tennessee’s Financial Foundation By Jeff Fleming As a retired city manager, I’m conditioned to keep an eye on the finances. I’m all for optimism, celebrating accomplishments, and marketing those Instagram moments that make our communities shine. I’m also a believer in “Love Where You Live.” That sense of belonging gives a community its soul. But…
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Sullivan 250 | Why Blountville?
Tenth in a 12-part monthly series to commemorate Sullivan County’s role in the 250th birthday of the United States of America October 2026 | 10 of 12 The name Blountville was not chosen by accident. Neither was its location. By the 1790s, Sullivan County was moving beyond its earliest frontier days. Government needed permanence. Until…
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The History and Mystery of the D.W. Moulton Bridge
Thousands of people cross it every day. Ask them the name of the bridge carrying West Stone Drive across the North Fork Holston River, though, and you may get a blank stare. The Stone Drive bridge? The 11W bridge? The bridge north of Netherland Inn Road? All are understandable answers. But the State of Tennessee…
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Model City Matriarchs
Mark your calendars for this very special presentation! There are three ways to participate: (1) Attend in person, (2) watch the livestream on the Archives Facebook page, or (3) watch it on the Archives YouTube channel that will be uploaded a few days after the event.
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Sullivan County’s 25-Year Economic Reset
A wise mentor once said that a community’s progress should be measured in quarter centuries, not quarters. The point was to take the long view — across multiple administrations, economic cycles and political priorities — rather than judge success by quick fixes or short-term gains. Economic change rarely follows an election calendar. Industrial sites can…
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Kingsport’s Fastest-Growing Age Group Isn’t Seniors. It’s Younger Adults.
Recent Census Bureau data tell an important story about where America is headed — and where Kingsport may be headed with it. Between 2020 and 2025, the South grew 6%, almost twice the national rate. More important, it was the only region to gain population in every major age group. Children under 18 increased 1.1%.…
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Sullivan 250 | Rocky Mount: Where Territorial Government Took Root
Ninth in a 12-part monthly series to commemorate Sullivan County’s role in the 250th birthday of the United States of America September 2026 | 9 of 12 When the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio was organized in 1790, federal authority needed a place where government could operate in practical terms.…
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The Case for Grounded Growth
There is a line on the population map that Northeast Tennessee should pay attention to. The map tracks net domestic migration—Americans moving from one part of the country to another—between 2020 and 2024. Green counties gained residents through migration. Purple counties lost them. Northeast Tennessee is on the green side, but just barely. Most maps…
