View source for Sullivan County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county      = Sullivan County
 | state             = Tennessee
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1779
 | named for            = [[John Sullivan (general)|John Sullivan]]
 | seat wl         = Blountville
 | largest city wl   = Kingsport
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 430
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 413
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 16
 | area percentage      = 3.8%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 158163 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 162135 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = https://sullivancountytn.gov/
 | ex image             = Sullivan-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Sullivan County Courthouse in Blountville
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | district             = 1st
 | leader_title   = County Mayor
 | leader_name          = [[Richard Venable]] (R) }}

'''Sullivan County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]] on its northeast border. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 158,163.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47163.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707033641/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47163.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Blountville, Tennessee|Blountville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Sullivan County is part of the [[Kingsport–Bristol–Bristol metropolitan area|Kingsport&ndash;Bristol TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is a component of the [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]]&ndash;[[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]]&ndash;[[Bristol, Virginia|Bristol]], TN-VA [[Combined Statistical Area]], commonly known as the "[[Tri-Cities, Tennessee|Tri-Cities]]" region. Sullivan is Tennessee's second-oldest county;<ref>[http://sullivancountytn.gov/ Sullivan County official website]. Retrieved: November 6, 2013.</ref> it was established in 1779 when the area was still part of [[North Carolina]]. From 1784 to 1788, it was part of the extra-legal [[State of Franklin]].<ref>J.D. Lewis, "[http://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/ North Carolina Counties from 1664 to Present]," 2004. Retrieved: April 7, 2013.</ref>

==History==
Sullivan County was created in 1779 from a portion of [[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington County]], and named for [[John Sullivan (general)|John Sullivan]], a Patriot general in the Revolutionary War.<ref>[http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/05-06/44-counties.pdf Tennessee's Counties], ''Tennessee Blue Book'', 2006.</ref>  [[Long Island of the Holston]] in Kingsport was long an important center for the [[Cherokee]], who occupied much of this territory. Later in 1761 the British colonists built Fort Robinson on Long Island, following the fall of [[Fort Loudoun (Tennessee)|Fort Loudoun]] further to the south. This attracted other settlers, and the Sullivan area became one of the earliest areas of Tennessee to be settled by European Americans.<ref name=tehc>Blythe Semmer, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1279 Sullivan County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: April 7, 2013.</ref>

As political tensions rose prior to the [[American Civil War]], Sullivan County was one of the few East Tennessee counties to support secession. It became known as the Little Confederacy. In Tennessee's June 1861 referendum, the county voted 1,586 to 627 in favor of secession.<ref>Oliver Perry Temple, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=g8xYAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22The+detailed+vote+of+the+several+counties+was+as+follows%22&pg=PA199 East Tennessee and the Civil War]'' (R. Clarke Company, 1899), p. 199.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|430|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|413|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|16|sqmi}} (3.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_47.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 14, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The western portion of the county lies within the [[Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians]], which are characterized by long, narrow ridges roughly oriented northeast-to-southwest. The northeastern end of [[Bays Mountain]], part of the Ridge-and-Valley range, rises southwest of Kingsport. The eastern portion of the county lies within the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]].<ref>Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, et al., "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112754/http://www.epa.gov/ttnamti1/files/networkplans/TNPlan2010.pdf Ambient Air Monitoring Plan]," Environmental Protection Agency website, July 1, 2010. Accessed: March 18, 2015.</ref> [[Holston Mountain]], which at {{convert|4284|ft|m}} is the highest point in Sullivan, straddles the county's eastern boundary with [[Johnson County, Tennessee|Johnson County]].

In Kingsport, the South Fork Holston River and the North Fork Holston River join to form the [[Holston River]], one of the tributaries of the [[Tennessee River]]. The [[Watauga River]], a tributary of the South Fork Holston, forms part of Sullivan's boundary with Washington County to the south. The North Fork Holston forms part of Sullivan's boundary with [[Hawkins County, Tennessee|Hawkins County]] to the west. [[Fort Patrick Henry Dam]] and [[Boone Dam]] both create large artificial lakes along the South Fork Holston southeast of Kingsport.

[[Blountville, Tennessee|Blountville]], Sullivan's county seat, is Tennessee's only [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] county seat.

===Morrell Cave===
Morrell Cave (also known as Worleys Cave) is a Tennessee State Natural Area. The cave has a surveyed length of {{convert|4.4|mi|km}}, making it the second-longest cave in East Tennessee and the 177th longest cave in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gulden |first=Bob |author-link=Robert Gulden |title=Long Caves List |url=https://www.caverbob.com/wlong.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515145704/http://www.caverbob.com/wlong.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 15, 2006 |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=www.caverbob.com}}</ref><ref>Larry E. Matthews, ''Caves of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains'' (National Speleological Society, June 2008), pp. 253-276. {{ISBN|978-1-879961-30-2}}</ref>  Morrell Cave is located on the south side of the [[Holston River]], {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} east of Bluff City.

During the Civil War, the cave was a major source of [[saltpeter]], the main ingredient of gunpowder. Significant evidence of this mining activity remains in the cave, including evidence of large amounts of saltpeter-bearing dirt having been removed, pick marks in the dirt, and an elaborate system of trails used by the miners. Cave historian Marion O. Smith has determined that two companies of the Confederate [[Nitre and Mining Bureau]], District No. 7, were active in Sullivan County.<ref>Laurie Adams, "History of Morrell Cave, Part I" (''Flittermouse Grotto'' of the National Speleological Society, August 1984).</ref>

===Adjacent counties and independent city===
*[[Scott County, Virginia]] (north)
*[[Washington County, Virginia]] (northeast)
*[[Bristol, Virginia]] (northeast)
*[[Johnson County, Tennessee|Johnson County]] (east)
*[[Carter County, Tennessee|Carter County]] (southeast)
*[[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington County]] (south)
*[[Hawkins County, Tennessee|Hawkins County]] (west)

===National protected areas===
*[[Appalachian Trail]] (part)
*[[Cherokee National Forest]] (part)

===State protected areas===
*Morrell's Cave State Natural Area
*[[Rocky Mount State Historic Site]]
*[[Warriors' Path State Park]]

===Other protected areas===
*[[Bays Mountain Park]] (part)

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{jct|state=TN|I|26}}
*{{jct|state=TN|I|81}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|11E}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|11W}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|19}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|19E}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|19W}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|23}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|421}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|1}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|34}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|36}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|44}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|75}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|93}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|126}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|346}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|347}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|357}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|358}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|390}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Dual|394}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|435}}
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1800 = 10218
| 1810 = 6847
| 1820 = 7015
| 1830 = 10073
| 1840 = 10736
| 1850 = 11742
| 1860 = 13552
| 1870 = 13136
| 1880 = 18321
| 1890 = 20879
| 1900 = 24935
| 1910 = 28120
| 1920 = 36259
| 1930 = 51087
| 1940 = 69085
| 1950 = 95063
| 1960 = 114139
| 1970 = 127329
| 1980 = 143968
| 1990 = 143596
| 2000 = 153048
| 2010 = 156823
| 2020 = 158163
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 162135
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop.xlsx| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF"/>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Sullivan County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|150px|left|Age pyramid Sullivan County<ref>Based on 2000 [[census]] data</ref>]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Sullivan County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47163&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 26, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 143,354
| 90.64%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 3,197
| 2.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 350
| 0.22%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 1,270
| 0.8%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 36
| 0.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 6,408
| 4.05%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 3,548
| 2.24%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 158,163 people, 68,560 households, and 44,284 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 156,823 people living in the county. 95.1% were [[White American|White]], 2.1% [[African American|Black or African American]], 0.6% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.6% of some other race and 1.3% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 1.5% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=Sullivan+County,+Tennessee&y=2010&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)|title=Explore Census Data|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 153,048 people, 63,556 households, and 44,806 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|371|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 69,052 housing units at an average density of {{convert|167|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.55% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.89% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 63,556 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families according to the [[United States Census Bureau]]. Of 63,556 households, 1,915 are unmarried partner households: 1,702 heterosexual, 97 same-sex male, 116 same-sex female. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,529, and the median income for a family was $41,025. Males had a median income of $31,204 versus $21,653 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,202. About 9.70% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Sullivan County, like all of Tennessee outside Nashville and Memphis, is heavily Republican, but, unlike most of East Tennessee, has not voted consistently Republican since the Civil War. Being one of only six counties in East Tennessee and the only county in Northeast Tennessee to support the Confederacy, Sullivan County mostly voted Democratic between the end of the Civil War and the mid-20th century, the only county in the northern two-thirds of East Tennessee to do so. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry Sullivan County was southerner [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election in Tennessee|1976]].

[[Richard Venable]] is the county mayor. The county commission has 24 members.<ref name="Commissioners List">[http://www.sullivancountytn.gov/sullivan-county-commissioners Sullivan County Commissioner Information], official county website. Retrieved: April 7, 2013.</ref> Before 2010, commissioners were elected on a nonpartisan basis, but Sullivan County's commission election became a partisan election in 2010 after the county Republican Party decided to conduct a [[Partisan primary|primary election]] for commission seats.<ref>John Osbourne, [http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9018539 Partisan elections on tap for Sullivan County Commission], ''Kingsport Times News'', November 20, 2009</ref> The county elections also cover Circuit Court Judges, Chancellor, Criminal Court Judge, District Attorney General, Public Defender, County Trustee, General Session Judge, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Commissioner of Highways, County Attorney, and School Board.

{{PresHead|place=Sullivan County, Tennessee|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|1,207|2,264|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|1,298|2,176|36|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,513|2,255|76|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,304|2,281|336|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,914|2,512|56|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,739|2,421|56|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,506|2,116|46|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,836|2,393|32|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|538|2,413|1,277|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,776|2,601|7|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,593|4,327|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,247|3,313|65|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,149|3,216|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,999|5,322|121|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,492|6,269|34|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,153|7,234|34|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|5,223|6,290|31|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|6,984|7,626|510|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|15,596|11,849|118|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|18,903|14,106|497|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|22,354|14,731|513|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|17,703|19,496|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|20,251|9,783|9,991|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|27,593|10,007|917|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|22,087|23,353|1,322|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|25,963|22,341|2,166|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|36,516|16,925|394|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|32,996|17,396|585|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|28,801|20,935|7,244|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|29,296|20,571|3,970|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|33,482|21,354|891|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|42,555|19,637|447|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|44,808|18,354|835|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|43,562|15,321|1,004|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|46,979|12,578|2,721|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|55,860|17,272|1,225|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|58,154|16,624|763|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot}}

===Current composition of the Sullivan County Commission===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!District
!Member
!Location
|-
| District 1
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | David Hayes (2022- )
| Bristol, TN
|-
|rowspan=3 | District 2
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | David Akard
| Bristol, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Cheryl Harvey (2022- )
| Bristol, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Matt Slagle (2022-  )
| Bristol, TN
|-
| District 3
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Andrew Cross
| Bristol, TN
|-
|rowspan=3 | District 4
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Michael Cole
| Blountville, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Joyce Crosswhite
| Blountville, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Tony Leonard
| Bristol, TN
|-
|rowspan=2 | District 5
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Hershel Glover
| Bluff City, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Dwight Kings
| Piney Flats, TN
|-
|rowspan=3 | District 6
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Daniel Horne (2022- )
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Jessica Crowder Means (2022- )
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Zane Vanover (2022- ) 
| Kingsport, TN
|-
|rowspan=2 | District 7
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Sam Jones
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Travis Ward (2022 - )
| Kingsport, TN
|-
|rowspan=2 | District 8
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Darlene Calton
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Mark Ireson (2022- )
| Kingsport, TN
|-
|rowspan=2 | District 9
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Joe Carr (2022- )
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Joseph McMurray (2022- )
| Kingsport, TN
|-
|rowspan=2 | District 10
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Larry Crawford
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Gary Stidham
| Kingsport, TN
|-
|rowspan=3 | District 11
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | John Gardner
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Hunter Locke
| Kingsport, TN
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Archie Pierce
| Kingsport, TN
|}

====2022====
The primary election took place on May 3, 2022, with the general election concurring with the State/Federal general election on August 4. The following incumbents did not run for re-election, Randy C. Morrell (District 1), Mark Hutton (District 2), and Judy Blalock (District 6). Angie Stanley retired from her seat in District 7 to unsuccessfully challenge incumbent mayor Richard Veneable in a primary. Both of the incumbents from District 9 (Downton [[Kingsport, Tennessee]], retired, Collette George (who also serves on the Kingsport BMA [her son was running for county mayor]) and Doug Woods.

====Incumbents who lost re-election====
The following incumbents lost re-nomination:
District 2 - Mark Vance (ran for county mayor, dropped out, lost renomination)
District 6 - Todd Broughton (placed 4th in top 3 advance)
District 6 - Terry Harkleroad (placed 6th in top 3 advance)

No incumbents lost re-election in the general election. Most races were uncontested (the republicans were the only ones on the ballot), except District 7 in which Lori Love (wife of perennial candidate Avril Love, and Democratic State Executive Committeewoman) garnered 15% of the vote, and District 9, Independent Candidate Randall Bowers garnered 15% if the vote.

====Sheriff====
Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy first ran for the position in 2018 as an independent beating out controversial Republican Wayne Anderson. He ran for re-election in 2022 as a Republican. Alongside Circuit Court Judge District 2, Part I, John S. McLellan III, who was serving as a Democrat, by changing both of their political affiliations to Republican in this election, they have effectively ended

====County Mayoral Election====
The election for County Mayor was between incumbent Richard S. Veneable (Republican), Val Edwards George (Independent [Conservative]), and Bobby Weaver (Independent [Conservative])

{{Election box begin no change | title=2021 Mayoral Election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Veneable (incumbent)
  |votes      = 5,162
  |percentage = 66.26
  }}
{{Election box candidate no change
  |party      = Nonpartisan
  |candidate  = Val Edwards George
  |votes      = 1,967
  |percentage = 25.25
  }}
{{Election box candidate no change
  |party      = Nonpartisan
  |candidate  = Bobby Weaver
  |votes      = 661
  |percentage = 8.49
  }}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 7,790
  | percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Law enforcement===
The Sullivan County Sheriffs Office has a staff of 260 deputies, corrections officers, and support personnel. The department also staffs a 24-7 9-1-1 dispatch center that provides dispatching for the sheriff's office, Bluff City Police Department, Sullivan County Fire Departments, and Sullivan County EMS. The dispatch center receives approximately 100,000 calls each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff {{!}} Sullivan County TN |url=https://sullivancountytn.gov/?page_id=223 |access-date=November 6, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{As of|2022}} the sheriff is Jeff Cassidy, who won election in 2018 after a very contentious race against previous sheriff Wayne Anderson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spell |first=Lurah|title=Sullivan sheriff-elect plans to shake up current staff |url=https://heraldcourier.com/news/sullivan-sheriff-elect-plans-to-shake-up-current-staff/article_d6b880ee-1882-5794-b784-cf9b8f2bc23a.html |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Bristol Herald Courier - Tricities |language=en|date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> Anderson apologized after sending text messages to a corrections employee that threatened to fire anyone who voted for his opponent, Jeff Cassidy, and saying that department employees would [[Desecration of graves|urinate on Cassidy's grave]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Rain|title=Sullivan Co. sheriff apologizes for texts blasting opponent, threatening employees |url=https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/news/sullivan-co-sheriff-apologizes-for-texts-blasting-opponent-threatening-employees/article_0abb7605-3f93-58b3-ac4c-2464c9a00022.html |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Johnson City Press |language=en|date=July 29, 2018}}</ref>

A 2022 lawsuit claims that sheriff's deputies retaliated against a woman who had asked them to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Satterfield |first=Jamie |title=Sullivan County woman claims sheriff's deputies retaliated after she insisted on masks |url=https://tennesseelookout.com/2022/05/23/sullivan-county-claims-sheriffs-deputies-retaliated-after-she-insisted-on-masks/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=Tennessee Lookout |language=en-US|date=May 23, 2022}}</ref>

Since the organization was established, 10 members of the sheriff's office have died in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.odmp.org/agency/3741-sullivan-county-sheriffs-office-tennessee|title=Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, TN|website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Bluff City, Tennessee|Bluff City]]
*[[Bristol, Tennessee|Bristol]]
*[[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]] (mostly in [[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington County]] and a small portion in [[Carter County, Tennessee|Carter County]])
*[[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]] (partly in [[Hawkins County, Tennessee|Hawkins County]])

===Census-designated places===
{{Div col}}
*[[Bloomingdale, Tennessee|Bloomingdale]]
*[[Blountville, Tennessee|Blountville]] (county seat)
*[[Colonial Heights, Tennessee|Colonial Heights]]
*[[Orebank, Tennessee|Orebank]]
*[[Spurgeon, Tennessee|Spurgeon]] (partial)
*[[Sullivan Gardens, Tennessee|Sullivan Gardens]]
*[[Walnut Hill, Tennessee|Walnut Hill]]
{{Div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col}}
* [[Arcadia, Tennessee|Arcadia]]
* [[Boring, Tennessee|Boring]]
* [[Buffalo, Sullivan County, Tennessee|Buffalo]]
* [[Cedar Grove (east), Sullivan County, Tennessee|Cedar Grove (east)]]
* [[Cedar Grove (west), Sullivan County, Tennessee|Cedar Grove (west)]]
* [[Fordtown, Tennessee|Fordtown]]
* [[Holston Valley, Tennessee|Holston Valley]]
* [[Lynn Garden, Tennessee|Lynn Garden]]
* [[Morrison City, Tennessee|Morrison City]] 
* [[Piney Flats, Tennessee|Piney Flats]]
{{Div col end}}

==Education==
The three school districts are [[Bristol Tennessee City Schools]], [[Kingsport City School District]], and [[Sullivan County School District (Tennessee)|Sullivan County School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47163_sullivan/DC20SD_C47163.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47163_sullivan/DC20SD_C47163.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sullivan County, TN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=September 24, 2021}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st47_tn/schooldistrict_maps/c47163_sullivan/DC20SD_C47163_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

The Sullivan county school district includes:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools {{!}} Sullivan County Schools |url=http://www.sullivank12.net/schools/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>

;Elementary schools
{|
|-valign="Top"
|
*Bluff City Elementary
*Central Heights Elementary
*Mary Hughes School
*Sullivan Gardens Elementary
*Emmett Elementary
|
*Holston Elementary
*Indian Springs Elementary
*Ketron Elementary
*Miller Perry Elementary
*Rock Springs Elementary
|}

;Middle schools
*Central Middle
*East Middle
*Sullivan Heights Middle

;High schools
*[[Sullivan East High School]]
*[[West Ridge High School]]

==Notable people==
* [[Besse Cooper]], (1896-2012), age 116, the [[Oldest people|world's oldest living person]] from June 21, 2011, until her death on December 4, 2012.
* [[Austin Augustus King]] (1802–1870), American lawyer, politician, and military officer. Tenth governor of Missouri and a one-term United States congressman.
* [[John Smith (Restoration Movement)|John Smith]], early leader in the Restoration Movement.

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan County, Tennessee]]
*''[[Rader v. State]]'' (1880)

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*''Sullivan County, Tennessee Veterans History''. Nashville: Turner Publishing Company (2001). {{ISBN|1-56311-774-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
*[https://www.networkstn.com/ NETWORKS - Sullivan Partnership]
*[http://www.sullivank12.net/ Sullivan County Dept. of Education]
*[http://www.combs-families.org/combs/records/tn/sull-alhn.html Sullivan Co, TN American Local History Network]
*[https://tngenweb.org/sullivan/ Sullivan County TNGenWeb]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Sullivan County, Tennessee
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Washington County, Virginia]], and [[Bristol, Virginia]]
|East      = [[Johnson County, Tennessee|Johnson County]]
|Southeast = [[Carter County, Tennessee|Carter County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington County]]
|West      = [[Hawkins County, Tennessee|Hawkins County]]
|Northwest = [[Scott County, Virginia]]
}}
{{Sullivan County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}
{{State of Franklin}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|36.51|-82.30|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Sullivan County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1779 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:East Tennessee]]
[[Category:Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1779]]
[[Category:Second Amendment sanctuaries in Tennessee]]
[[Category:State of Franklin]]