Overview

Introduction to Bristol, Virginia

Bristol, Virginia is 22 miles NE of Johnson City, Tennessee (center to center) and 121 miles NW of Charlotte, North Carolina. The city benefits from easy access to the nearby cities and towns with which it shares the Johnson City - Kingsport - Bristol metropolitan area.

Bristol History

Bristol originally went by the name Goodson. Initially, it was inhabited by the Cherokee Indians. In the 1700s, Scotch-Irish pioneers settled in this region. The community came into existence in the early 1800s when a railway survey was re-routed into this region which was then located on a tract of land called Sapling Grove. It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, and is located directly on the Tennessee-Virginia state line. Bristol is also known as the "Birthplace of Country Music," with the first commercial country music recordings organized in 1927 by Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company.

Bristol and nearby Attractions

  • J F Hicks Memorial Library
  • Birthplace of Tennessee Ernie Ford
  • Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
  • Literacy Academy of Bristol
  • Eastern Park
  • Clear Creek Lake

Things To Do In Bristol

While in Bristol, one can visit the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area which is a reconstructed fort on the Watauga river. The birthplace of Tennessee Ernie Ford is also close by. The city’s public libraries provide a host of valuable information about the regional history and culture. Bristol also has a number of reservoirs and creeks that are worth visiting. Among these are Clear Creek Lake, Beaver Creek Lake, Goose Creek, and the Susong Branch. The Eastern Park, Randolph Field, and Mumpower Park are places where one can enjoy a variety of sports and other physical activities. The Literacy Academy of Bristol hosts a number of cultural events and functions. The Rhythm and Roots Reunion festival is celebrated in the city every year.

Bristol Transportation

Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport is close by.

Bristol Higher Education

Residents of Bristol can enroll at Virginia Intermont College or Graham Bible College. Other higher educational institutes nearby include Northeast State Technical Community College and East Tennessee State University.

Demographics

People

Total Population16,843
Male Share of the Population47.5%
Female Share of the Population52.5%
Senior Citizens20.1%
Employed Population 16+7,128
Age of the Population42

Families

% of people married48%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher20.2%
Median Earnings25+$27,382
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$12,007
Median Earnings With High School Degree$18,094

Wealth

Median Family Income$50,677
% Above Poverty Level77.3%
% Below Poverty Level22.7%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time21 minutes
% Working from Home2.8%
% Walking and Biking to Work4.7%
% Using Public Transportation1.7%

Housing

People Living Alone32.9%
Median Gross Rent$702
Median House Value$112,200

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)25.2%
Irish11%
English9.8%
Scottish2.6%
Italian1.6%
French Except Basque1.3%
Polish0.9%
Welsh0.4%
Austrian0.2%
Kenyan0.2%
Swedish0.2%
West Indian0.2%
African0.2%
Greek0.2%
Ukrainian0.1%
Jamaican0.1%
Lithuanian0.1%
Dutch0.1%
Canadian0.1%
German0.1%
Hungarian0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Slovak0.1%
+ Show More

Bristol Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyBristol City, Washington County, Bristol city
Standard Zip Codes24202, 24201
P.O. Box Zip Codes24209, 24203
Company Zip Codes24205
Phone Area Codes276
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude36.61
Approximate Longitude-82.16

Bristol Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationABINGDON 3 S
Distance12.5 miles
Jan Temp22 to 43 F
Apr Temp39 to 67 F
Jul Temp61 to 85 F
Oct Temp40 to 68 F
Annual Precip47.4 inches
StationSALTVILLE 1 N
Distance29.7 miles
Jan Temp21 to 43 F
Apr Temp38 to 66 F
Jul Temp62 to 85 F
Oct Temp39 to 68 F
Annual Precip44.9 inches
StationERWIN 1 W
Distance34.8 miles
Jan Temp25 to 46 F
Apr Temp41 to 68 F
Jul Temp63 to 86 F
Oct Temp43 to 70 F
Annual Precip45.8 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Abingdon8,020$63,908
Damascus709$41,786
Lebanon3,249$48,884
Nickelsville342$70,714
St. Paul914$52,813

Bristol Public Libraries

Bristol Public Library
701 GOODE STREET
Bristol, Virginia
(276) 669-9444

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Bristol Hospitals

Rehabilitation Hospital Of Southwest Virginia
103 North Street
(276) 642-7900

Bristol Public Schools

Crossroads Alternative/bristol City
C/o Bristol City Public Schls, 222 Oak St
ZIP: 24201
(540) 669-8181
Day Treatment Program
351 Old Airport Road
ZIP: 24201
(276) 645-4722
Highland View Elem
1405 Eads St
ZIP: 24201
(276) 821-5710
Primary
Total Enrollment 182
Joseph Van Pelt Elem
200 Spring Hill Terrace
ZIP: 24201
(276) 821-5770
Primary
Total Enrollment 440
Stonewall Jackson Elem
2045 Euclid Ave
ZIP: 24201
(276) 821-5740
Primary
Total Enrollment 308
Virginia High
1200 Long Crescent Dr
ZIP: 24201
(276) 821-5858
High
Total Enrollment 656
Virginia Middle
501 Piedmont Avenue
ZIP: 24201
(276) 821-5660
Middle
Total Enrollment 483
Washington Lee Elem
Washington Lee Dr
ZIP: 24201
(276) 821-5800
Primary
Total Enrollment 234
High Point Elem
14091 Sinking Creek Rd
ZIP: 24202
(276) 642-5600
Primary
Total Enrollment 607
John S. Battle High
21264 Battle Hill Dr
ZIP: 24202
(276) 642-5300
High
Total Enrollment 608
Valley Institute Elem
4350 Gate City Highway
ZIP: 24202
(276) 642-5500
Primary
Total Enrollment 336
Wallace Middle
13077 Wallace Pike
ZIP: 24202
(276) 642-5400
Middle
Total Enrollment 456
Highlands Juvenile Detention Home
2105 Shakesville Road
ZIP: 24203
(276) 466-7817

Bristol Private Schools

St Annes School
300 Euclid Ave
ZIP: 24201
Elementary
Total Enrollment 131
Morrison School
139 Terrace Dr
ZIP: 24202
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 31
Sullins Academy
22218 Sullins Academy Dr
ZIP: 24202
Elementary
Total Enrollment 219
Victory Children's Center
11123 Island Rd
ZIP: 24202
Elementary
Total Enrollment 13
Sources :
Additional Details
Bristol Colleges
Bristol colleges and trade schools.
Our Partner Listings
Additional Resources
Info for Bristol Government Officials


Are you an official in the Bristol government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.