Tag: tennessee
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Kingsport’s Largest Generation Might Surprise You
What’s the largest generation living in Kingsport today? The answer surprised me—it might surprise you too. Millennials have just surpassed Boomers as the city’s largest demographic–just barely–but the gap is likely to grow as older generations age and younger generations fill their void. Kingsport also has the highest percentage of Gen Alpha (under 10 years…
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Tennessee’s Housing Challenges: Where and Why It Got So Expensive
Check out this report from The Sycamore Group. It’s the most comprehensive explanation I’ve seen. There are many charts and figures that paint a picture of housing trends all across Tennessee. In my opinion, it’s very consistent with what I’ve been saying for several years now, but it covers every county in Tennessee. It helps…
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Rewriting My Roots: Uncovering the German Influence in Appalachia
I’ve always taken pride in my Scots-Irish heritage, believing my ancestors’ lives mirrored the plot of Outlander, where Jamie and Claire settle in North Carolina, building a life among native tribes. As war with England looms, they fight to protect their home and loved ones—just as they did in Scotland. Their story closely parallels that…
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Balanced Growth: How Our Region Compares
Last week, the Census Bureau released updated population estimates for metropolitan areas from 2020 to 2024. Curious about how our region compares to similar metros nationwide, we analyzed all metros within 10% of the population of either Kingsport-Bristol or Johnson City. A healthy metro growth rate typically falls between 0.5% and 1% per year, equating…
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Southeast Georgia vs. Northeast Tennessee
I recently spent time in Savannah, Georgia, and was surprised to find that its metro population (640,193) is comparable to the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area (598,800). Despite similar population sizes, living in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Tennessee offers distinct experiences shaped by differences in climate, lifestyle, and cost of living. Each region appeals to…
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Do We Still Need Newcomers?
It’s no secret that the death rate exceeds the birthrate in every jurisdiction in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, but we’re not alone. According to a March 2024 report from the Census Bureau, 69% of U.S. counties now have more people passing away than being born. However, 60% managed to counterbalance those losses through positive…
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Update on Kingsport Housing Market
In an effort to stay abreast of the local housing market, here are two recent articles from the City of Kingsport and the Kingsport Times-News. Kingsport experiences steady growth in new housing construction Residential permits lead in Kingsport for start of 2025
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Finding the Right Fit: Relocating to Tennessee
When I meet someone from out of state considering a move to Tennessee, I often find myself helping them organize their thoughts. They know their home state well but don’t always understand how it compares to Tennessee. Just as I’ve learned where Brentwood, Melville, Farmingdale, Greenwich, Morristown, and Bridgewater fit into the 22-million-person New York…
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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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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…
Kingsport Spirit 