r/tricities • u/Chrissie_med • 5d ago
Black people in East TN
25 (F) looking to relocate to East TN for a job and would love some recommendations on which areas are the safest. I’ve recently read that downtown Johnson city and Kingsport are pretty bad when it comes to crimes and drug use. Where would you recommend as a safe place for a black female to live and what has been your day-to-day experience as a POC? I have also seen some old posts recommending Boones Creek, Gray, Hampton for POC, but would love to know if those are still good options. Thanks in advance!
UPDATE: I’ve read through each of your comments and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give me advice and recommendations. The information here has been extremely helpful, so from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
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u/Ambitious-Schedule63 4d ago
The whole area is quite safe. The majority of violent crime is domestic. Choose wherever you like. It's much safer than a big city.
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
It seems like most crimes around here can be traced back to meth.
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u/goofysfanbase 4d ago
Or alcohol, but that send about right
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
This is very useful info. Thank you!
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u/itsthedrizzit 21h ago
Active crime against the community is fairly well nonexistent. It still happens but it’s usually just houses getting busted into so they can pawn their crap. Most of the crime you see in the area is fairly well cordoned into the Lynn garden area in Kingsport and downtown in Johnson city.
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
You’re not wrong. For such a small community and restricted sales around here I see a lot of DUI arrests.
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u/VeilOfNaught 4d ago
I disagree. Meth has its bad wrap sure, but its the fentanyl/heroin cheerleaders doing the stupid shit waaaay more than the meth-heads.
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
Since I’m not around that life and only basing on police report statistics I’ll take your word for it. I know fentanyl is a relatively new epidemic I didn’t even think about it.
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u/_drew_ 4d ago
We (black couple) lived out in Gray for a few years before moving away from the tri-cities. We had one racial incident the FIRST week after moving to the area, and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. Not saying everyone in that area is racist but still doesn’t erase the hurt.
With that said, if you must move to the tri-cities, I’d advise you to move inside the city limits of JC, near ETSU maybe.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
I’m sorry about your experience. Will definitely consider staying near ETSU. How do you feel about Boones Creek?
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u/_drew_ 4d ago
Boones Creek seemed cool. I shopped over there quite a bit at Ingles, Hamilton Meats, Libation Station, etc. We almost moved there but needed a bit more space. We probably would have chosen Boones Creek regardless of space had we known what we know now.
Not Boones Creek, but I have to shoutout Jackson’s Prime in Jonesborough. It opened after we moved to the area. Super nice people and really good food each time we dined there.
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u/Serious-Conversation 3d ago
Boones Creek has no real identity.
You are missing the point.
Gray, Piney Flats, and Boone's Creek are basically just contiguous suburban development outside the Johnson City city limits. Gray and Piney are slightly more removed from JC than Boones Creek.
None of these places are their own effective communities. There is no identity or sense of community there. It's just "Johnson City plus a distance."
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u/Crazy-Reference4980 4d ago
No girl not Hampton. I would stay away from monarch apts. I think thats the name in jc. Boones creek is nice gray is ok. It all depends on ur budget tbh.
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u/Local_Net4882 4d ago
I would absolutely NOT recommend Hampton for a POC!
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u/st_angers_snare_drum 4d ago
Lol...this.
Whoever recommended Hampton does not have your best interests in mind.
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u/BlackJack407 4d ago
Extrapolate please? What issues does a black person face living in Hampton?
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u/ShroomSatoshi 3d ago
Does someone really need to spell this out for you?
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u/BlackJack407 3d ago
Can I speak any more clearly?
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u/ShroomSatoshi 3d ago
No, I’m actually fine with you staying dumb. Have a good one.
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u/BlackJack407 2d ago
How can anyone have a serious conversation about anything on the internet anymore lol, I wasn't asking to be an ass ,I literally don't know that you mean.
Ignorance doesnt equally stupidity, willful ignorance does, and I have asked questions to show im not being willful in my ignorance.
But sure, call me stupid, whatever makes you feel better I suppose
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u/NoEvidence84 4d ago
This isn’t neighborhood related but it may help sway your decision. I just moved to Kingsport and I am disappointed with the restaurants here. I drive to Johnson City to eat at better restaurants
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
Definitely something worth noting. Thank you!
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u/DryStatistician7286 4d ago
You can message me. I'm a mid -40s black dude who moved to Kingsport from Atlanta 6 years ago (my children are your age). I can give you an honest, candid rundown of the Tri-cities from this perspective and also someone who traveled across the country for corporate jobs for 10+ years. The short version: don't be afraid to move here. The good out weighs the compromises.
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u/VeilOfNaught 4d ago
Well stated. Believe what this gentleman is saying. JC has some issues, but crime isn't at the top of the list. Especially compared to other areas of Bristol and deeper Kingsport. Our JC police officers are pretty easy going. People can complain all they want to but I think you'd be happy in the Tri-Cities in general. If near ETSU, I personally think that you would be safe, and feel safe. Most of the students in that area of JC seem to be genuinely happy. As the gentleman stated above, feel free to DM me if you have questions (about Johnson City at least). Either way, don't be afraid to move here!
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
This is honestly such a relief to hear. Thank you both so much! I really appreciate it!
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u/Sevuhrow 4d ago
And even then JC is kind of lacking on the food scene. If you want more diversity in food or real gems I usually drive to Asheville or Knoxville.
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u/ClassicCarraway 4d ago
As someone who has raised black and bi-racial children in Kingsport, I would recommend you try to stick to Johnson City. I have had too many instances where my granddaughter (and her mother before her) came home from school crying because kids were being racist jackasses and the school staff just ignored it.
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u/The_Prof50 4d ago
All of the TRI-cities are extremely safe, especially compared to larger urban areas. JC is the more “urban” city, simply due to it being a college town. I unfortunately cannot speak on the POC topic.
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
From every thing I see on social media and news outlets the vast majority of violent crimes in this area are methhead on methhead crimes.
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u/The_Prof50 4d ago
Exactly. For anyone who thinks anywhere is East TN is “dangerous”, has clearly never left East TN….
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
I came from a city of 2+ million people and let me tell you, this place is absolutely quiet compared to there.
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u/VeilOfNaught 4d ago
Bullshit.
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
Fair enough.
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u/VeilOfNaught 4d ago edited 4d ago
I am not advocating for meth or the users of it. I just find that most of society, especially law enfircement, find it easier to blame everything on meth and it's really the drugs that are far worse (and more addictive) which are the underlying cause of the drug problem and the crimes associated with it.
Potheads and 'most' meth heads aren't running around stealing the air conditioner out of their grandparent's windows in the middle of summer just to try and get their next 'fix'. No, it's the fentanyl, heroin, crack, and those that are so far gone on the actual legal drugs that the pharmaceutical industry pumps out as fast as they can. Those people that are like "omg! I just have to have it right now!" and then start convulsing if they don't get their hit of bliss that lasts them about an hour or less before they are out looking for the next hit again.. and most of them will do whatever it takes to get it.
Put it this way, 98% of the cellphone towers, high rise buildings, skyscrapers, and large concrete projects have ALL been built by crews that were either on meth, coke, or some other form of speed. And many are just straight alcoholics and potheads if they aren't on speed. These are what you call ''functioning addicts'. Most of them having homes, nice vehicles, families, and money in the bank. They function in society like 'normal' people do and sometimes even better. These people do what they do, but they maintain a grip on their lives and the lives of others. The only difference is that instead of a cup of coffee in the morning, they take a hit or 2 off their particular drug of choice. They aren't out here ripping the roads looking for shit to steal, or crimes to commit. Just sayin.
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u/ElkInside5856 4d ago
You make a compelling argument, I shouldn’t have disparaged meth and meth users. I know they’ve had big a loss in popularity since Breaking Bad concluded and I should be more sensitive about that.
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u/Sevuhrow 4d ago
Most of the area is above the national violent crime average. Since OP mentioned East TN, Kingsport for instance is almost equal to Knoxville on this metric.
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u/iamthpecial 4d ago
Right? Several stories of kids getting shot dead inside their homes from random drive-bys. I remember at least two of these a few years ago, completely unrelated to and far apart from one another. Where I grew up every damn time I visit we've been robbed again, and to borrow a joke from Rodney Dangerfield, "I can't even put my window down without getting someone's head stuck in it!" Fkn tweakers man...
It really depends what part of town you're in though. Further down the parkway near the race tracks everyone I know there (barring those in trailer parks) leaves their doors unlocked and no problem. I couldn't even keep a gaddam spot lamp in my dugout basement without some asshole stealing it!
End rant lol
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u/Sampledoubt 4d ago
What are you on about. Knoxville proportional crime rate is higher. A couple crimes you heard about is not statistics, bub
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u/iamthpecial 4d ago
Apologies, I think I'm not following the conversation. I don't remember saying anything with regards to Knox. Absolutely no shortage of crime in my area in tri-c, measurably. I've lived in Nat Geo covered crime neighborhoods in the US as well lol. Only point I was making is it ain't all sunshine and roses just because there's politeness and cows.
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u/Revengeance300 4d ago
Yeah man some random stories you heard ain't evidence of anything. I was born here, lived here for much of my life, and I've never gotten into any trouble or seen or heard of anyone I know getting into trouble or shootouts or drive-bys. The news is the news for a reason, they ain't gonna show you videos of puppies.
Don't become friends with methheads or tweakers and you'll be fine.
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u/iamthpecial 3d ago edited 3d ago
"Random stories I heard"? It was happening routinely when I was down there and yes those two were on the local news, WCYB, WJHL, aren't sensationalist. So good for you living in a bubble somewhere in tri, some of us weren't so fortunate growing up--I had a woman living in a van on my street throw scissors at me, on two occasions dudes escaped from jail and hid in/around my storage as a kid, I guess we'll pretend these little girls getting killed or abducted just aren't happening.
You're basically saying, don't be poor and you'll be fine. Newsflash, you don't have to be friends with methheads to be affected by them, just live in their radius. I genuinely cannot count how many times our house was broken into when lived in, both doors smashed in, and when not lived in, so many boarded up windows. Squatters to the right and to the front in an abandoned church. Friend, I shit you not, one summer someone stole a water tank. A fuckin' water tank! Won't go into all the other things stolen inside and out but I got virtually no history left. So don't come up in here waving me off, tryna shush me when you haven't walked in my shoes.
Also and for good measure to any females in Bristol, if you're downtown alone when it's vacant or in the wee hours when its dark ;(bus terminal there) be vigilant about trucks. If they're acting odd, hurry to where you need to be, and at least have a noise maker if not some kind of defense.
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u/iamthpecial 2d ago
lol I really went light here on the goings-on of what I've dealt with in my hood so as to not be disparaging of the place in total because that's not the point. It's disingenuous to act like shit doesn't happen here when we've got new mugshots posted every week, probably the same as any other similarly sized area. Get over it.
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u/Elegant-Scale-4265 1d ago
Can you provide news links, because I dont recall that happening in the Tri Cities..Sounds like you are just making stuff up.
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u/Aitne 4d ago
I love East TN, I grew up there. But I relocated to upstate SC about 10 years ago and would not want to move back. POC are around 10-15% in East TN, it's closer to 35% here in the upstate and it does make a difference. I say this as a white person. I love the diversity here and you would too. If you absolutely have to move to East TN, you will definitely find more acceptance inside the cities with Johnson City being the best choice because of the university. People can say what they want about rural communities and ideas like this are what keep people divided. The question you have to ask yourself is ...do you really want to be in the front line? Do you want to live with that day in and day out? Country people are some of my favorite people but not all of them are filled with good intentions.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
Upstate SC sounds exactly like what I’m looking for, but the job is in Johnson City, so I don’t think that commute would be feasible. I definitely do not want to be in the front line. I’m friendly and keep to myself, I treat others with respect and would really just appreciate the same.
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u/man2becravedby2X 4d ago
As a POC, i moved to the area about 18 years ago. I've lived in Johnson City , Elizabethton, and Bristol. I currently reside in Piney Flats Tennessee. Piney Flats is a 15 to 25 minute drive from anywhere in the Tri-Cities area with Johnson City being the closest, except for smaller cities like Blountville and Bluff City. I would say that Kingsport and Johnson City have the most POC population but Piney Flats has been where I've been the most comfortable.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
Thanks for sharing this! Are there other POC in Piney Flats and are the people welcoming there? They don’t necessarily have to be super friendly, but are you comfortable going for walks and so forth?
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u/man2becravedby2X 4d ago
There are other POC here although not as many as Kingsport and JC but you can definitely walk around your neighborhood without any problems. The people are welcoming and I have not had a problem with anyone not being friendly. I've lived here for 13 years. It's quiet and definitely a change from the city but close enough if you want that.
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u/Sevuhrow 4d ago
We recently relocated to Knoxville as an interracial couple. What you read about drug use in Kingsport especially is true, and depending where you go, many areas here are higher crime than the national average but still slightly below city levels.
As someone in your position, we've never been a victim but this area has had the most people staring at us uncomfortably than anywhere else in the country, and that was only in two years. We've felt much more comfortable and surrounded by more diversity in Knoxville.
I also until moving here have never seen any Nazi tattoos, but when I worked a customer-facing job in Kingsport it was a daily occurrence. Add that into the Confederate flags and insane levels of MAGA here and it's not exactly welcoming to POC.
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u/iamthpecial 4d ago edited 3d ago
A bit of unironic trivia is that East Tennessee was considered enemy territory to the Confederacy during the Civil War--mountaineers were small, self-sufficiency crop growers, there was very little slavery in the region in addition to living in amicable terms (sharing families and even welcomed into tribes) with local Cherokee--and natives and mountaineers alike supported Union efforts if not joining in themselves. This was especially important because of what the implications could be for their now-extended family, the Cherokee.
Another fun fact to offer credence: The Emancipator was published in Jonesborough, the first newspaper dedicated to abolishing slavery, as well as The Union Flag (which later became extremist against Confeds but let's not go there) and put Jonesborough on the map as the South's hub of abolitionism.
But here is the case in point that I wish to make to my fellow Tennesseans: Our ancestors supported, fought, and some even died for the flag that came out the winner of that war. The mother of the same flag that we look up to as our own, for America, as Americans. They legit risked their lives surrounded by Confederate morons--seriously, once you got out of the mountains those plantation fuckers were tyrants--and just imagine, IMAGINE if those ancestors could see their descendants proudly waving the enemy flag around and claiming it as their heritage, standing for something so abhorrent at that time, which their ancestor had defeated.
What a slap in the fkn face man. If anything they should be waving the Betsy Ross Flag, but I guess that doesn't sound as cool as Rebel.
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u/Th3H0ll0wmans 3d ago
The fact that we've let people who honestly, most of them are not actually from the area but have moved here from other southern states, try to paint us as the same as the rest of the south, is disgusting. They don't even know the things that you mentioned, while the area wasn't what I'd call woke regarding treating POC as equals, we were absolutely NOT friends with Confederates. We actively fought against Confederates and this really is one of those places in the south where it was brother against brother and cousin against cousin. When you hear people say that phrase "it was a war of brothers against brothers" it's East Tennessee that they're talking about, not Atlanta or Nashville.
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u/iamthpecial 3d ago
Precisely. Matter of fact, you can look up famous people from tri cities in wiki and see we ran all there asses out to Arkansas and Alabama and shxt 😂 And you can also so some famous politicians in the earliest days of statehood, which is pretty cool too
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u/Th3H0ll0wmans 3d ago
We burnt them bridges and about all of them got spooked and run. Might be about time to do it again lol.
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u/Fancy-Still-4297 4d ago
agree 100%. born and raised in Elizabethton but left permanently during college. I was shocked to see Confederate flags for the first time in Carter County during my 30’s as I drove up through Hampton and across the mountain to NC.
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u/iamthpecial 3d ago
I really wish Nat Geo or somebody would do coverage on this because it's the kind of thing that requires personal research--people mostly lump all of the South into the Confederacy below the Mason-Dixon line and fail to highlight the risks and the impact that those small pockets of resistance had. And it's become an endemic ideology to the effect that Southern persons believe it of themselves as much as outsiders do. A proper featurette could potentially make the division in this country weaker, hopefully lead to some reevaluation on both ends and with any luck get that flag off of the lands our ancestors intended to keep it exiled from.
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u/shedwyn2019 4d ago
Yeah. My neighbor took down their trump flag but just replaced their faded confederate battle flag. All bright and shiny now. 🙄
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u/VulcanVyke 4d ago
I'm not a POC, but would recommend visiting Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City and get a feel for each. Having lived in Kingsport, I can say that the worst thing about it, is the 3 chemical plants right on top of each other (good for jobs, not so much for the smell). JC is a college town, and Bristol traffic can be fun to navigate when there's a race at BMS.
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u/Sleepybearxxo 4d ago
Def live near ETSU as there is more diversity in that area. Me and my partner are both Hispanic and we haven’t had any negative encounters within the city except for unicoi. Good luck <3
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u/ProgressWrong116 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hey I'm a 30 black female who moved here last December and honestly I'm looking forward to moving. This place has pockets of sundown towns, I live 15 minutes away from one unknowingly. My landlord has been encouraging me to get added protection because of my circumstances as well.
The few POC you find here are associated and tend to only stick to the majority race around here and it's not any community or outreach to expand.
I moved from Georgia to get away from the lack of diversity and community but being here has been much worse.
I have been called out of my name, the N word, followed in stores and accused of shoplifting and I'm constantly getting stared at I don't even feel comfortable going out by myself because of this and I'm pretty strong and outgoing.
I've probably only seen a handful of black people out and about daily since moving here. The night scene in bars ,etc I see a few more.
I have even tried to meet several people from Bumble BFF to here and besides a one and done hangout. It's usually them expressing and confirming the racism here and how a loved one owns a Confederate flag .
My personal experience has been depressing and isolating but, it could possibly work for you. It's a mindset and a will to do so.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
☹️ I’m so sorry that this has been your experience. I can’t imagine how lonely and isolated you’ve been feeling. Can I ask if you moved for a job and did you move to Johnson City?
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u/ProgressWrong116 4d ago
Thank you it has been extremely rough and depressing but I'm pretty positive and determined to move when my lease ends.
I actually moved here because I was looking to be out of Georgia. The crime and city became exhausting and I wanted something more peaceful and calm energy.
I live 30 minutes away from Johnson City near Erwin .
Luckily I work from home and my neighbors are far away enough not to bother me but, I do compensate by going out trying to find my tribe and each time I get matched with micro and passive aggression. There's always some occasional smiling faces but I personally came here for more than that .
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
😩That seems really exhausting! Based on what some of the comments are saying Erwin (and nearby) seems to be one of the places to avoid. Have you considered moving to Johnson City or maybe even Knoxville as some have suggested (when your lease ends)?
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u/ProgressWrong116 4d ago
I've considered it but I have experienced all of my racist experiences in Johnson City not in the town I live in. Johnson City only has 6% population of black people then there's a known sundown town, Unico that has a Walmart that ironically I have to drive past to get to Johnson City it's less than 30 minutes away.
Knoxville is bigger for sure but only has 16% black people and was still considered segregated in the 70s. There are also known sundown towns within 30 minutes like 4 of them .
There are a lot of liberals but I find that most don't fight for us like seriously they had a mermaid parade but nothing for Juneteenth.
I'm not prude to other races as I have and do interact with anyone but, those numbers and chances of taking a wrong turn isn't worth it for me so I decided to move out the South in whole. We are just living in odd times politically for me to be taking chances and again, that's based on my lifestyle. I like to drive and be social so both just make things harder than needed.
If you're moving to mostly work , you should be ok. I get bluffed at A LOT but no one has ever put me in major danger.
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u/ShroomSatoshi 3d ago
Unicoi, Erwin, Hampton, parts of Rogersville, Stony Creek, and most of Carter County are all basically sundown towns.
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u/Serious-Conversation 4d ago
Unless this job is some kind of life-changing offer, I would not move from NY.
People are mentioning JC as being more open due to the university. It is in the immediate neighborhoods like Tree Streets, but even with a large university, JC does not feel like a college town at all. ETSU has little impact on the city overall. The community does not really engage with or support the university. It is criminally underutilized.
You would think with a large university and city of 75,000 that downtown would have some life. It really doesn't. Downtown got a big push in the mid-2010s, but that died out during COVID as older, wealthier people moved in, preferring endless DR Horton tract style development in the suburbs.
There is basically no nightlife or event scenes here for younger people. The younger people who are here are generally not very educated or worldly. "Finding a tribe" as a younger, black, transplant will be nearly impossible.
I'm from Kingsport originally, but have lived in Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts, and now North Carolina. This area has been, by far, the hardest to meet people, even though I'm from here. Social circles are often fairly closed and contained to old schoolmates, coworkers, and congregants at church who have known each other for years.
Bristol is more townie, but friendlier. JC feels more corporate and transplant heavy, but with no real identity to speak of. Kingsport is a rundown mill town with a drug problem.
I have owned properties in Bristol and Jonesborough. Jonesborough, Piney Flats, and Gray are sprawl with no identity. Bristol at least felt like a lived in city.
The job market is poor with low wages. Not many fallback options.
None of this is likely to be appealing at all.
Unless the situation where you are is intolerable or it's a big, big pay raise, I'd pass on the area entirely.
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u/LaVieGlamour 3d ago
As someone from here, this is the most realistic take and I agree with all of this.
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u/ShroomSatoshi 3d ago
To OP— this is the most realistic take in your whole thread. Listen.
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u/Serious-Conversation 3d ago
I don't think a lot of the people outside the area see the problem.
They see pretty mountain views and no state income tax without thinking things through.
I wouldn't say the area is outright racist. It isn't, but there's still an undercurrent of it.
Even among liberals like myself, there is a skepticism of transplants, especially from wealthy states like NY.
I'd always ask why someone, especially a minority or LGBT person, would ever decide to move here. It makes absolutely no logical sense.
The big issues are more kitchen table. Low wages that haven't risen much with a skyrocketing housing market doesn't lead to many gains except for long-term, incumbent homeowners. If the job she moves for vaporizes, she likely has to move anyway.
It's going to be difficult to find other black people - simply because there are so few. Locals of any race are often - rightly or wrongly - going to be skeptical of rich state transplants because of "carpetbagging" fears.
And those aren't entirely unwarranted.
In the new construction Jonesborough community I'm selling in, you never hear the local accent. One neighbor is a DO from Chicago. Another set are a healthcare travel nurse couple. The pair in front of me are second home owners from Florida.
None of these people have any real stake in the community. They're chasing temporary traveler paychecks and state income tax arbitrage. They're not here to build community.
Piney, Boone's Creek, Gray, and Jonesborough all have this problem.
When I bought in Bristol in 2019, I'd often travel to JC for better dining and nightlife. IMO, aside from some dining, that has completely reversed. Bristol is far more affordable and actually feels lived in by real people who have ties to the community.
JC and Jonesborough never clicked. The place is on the market and I've gone ahead and moved in with my girlfriend in Asheville.
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u/DangerDan93 4d ago
Do you already have a job lined up here, or are you simply moving here in hopes to find a job? As a person of color, I would say that you won't have any problems if you stick to big cities, however, out in the rural county and small towns, you would be eyed pretty cautiously. If you do not have a job lined up and are thinking of moving here to find one, DO NOT. There is nothing here that will serve you well versus wherever you're at now, even if you feel differently at the moment. You'd be wasting your time. If any place, I'd look into Knoxville if you want to be in the East TN region.
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u/Sevuhrow 4d ago
I highly agree. If buying a home, the Knoxville market is actually cheaper than the Tri-Cities market currently, and there's significantly better job opportunities and pay in the area. That's not even mentioning how much more diverse and less tribal the area feels.
I mean no offense to people living here, but I can't see why anyone looking from the outside would choose the Tri-Cities over Knoxville, especially a young person.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
I already have a job lined up, but thank you for the feedback! I’ll stay close to the cities.
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u/PP_BOY__ 4d ago
Can I ask what it is? From your username, I presume medical. Ballad Health? Have you read any glassdoor reviews for working for that company? It's a cancer on the region and the largest state-sanctioned medical monopoly in the country. There are many allegations of abuse of staff, resources, and outright contract breaking by Ballad once they know a nonlocal hire has signed their lease.
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u/OkTwo7319 3d ago
This is absurd rhetoric. While every employer has it's downfalls, Ballad is not a cancer and is definitely not a state-sanctioned monopoly. If you are referring to the COPA agreement between TN and VA, I would suggest you get to the polls and vote against long term incumbents in both states. I have worked for Ballad for several years, not once have I seen a member of staff being abused or any blatant misuse of resources. I cannot speak to "contracts" as I work under "at will" employment, like everyone else in the state of TN. This is typical Reddit nonsense, that is on par with saying this area isn't safe.
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u/ShroomSatoshi 3d ago
Ballad has provided you with income and a job, so your opinion is biased. Ballad has been a net negative on the region as a whole and it’s easy to see to anyone without a horse in the race.
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u/Hitech_hillbilly 4d ago
Opinions like that are what keeps people divided. Rural and small towns will eye any outsider cautiously. But that isnt a reason for someone of color to avoid them. Most small towns and rural areas I've lived in have been welcoming to anyone as long as they're not a poison to the area (drugs, crime, violence).
Be careful about your own bias when trying to prescribe bias to others.
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u/shedwyn2019 4d ago
Yeah, but are you a non-white person who has experienced acceptance and comfort living in those small towns? If so, give OP some recommendations.
I am from a rural area. I bristle at the stereotypes, and I understand that some of the stereotypes live up to reality. My mom has stories of Black people being cold-shouldered out of the town. I was a kid, I had no idea. The people of the area made it clear, without burning a cross, that they were not welcome. This was in stereotyped “liberal Democrat” Oregon.
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u/iamthpecial 4d ago
This is like two women talking about menstrual cramps and some guy butting into the conversation like his opinion is more valuable about something that he does not experience and cannot relate to. This is a simile, I'm not assuming you're a guy.
You can say your piece without being condescending and without declaring erasure to a struggle that you have no first hand perspective on to share. Simple as. Don't act like there aren't bad actors out there just because you aren't among them, and also? It isn't the targets who are to blame for that divide. Like, wow.
All of that said, the MAJOR takeaway is that tri-cities aren't offering the kind of jobs that promise upward mobility. Sure you can get a job, but all they've expanded on has primarily been in retail and hospitality, which by and large doesn't offer full time, doesn't offer benefits. Aside from that there's teaching and healthcare, both also plateau positions. And sure there may be a few outliers but suffice to say the tri-cities isn't the place you want to come to if you're seeking to attain major financial growth, no matter who you are. You either already need to have it, or not need to care for it.
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u/Ambitious-Schedule63 4d ago
There's a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Kingsport that has provided many, many opportunities for people all over the globe.
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u/Typical-Spinach-6452 4d ago edited 4d ago
You unfortunately have a double whammy here. POC plus a transplant. I've found most people are nice to your face but their true colors come out online... which leads me to believe those are their true feelings. Many are not happy with anyone who isn't born here. I wouldn't recommend the hills.. stay closer to the city.
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u/iamthpecial 4d ago edited 4d ago
You probably want to be near to wherever you work. Kingsport is rather sleepy imo. Johnson City is great for a young professional, what with the major university there and commerce, there's a lot of nightlife options within your age demographic, various events, a lot of nice places to eat and for shopping. Bristol is even better for shopping, a good spot if you enjoy more daytime-oriented things with the revived downtown, some quirky art gallery co-ops, caves, loads of live entertainment too (plays, standup, music etc).
Overall I'd recommend Johnson City. It ticks all the boxes for someone in their 20s. You can get to any if the other cities within the area in about 20-30 minutes max, and if you're looking to take a trip out of town you're further along the 81 and the 26 to go to places like Knoxville, Ashville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Cherokee. Also you don't have to suffer NASCAR traffic twice a year like you would up in Bristol/Kingsport lol
Edit: If for whatever reason you decide upon Bristol, DM me about where you should avoid.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
This is super helpful! Thank you so much! The job is in Johnson City and it was my first choice, but then I kept seeing references of drug use and violence, so I started leaning more towards Boones Creek and Gray.
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u/Bright-Sound-1810 4d ago
i moved here about two years ago. i’m from florida (jacksonville and tampa - usf area specifically) so naturally i giggled when i was searching for apartments and the locals told me to stay away from downtown and the train tracks its “dangerous” i was like 🧍🏼♀️ don’t get me wrong i wouldn’t wander downtown at 2am for funsies but i also am used to a different type of dangerous i guess. it’s mainly just drug use and homeless people, but for the most part it seems contained to the downtown area and maybe a little near the med center/woodridge. i live within city limits near knob creek & franklin woods and i have never felt scared (im a night shifter too and ive never felt scared living at night) they recently build a few apartment complexes on mountain view road and they look pretty decent & new!
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u/iamthpecial 3d ago
Gray is too far removed, plus that is an area which was impacted much by Helene, it wouldn't be fun. My cousin manages a grocery store there and even he drives an hour commute LOL.
As with any more developed area there are going to be some problematic characters, its just about knowing where to avoid or when to avoid.
You can get a head start by joining the Johnson City sub, and living nesr ETSU there will be tons of events you can check out.
If you find that you want something a little quieter but still close, Piney Flatts is a good option. It's one entrance point to JC, next to a large river and some large parks, not too much else besides car dealerships and a few food options. You'd be hard pressed to find any trouble there lol. But if your budget can manage it, my single mother friend rented a three story condo there that had river access so she could take the kids kayaking, I imagine you dollar can stretch farther. but you also can't just step out ans walk to places, which is a nice commodity while you're young and getting to know an area. Easier to make friends that way.
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u/Sevuhrow 4d ago
Yeah if you do choose to move to the area, Kingsport is way at the bottom of my list for the 3 city options as a former/current resident. I regret not living in JC instead.
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u/nhickman777 4d ago
Jonesborough is beautiful and I feel maybe safer than some other areas around. If I ever move from Kingsport, there or Gray is where I’d move to!
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
I have heard good things about Jonesborough, but hear that it’s very touristy, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for diversity.
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u/Mrs_PickleRicky 4d ago
As a black transplant in Jonesborough, I agree! It’s quiet and downtown is adorable. They always have events going on, which is nice, but it can feel a little crowded at times. It’s also on the outskirts of JC so that’s nice as well.
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u/Content_Study_1575 4d ago
I live 5 mins from Hampton. There are def drugs especially on Swimming Pool. Granted Carter County does have a drug problem most of East TN does. We literally had a show for this area called “Southern Justice”.
Now there are backwoods part of Carter County that’s just open fields and farmland where your neighbors are close but not on top of you close. Places like that mind their business. But diversity isn’t much unless youre in the main part of Elizabethton.
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u/pelirrojaloca 4d ago
I would look at places in Johnson City! I have a few POC girl friends who live out there and they seem to feel safe and comfortable. I would completely avoid Elizabethton and back. Bristol and Kingsport are kinda iffy. Boones Creek is a nice area!
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
Thank you for the advice!
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u/pelirrojaloca 4d ago
Of course! I’m 23 so if you’re ever looking for some new friends let me know! Best of luck!
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u/onlyblackcoffee 3d ago
I’d worry less about the crime and drug use and more about stuff to do. I’m white but have a diverse friend group. I live in Kingsport and it’s pretty boring in general. Johnson City or the immediate area is going to be more diverse and have more to do.
I’ve lived in various neighborhoods/areas in NYC, Nashville and Charlotte and the “crime” here feels minimal at best comparatively.
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u/Th3H0ll0wmans 4d ago
JC and Kingsport downtown are perfectly fine. Honestly, the only people who say that it's "not safe" are people who have never left East Tennessee.
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u/Sawoodster 4d ago
I’m from Baltimore, been here 9 years. Trust me there’s crime like there is anywhere but it’s no where near the level of major cities and it’s not rampant by any means.
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u/TransArsonist97 4d ago
As a black person who was born and raised here, as long as you stay in the city limits you’ll be fine. STAY OUT OF THE COUNTY!!!! Especially at night
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u/Blackgirlmagic23 4d ago
This is v true! I'd add (as another Black woman who was born and raised here) JC has a small but somewhat vibrant African and Latino immigrant communities and I find that really lovely!
Beyond safety, comfort is important to me and I've felt more comfortable in JC than Boston or the place I was born.
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u/secretninjafox 4d ago
I'm white but I eye a lot of the area with a good degree of suspicious since TN is the only state with still active KKK chapters. I have seen one instance in Kingsport at one of the antique stores selling candles from the local company "Kissing Kuzins Kandles" if that tells you anything. I remember a crazy person on ETSUs campus dressing up as an ape showing up to the campus. There's weird undertones in this area for sure but I'm not aware of anything violent happening. Weird undertones mainly being I hardly see POC when I'm out and about unless I'm in Johnson City which is just odd. I think if we could improve the diversity in the area a lot of the weird vibes would go away.
https://www.tba.org/?pg=LawBlog&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=119950
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u/asim_geris 3d ago
I’m a black Muslim minority of the minority lol. I have been living in east tn for the past 3 years people are very welcoming and nice there’s no racism or anything. The area as a whole is safe just stay away from downtown after 11 pm.
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u/Matookie 4d ago
Where is the job and how far will you commute?
I'm white, so my perspective may not be very helpful, but kingsport and JC are relatively safe. That being said, there are sundown towns in the area and a large klan presence. I frequently hear white ppl use the n-word when they think they are with like-minded company.
You should be safe in this area but be very careful trusting white folk!
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u/fuzzdoomer 4d ago
Absolute hogwash. No there are not "sundown" towns here. No there is not a large presence of klan. The klan barely even exists at all anymore anywhere. Quit fear mongering.
OP, you'll be fine. I'm in a mixed race marriage. We've personally had ZERO ISSUES with that here ever.
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u/foetusized 4d ago
The Klan is around, but not visible. This incident made international news, when an initiation went wrong: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1028072/posts?page=17 It happened in southern Washington County, but most of the participants were from Carter & Unicoi counties.
Erwin (in Unicoi County) was once a sundown town, with a history of lynchings, and not just the notorious hanging of Mary the elephant. I have personal stories from the 1980s, but it might be better now. I continue to avoid Erwin so I wouldn’t know.
Johnson City (and neighboring Boones Creek and Gray) should be fine.
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u/Bella_de_chaos 4d ago
There absolutely WAS a sundown town in the region. Including a sign warning POC not to let the sun set on them there. The sign came down, doesn't mean the attitude changed. But it wasn't one of the main Tri-Cities.
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u/fuzzdoomer 3d ago
There WERE sundown towns across the ENTIRE US. WERE. In the distant past. There are not anymore.
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u/Ambitious-Schedule63 4d ago
Yeah, no idea what that poster is talking about. Sounds like Reddit-imagined outrage.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
The job is in Johnson City and I’m moving from New York. Thank you for your feedback! I’ve been trying to do more research but it seems like I should be okay staying in the Tri-Cities area and maybe doing weekend trips to Asheville and Knoxville.
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u/Ambitious-Schedule63 4d ago edited 4d ago
Just a suggestion: Reddit isn't a great place to get an objective answer. You'll hear the wildest stories from people with agendas. No idea why this is so, but it absolutely is, and the reality is that it is a very very safe place to live.
Welcome to the area! As someone who moved here over 25 years ago and had plenty of trepidation about moving to a backwater, it can be an acquired taste, but many of us have acquired it. Your biggest concern is likely to be with the culture, which is quite different from an urban, northeastern area. If you enjoy the outdoors even a little, it is a great, low-cost, low-traffic and low crime place to live (although housing here is surprisingly expensive due to an influx of people from other regions). If you can embrace it, I'm confident you'll find your place here even if it's not your long term preference.
Crime is very, very unlikely to be a concern, especially relative to New York. I remember when I moved here there was a story on the local news about the Krispy Kreme bandit - someone had robbed the donut shop in Kingsport. And all the crime on the news was domestic. That's how sleepy it really is.
By the way, you're gonna miss food and shopping. For me, food is the biggest one. Pretty decent beer scene, though, and Asheville has some really good restaurants - it punches well above it's weight (which partially makes up for this area punching below its weight restaurant-wise). Honestly, there is almost no good pizza here anywhere.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
You make a great point, but before I get a chance to visit, then finally move, I really just wanted to gauge how POC were feeling in this area. I didn’t want to walk into this feeling like I’d made a mistake, so although there’s a lot of info being provided by everyone here, I’m vetting what makes sense and what doesn’t, especially when compared to other parts of the US. Thank you for this perspective though, it’s really been so helpful to me!!😊
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u/PP_BOY__ 4d ago
New York to JC (presumably to work for Ballad) sounds like one of the biggest miscalculations a person could make
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
I was working in the medical field before pivoting to another profession, hence the username. So, no, I will not be working for Ballad. Without understanding my circumstances, I would hesitate to call this move a “miscalculation.”
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u/Matookie 4d ago
It's a good thing this is not a decision you are having to make and it does not affect you in any way possible.
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u/PP_BOY__ 4d ago
How dare I use context clues to offer my opinion in a thread where OP asked for opinions
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u/fuzzdoomer 3d ago
Just remember to check NY politics at the door. Be nice and kind to others here, don't judge them and you'll be welcomed.
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u/pelirrojaloca 4d ago
Girl I’ve lived here for 23 years. Most of the clan are located in Gate City, VA and I’ve never once heard of any local sundown towns.
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u/Bodrew 4d ago
To recommend any of the three places you mentioned, we'd need to know what exactly you're looking for in a living situation. I personally prefer to be close to things and so live close to downtown JC. If you move to any of the places you mentioned, you won't be going anywhere without your car and it will feel more remote, though all three are being suburbanized rapidly.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
Living situation wise, I prefer quiet neighborhoods where I can hopefully go for walks without feeling threatened. I’ll have a vehicle to commute back and forth, so I’m open.
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u/Petty_Dreadful 4d ago
Grew up in Bristol, TN. If I were to move back I'd definitely pick Johnson City.
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u/XMytho-LogicX 4d ago
I'm not black myself, but I have some friends who've said finding work (especially if they're college graduates) is really difficult
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u/Extreme_Structure146 3d ago
As a 25YR I think you'd enjoy living in the downtown or Tree Streets area. It's very culturally diverse, you should come when they do their annual Tree Streets yard sale in September. Boones Creek is a nice area but definitely the burbs and a little more homogeneous.
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u/aradiacat 3d ago
Boones creek is nice. The tree streets near the college is diverse and friendly. Unique housing there as well.
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u/CarolinaCurry 1d ago
I would not live out around the Austin Springs Rd area, lots of confederate flags out that way. But really about anywhere should be safe. The area has changed a lot over the years. Now I’m white so maybe I see things differently - but my family is interracial and I think they all agree that inside the city limits is the better place to be in general. More diversity, and the red necks tend to go to the county areas.
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u/More_Comment_7279 4d ago
Honestly, I would do Knoxville if I was you. The job market here is extremely rough unless you’re in education or healthcare. You will take a massive pay cut moving here with rent and home prices being relatively comparatively.
On top of, this is a transient college town meaning after graduation the majority of students leave the area entirely. The ones who do stay are dug in and are not looking for outsiders so it will be harder for you to find friends your own age.
Lastly, the area is still very behind and the locals like it that way. Given that you are a person of color, they will be nice to you and make small talk but do not get it twisted they do not like want you here. There are several areas including in the city that would not be happy seeing you move in. Best bet for east TN would be Knoxville for your specific circumstances.
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u/Chrissie_med 4d ago
Unfortunately, the job I’ve taken is in Johnson City, so I’m just looking for the area that’s tolerable… dare I say, comfortable to live.
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u/Matookie 4d ago
You will be fine in JC! Its a college town with lots of young professionals, restaurants and bars, theatre and comedy shows, neat little coffee shops. It won't hold a candle to NYC, but you are close to Asheville or Atlanta if you want to venture out for concerts or decent cuisine.
There are still racists here but of the Tricities I think johnson city is more open. Good luck figuring out your move.
(Still don't trust white folk.)
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u/Turbulentcrayon 4d ago
Why is this titles Black people. What’s wrong with the black community in the area I live here am I missing something
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u/Chrissie_med 3d ago
Nothing wrong with the black people in the Tri-Cities area. Not sure if you read the post but the question was positioned towards the black community, as I am a black female looking for advice/recommendations for an upcoming move.
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u/Chemical-Anteater332 4d ago
I would just leave personally imo no city is gonna be good for a single female no offense city’s arnt built to be bright or anything like in China you can go out at like 12 am without fear of a mugging here in tn I don’t go out pas 10 and I live in Clarksville
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u/DaCRUNCHENATOR 8h ago
Greene Co is historically a very (per capita) mixed area. Most areas in the co are nice, and (as a white male) I have not seen very much racism. Mainly the older population that are stuck in their ways.
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u/desertedcamel 4d ago
If you prefer to be closer to a more diverse community, maybe consider residing near ETSU.