Townapedia

Bluff City, Tennessee

Bluff City is a city of 2,225 people in Sullivan County, Tennessee, founded in 1887.

Loading the weather...
Population2,225 +7.9% since 2019
Elevation1,450 ft 442 m
Founded1887
Land area1.7 sq mi
ZIP codes37618, 37686
Nearest airportTri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) 7 mi

Why visit Bluff City

Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 4 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Paddys Knob and Strawberry Ridge.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 26°F.

About Bluff City

Bluff City is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The population of this town according to the 2024 census is 1,839 occupants. It is part of the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area, commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.

From the Wikipedia article Bluff City, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do2

Paddys Knob

Scenic view · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Strawberry Ridge

Scenic view · 1.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks2

Civil War Memorial

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

Civil War Memorial Stone

Open in Google Maps

Veterans Memorial

Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds4

Bluff City Ball Park

Park · 1.3 mi

Open in Google Maps

Bluff City Playground

Playground · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Island Park

Park · 1.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Wells Park

Park · 1.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes4

Bluff City Diner

Diner · American · 1.2 mi

Bluff City Highway, Bluff City

Open in Google Maps

Pizza Plus

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.0 mi

Bluff City Highway, Bluff City

Open in Google Maps

Paisley's Pizzeria

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.3 mi

Open in Google Maps

Subway

Fast food · Sandwich · 0.8 mi

4403 Highway 11 East, Bluff City

09:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 423-538-4934

History

Bluff City underwent several name changes before incorporating on July 1, 1887, under its present name. The town was originally known as Choate's Ford, and later took the name Middletown. After the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad was built, crossing the Holston River at the town site, the name Union was adopted. During the Civil War it was called Zollicoffer after Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer, but became Union again at the end of the war and until 1887.

From the History section of Bluff City, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay2

Churches and places of worship6

Advertisement

Gas and EV charging2

Schools, colleges and libraries7

Map of Bluff City

29 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 3.6 in of rainFebruary: 3.8 in of rainMarch: 4.0 in of rainApril: 3.8 in of rainMay: 3.8 in of rainJune: 3.9 in of rainJuly: 5.0 in of rainAugust: 3.8 in of rainSeptember: 2.8 in of rainOctober: 2.5 in of rainNovember: 3.1 in of rainDecember: 3.8 in of rainJanuary: 46°FFebruary: 51°FMarch: 59°FApril: 69°FMay: 77°FJune: 84°FJuly: 86°FAugust: 86°FSeptember: 81°FOctober: 70°FNovember: 59°FDecember: 50°FJanuary: 26°FFebruary: 29°FMarch: 35°FApril: 43°FMay: 52°FJune: 61°FJuly: 65°FAugust: 63°FSeptember: 56°FOctober: 44°FNovember: 34°FDecember: 29°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan46°F26°F3.6 in3.0 in
Feb51°F29°F3.8 in3.0 in
Mar59°F35°F4.0 in1.1 in
Apr69°F43°F3.8 in0.1 in
May77°F52°F3.8 in0.0 in
Jun84°F61°F3.9 in0.0 in
Jul86°F65°F5.0 in0.0 in
Aug86°F63°F3.8 in0.0 in
Sep81°F56°F2.8 in0.0 in
Oct70°F44°F2.5 in0.0 in
Nov59°F34°F3.1 in0.3 in
Dec50°F29°F3.8 in1.7 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bristol Tri City Ap 72335 (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$61,059median household income
$157,400median home value
$931median monthly rent
35.9median age
15.0%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
62.3%of homes are owner-occupied
26.1 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1828%18 to 3422%35 to 6440%65 and over10%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Sullivan County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for winter storms.

  • 2026-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
  • 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
  • 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2024-10-02: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
  • 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.