Church Hill, Tennessee

Church Hill is a city in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 6,998 at the 2020 census and 6,737 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the "Tri-Cities" region. It is the largest municipality located entirely within Hawkins County.

History

The community was established as a trading post and stagecoach stop called Spencer's Mill and Patterson Mill in the late 18th century. The name "Church Hill" came later, following the establishment of a Methodist church "on the hill" overlooking the Holston River valley. The church still stands today on Grandview Street. The city of Church Hill was incorporated in 1958.

One of Church Hill's most notable landmarks is the New Canton Plantation and its antebellum mansion, Canton Hall, owned by the Hord family. Other landmarks include Smith Place, built in the early 20th century, and the former site of Carter's Store, a 1770s-era trading outpost established by Tennessee pioneer John Carter.

Geography

Church Hill is located in eastern Hawkins County at (36.520845, -82.725472). The city is situated among rolling hills on the northern portion of Smith Bend, overlooking the Holston River. The city is bordered by Mount Carmel to the northeast, and the Holston Army Ammunition Plant lies to the southeast, across the Holston River. Bays Mountain, a prominent Ridge-and-Valley formation, dominates the horizon to the south.

U.S. Route 11W connects Church Hill with Rogersville to the southwest and the Tri-Cities area to the northeast. State Route 346 intersects 11W near the center of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 4.63%, are water.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Church Hill had a population of 6,998, 2,943 households, and 1,946 families residing in the city. The median age was 45.9 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.

78.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 21.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,943 households in Church Hill, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.5% were married-couple households, 16.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 6,595 || 94.2%

| Black or African American || 72 || 1.0%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 9 || 0.1%

| Asian || 40 || 0.6%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 3 || 0.0%

| Some other race || 30 || 0.4%

| Two or more races || 249 || 3.6%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 85 || 1.2%

2000 census

As of the census

Education

Five schools are located within Church Hill's city limits: Carter's Valley Elementary, Church Hill Elementary, Church Hill Middle School, Church Hill Intermediate and Volunteer High School. All fall under the Hawkins County Schools system.

Parks and recreation

Church Hill has seven parks: Laurel Run Park, A.S. Derrick Park, Jaycees Park, J.W. Sally Park, S.L. Taylor Park, Bill Castle Park, and Church Hill's Public basketball court located at the site of the old skatepark. The city also has one swimming pool, Church Hill Municipal Pool.

The City of Church Hill, City of Mount Carmel, and Town of Surgoinsville have joined together to form a joint Recreation Department. They offer indoor/outdoor soccer, baseball, football, and basketball.

Government

right|thumb|220px|Church Hill's city hall and municipal offices

The city is governed by a mayor and six aldermen.

The city has a police department that also provides animal control services and a fire department that handles public safety, hazmat and fire emergencies.

Infrastructure

Church Hill provides the community with trash pickup, snow and ice removal, mowing and park maintenance services. Residents of the city obtain power services from Holston Electric Cooperative or Appalachian Power. Water services are provided by a private utility, First Utility District of Hawkins County. Hawkins County Gas Utility provides natural gas services and internet and phone services are provided by Charter Communications or CenturyLink.

Notable people

Lloyd Carr, former football head coach for the University of Michigan was born in Church Hill, and lived there as a child.
Blake Leeper, 2012 U.S. Paralympian competing in track and field
James Alan Shelton, bluegrass guitarist