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.

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.

Geography

Bulls Gap is located at (36.259094, -83.079507).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.

History

alt=|thumb|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

2020 census

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

|+Bulls Gap racial composition

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

|-

!scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)

| 705

| 93.25%

|-

!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

| 3

| 0.4%

|-

!scope="row"| Asian

| 2

| 0.26%

|-

!scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 35

| 4.63%

|-

!scope="row"| 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

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.

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."

Education

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

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

Postal service

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

References