Bulls Gap, Tennessee

Bulls Gap is a town in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 756 at the 2020 census. It is part of the 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
Town
Several buildings in the old section of Bulls Gap
Several buildings in the old section of Bulls Gap
Location in Hawkins County, Tennessee
Location in Hawkins County, Tennessee
Bulls Gap is located in Tennessee
Bulls Gap
Bulls Gap
Bulls Gap is located in the United States
Bulls Gap
Bulls Gap
Coordinates: 36°15′33″N 83°4′46″W
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyHawkins
Settled1792[1]
Incorporated1955[2]
Named forJohn Bull (early settler)[3]
Government
 • TypeBoard of Mayor and Aldermen
 • MayorStacy Hayes
 • Vice MayorJimmy Riley
 • Aldermen
List of Aldermen
Area
[4]
 • Total1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2)
 • Land1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,181 ft (360 m)
Population
 (2020)[5]
 • Total756
 • Density620.69/sq mi (239.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
37711
Area code423
FIPS code47-09560[6]
GNIS feature ID1269404[7]

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.[8]

Geography

Bulls Gap is located at 36°15′33″N 83°4′46″W (36.259094, -83.079507).[9]

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
CensusPop.Note%±
1960682—
197077413.5%
19808216.1%
1990659−19.7%
20007148.3%
20107383.4%
20207562.4%
Sources:[10][11][5]

2020 census
Bulls Gap racial composition[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 705 93.25%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3 0.4%
Asian 2 0.26%
Other/Mixed 35 4.63%
Hispanic or Latino 11 1.46%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 756 people, 352 households, and 222 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 714 people, 319 households, and 210 families residing in the town. The population density was 570.6 inhabitants per square mile (220.3/km2). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 278.1 per square mile (107.4/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]

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]

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."[15]

Education

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

Postal service

Bulls Gap has a Post Office located on US Route 11E, with the ZIP Code 37711. It serves portions of Greene, Hawkins and Hamblen counties.

References
  1. Bulls Gap official website Archived 2020-03-19 at the Wayback Machine. 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. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. "Bulls Gap". Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  11. "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 June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  13. Brosi, George (October 20, 2013). "Amy Greene: A Literary Phenomenon". Appalachian Heritage. 41 (4): 12–16. doi:10.1353/aph.2013.0118. ISSN 1940-5081.
  14. McCarthy, Cormac (August 11, 2010). Child of God. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307762481.
  15. "History « Volunteer Speedway". volunteerspeedway.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

36.259094°N 83.079507°W / 36.259094; -83.079507

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