Bulls Gap, Tennessee

Bulls Gap is a town in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 738 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.

Bulls Gap, Tennessee
Town
Town of Bulls Gap
Several buildings in the old section of Bulls Gap
Location in Hawkins County, Tennessee
Bulls Gap Location in Hawkins County, Tennessee Bulls Gap Bulls Gap (the United States)
Coordinates: 36°15′33″N 83°4′46″W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Hawkins
Settled	1792[1]
Incorporated	1955[2]
Named for	John Bull (early settler)[3]
Government
• Type	Board of Mayor and Aldermen
• Mayor	Mike Solomon
• Vice Mayor	Charles Johnson
• Aldermen	List of Aldermen Jimmy Sexton Vice Mayor Charles Johnson Martha Snelson Susan Williams
Area [4]
• Total	1.22 sq mi (3.16 km^2)
• Land	1.22 sq mi (3.16 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	1,181 ft (360 m)
Population  (2010)[5]
• Total	738
• Estimate  (2019)[6]	721
• Density	591.95/sq mi (228.51/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	37711
Area code(s)	423
FIPS code	47-09560[7]
GNIS feature ID	1269404[8]

The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bulls Gap Historic District.

The town was named for the famous gunsmith, John Bull, who made his home in the gap of mountains.[9]

Geography

Bulls Gap is located at 36°15′33″N 83°4′46″W (36.259094, -83.079507).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.

History

Bulls Gap after being renamed "Rogersville Junction," circa 1882

In November 1864, a small Civil War battle was fought here. The Battle of Bull's Gap was a Confederate victory, with John C. Breckinridge the victorious general.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1960	682		—
1970	774		13.5%
1980	821		6.1%
1990	659		−19.7%
2000	714		8.3%
2010	738		3.4%
2019 (est.)	721	[6]	−2.3%
Sources:[11][12]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 714 people, 319 households, and 210 families residing in the town. The population density was 570.6 people per square mile (220.5/km²). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 278.1 per square mile (107.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.70% African American, and 0.28% from two or more races.

There were 319 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,074, and the median income for a family was $28,917. Males had a median income of $29,306 versus $21,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,822. About 23.9% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Legendary country comedian Archie Campbell, who regularly performed at the Grand Ole Opry and starred in the television show Hee Haw, was a native of Bulls Gap. Campbell referred to the town in many of his classic comedy routines. His house has been preserved as a museum and tourist attraction, and U.S. Route 11E through Bulls Gap was renamed "Archie Campbell Highway" following his death in 1987. Every Labor Day weekend the town has an annual three-day celebration honoring Campbell with a car show, food and live music.

New York Times best selling author Amy Greene grew up in the vicinity of Bulls Gap.[13]

References in popular culture

In Cormac McCarthy's novel Child of God, Lester Ballard murders a young couple in their car, gets in the car, turns on the radio, and listens to the radio host talk about an upcoming event at Bulls Gap School.[14]

Bulls Gap's dirt racetrack, Volunteer Speedway, is referenced in Peter Farris' novel Last Call for the Living.[15]

George Washington Harris' short story, "Sut Lovingood at Bull's Gap," is set in Bulls Gap.

Sports

Bulls Gap is home to Volunteer Speedway, a dirt racetrack, that is billed as the "World's Fastest Dirt Track."[16]

Education

Schools serving Bulls Gap are a part of the Hawkins County School System, they include:

• Bulls Gap School – Grades K-8
• Cherokee Comprehensive High School – Grades 9-12

Postal service

Bulls Gap has a post office, it is located on US Route 11E.

Bulls Gap has a zip code (37711). It serves portions of Greene, Hawkins and Hamblen counties.

References

1. Bulls Gap official website. Retrieved: 17 January 2013.
2. Tennessee Blue Book, 2005-2006, pp. 618-625.
3. Larry Miller, Tennessee Place Names (Indiana University Press, 2001), p. 33.
4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
5. Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Certified Population of Tennessee Incorporated Municipalities and Counties Archived 2014-06-30 at the Wayback Machine, State of Tennessee official website, 14 July 2011. Retrieved: 6 December 2013.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
9. Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. "Bulls Gap". Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
11. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
12. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
13. Brosi, George (2013-10-20). "Amy Greene: A Literary Phenomenon". Appalachian Heritage. 41 (4): 12–16. doi:10.1353/aph.2013.0118. ISSN 1940-5081.
14. McCarthy, Cormac (2010-08-11). Child of God. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307762481.
15. Farris, Peter (2012-05-22). Last Call for the Living. Tom Doherty Associates. ISBN 9781429988841.
16. "History « Volunteer Speedway". volunteerspeedway.com. Retrieved 2018-08-26.