Tennessee

Sullivan

158,163
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Sullivan

Sullivan, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 4,447. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 158,163.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 11 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Island Flats (1776), Battle of Island Flats (TN), Battle of Fort Watauga (TN), and 45 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020158,163
2010156,823
2000153,048
1990143,596
1980143,968
1970127,329
1960114,139
195095,063
194069,085
193051,087
192036,259
191028,120
190024,935
189020,879
188018,321
187013,136
186013,552
185011,742
184010,736
183010,073
18207,015
18106,847
180010,218
17904,447
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Sullivan

Military engagements that took place in Sullivan, Tennessee.

Battle of Island Flats (1776)
1776
Battle of Island Flats (TN)
1776
Battle of Fort Watauga (TN)
1776
Battle of Long Island (Tennessee)
1776
Chickamauga Cherokee War - Battle of Island Flats 1776
1776
Battle of Island Flats
1776
Battle of Long Island Flats (1776)
1776
Battle of Long Island of Holston
1776
Battle of Blountville
1863
Battle of Kingsport
1864
Stoneman's Raid — Emory and Henry College area
1864

Historic places in Sullivan

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan, Tennessee.

DeVault-Masengill House
Piney Flats
Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church (Additional Documentation)
Kingsport
Bristol Municipal Stadium
Bristol
Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign
Bristol
Rocky Mount
Piney Flats
East Hill Cemetery
Bristol
Long Island of the Holston
Kingsport
Yancey's Tavern
Kingsport
Old Deery Inn
Blountville
Netherland Inn and Complex
Kingsport
Browse all Tennesseehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

Van BurenWarrenWashingtonWayneWeakleyWhiteWilliamsonWilsonAndersonBedfordBentonBledsoeBlountBradleyCampbellCannonCarrollCarterCheathamChester
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Everything a full report reveals about Sullivan County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Sullivan County, Tennessee. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Sullivan

When does Sullivan first appear in the US census?
Sullivan, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 4,447.
What is the population of Sullivan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sullivan had a recorded population of 158,163.
Were any battles fought in Sullivan?
11 documented military engagements took place in Sullivan, including Battle of Island Flats (1776), Battle of Island Flats (TN), Battle of Fort Watauga (TN).
How many historic places are in Sullivan?
45 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sullivan, Tennessee.
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