Tri-Cities Newcomer Checklist

⚡ Utilities & Essential Services

BrightRidge (Electric) Electric utility serving much of the Johnson City area. 📞 423-952-5000 · Website Atmos Energy (Natural Gas) Natural gas service for Tri-Cities area. 📞 866-322-8667 · Website Johnson City Water & Sewer Municipal water, sewer, and stormwater for the City of Johnson City limits. 📞 423-434-6000 · Website Kingsport Water / Sanitation Water, sewer, and solid waste — Kingsport. 📞 423-229-9400 · Website Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Electric, water, sewer — Bristol TN. 📞 423-968-1526 · Website Appalachian Power (Electric) Investor-owned electric utility serving much of Kingsport, Bristol TN/VA border areas, Sullivan County, Hawkins County, … 📞 800-956-4237 · Website Spectrum (Internet / Cable / Phone) Primary cable broadband and TV provider across the Tri-Cities metro. 📞 855-243-8892 · Website Brightspeed (Fiber Internet) Fiber and DSL internet expanding across the Tri-Cities — former CenturyLink/Lumen territory in many areas. 📞 833-692-7773 · Website BTES Fiber (Bristol TN Essential Services) Municipal fiber internet available within the Bristol Tennessee Essential Services service area. 📞 423-968-1526 · Website Dominion Energy (Electric — Virginia) Electric utility for most of Southwest Virginia including Bristol VA, Abingdon, and Washington County VA. 📞 866-366-4357 · Website Waste Management / Local Haulers Private trash and recycling collection supplements city pickup in many areas. 📞 800-963-4776 · Website Spectrum TV & Streaming Local cable TV service and Spectrum TV app for Tri-Cities subscribers. 📞 855-243-8892 · Website

🏛️ Local Government

Vehicle Tags, Titles & Driver Licenses — How It Works In Tennessee, vehicle registration and title work goes through your county clerk. New licenses, REAL ID upgrades, and fi… · Website Johnson City Hall City government, permits, zoning inquiries. 📞 423-434-6000 · Website City of Kingsport City government and services. 📞 423-229-9401 · Website City of Bristol, TN City government — Tennessee side. 📞 423-989-5500 · Website Sullivan County, TN County government — includes Kingsport & Bristol areas. 📞 423-279-7000 · Website Washington County, TN County government — includes Johnson City. 📞 423-753-1700 · Website Carter County Clerk Vehicle registration, title transfers, marriage licenses, hunting/fishing licenses, and notary applications for Carter C… 📞 423-542-1814 · Website Greene County Clerk Vehicle tags, titles, marriage licenses, and county records for Greene County. 📞 423-798-1775 · Website Hawkins County Clerk Vehicle registration, marriage licenses, and county clerk services for Hawkins County. 📞 423-272-7002 · Website Johnson County Clerk Vehicle tags, titles, marriage licenses, and county records for Johnson County (Mountain City area). 📞 423-727-9633 · Website Unicoi County Clerk Vehicle registration, marriage licenses, and county clerk services for Unicoi County (Erwin). 📞 423-743-3381 · Website Hancock County Clerk Vehicle tags, marriage licenses, and county records for Hancock County (Sneedville). Nearest full Driver Services Center… 📞 423-733-2519 · Website Washington County Clerk Vehicle registration, marriage licenses, and county records for Washington County (Johnson City, Jonesborough, Gray). 📞 423-753-1680 · Website Sullivan County Clerk Vehicle tags, titles, marriage licenses, and county records for Sullivan County (Kingsport, Bristol, Piney Flats, Bluff … 📞 423-323-6455 · Website TN Driver Services Center — Kingsport State DMV office for new licenses, REAL ID, permit tests, and address changes. Serves Kingsport, Bristol, Piney Flats, H… 📞 423-378-2166 · Website TN Driver Services Center — Johnson City State DMV office for new licenses, REAL ID, and permit services. Serves Johnson City, Elizabethton, Erwin, Greeneville, … 📞 423-434-6233 · Website TN Driver Services Center — Blountville State DMV office serving Blountville, Bristol, and Sullivan County. Check tn.gov for any scheduled remodel closures befo… 📞 423-323-6141 · Website Sullivan County Clerk — Driver License Renewal (Express) Renew or duplicate a standard Tennessee driver license or state ID at the Blountville county clerk branch. Does not issu… 📞 423-323-6455 · Website

🚨 Emergency & Public Safety

Emergency (Police/Fire/EMS) Life-threatening emergency only. 📞 911 Mental Health & Substance Crisis — Who to Call For a psychological or substance-use crisis that is urgent but not an immediate physical emergency, call 988 or Frontier… · Website 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline National 24/7 crisis line for mental health emergencies, substance use, overdose, and emotional distress. Call or text 9… 📞 988 · Website Frontier Health — Mobile Crisis Line (TN) 24/7 regional crisis hotline for northeast Tennessee. Telephone assessment plus mobile crisis response — clinicians can … 📞 877-928-9062 · Website Frontier Health — Crisis Line (Southwest Virginia) 24/7 crisis line for southwest Virginia including Bristol VA, Washington County VA, Smyth, Bland, Wythe, Carroll, Grayso… 📞 800-500-7019 · Website Turning Point Crisis Walk-In Center 24/7 in-person crisis center in Johnson City for adults and children (ages 7+). Walk in for immediate mental health or s… 📞 423-926-0940 · Website Johnson City Police (non-emergency) Non-emergency police line. 📞 423-434-6000 · Website Ballad Health (Regional Hospital System) Nonprofit health system operating major hospitals and urgent care locations across Northeast TN and Southwest VA. 📞 833-822-5523 · Website Johnson City Medical Center (Ballad Health) Regional trauma center and largest hospital in the Johnson City area — full emergency department. 📞 423-431-6000 · Website Franklin Woods Community Hospital (Ballad Health) Johnson City community hospital with emergency department — Med Tech Parkway campus west of downtown. 📞 423-302-1000 · Website Bristol Regional Medical Center (Ballad Health) Full-service hospital serving Bristol TN/VA and Sullivan County — emergency department and specialty care. 📞 423-844-6000 · Website Holston Valley Medical Center (Ballad Health) Major Kingsport hospital with emergency department — serves Sullivan County and the Kingsport metro. 📞 423-224-4000 · Website Indian Path Community Hospital (Ballad Health) Community hospital in Kingsport with emergency services — Indian Path / Stone Drive corridor. 📞 423-857-7000 · Website Sycamore Shoals Hospital (Ballad Health) Carter County hospital in Elizabethton — emergency services along US-321 / West Elk Avenue. 📞 423-542-1300 · Website Greeneville Community Hospital (Ballad Health) Greene County hospital serving Greeneville and eastern Hawkins County — includes the former Laughlin Memorial campus. 📞 423-787-5000 · Website

🏥 County Health Departments

County Health Departments — What They Offer Tennessee county health departments (run by TN Department of Health) provide immunizations, WIC, birth/death certificate… · Website TN Department of Health — Northeast Region Regional office overseeing local health departments in Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and … 📞 423-979-2000 · Website Rural Health Services Consortium (FQHC) Federally Qualified Health Center with 12 clinics in 8 northeast Tennessee counties. Sliding-scale primary care, pediatr… 📞 423-272-5600 · Website Sullivan County Regional Health Department County health department for Kingsport, Bristol TN, Piney Flats, Bluff City, and all of Sullivan County. Immunizations, … 📞 423-279-2777 · Website Washington County Health Department County health department for Johnson City, Jonesborough, Gray, and Washington County. WIC, immunizations, vital records,… 📞 423-975-2200 · Website Hawkins County Health Department County health department for Rogersville, Church Hill, Surgoinsville, and Hawkins County. Two office locations; primary … 📞 423-272-7641 · Website Carter County Health Department County health department for Elizabethton and Carter County. WIC, immunizations, dental, primary care (extended hours), … 📞 423-543-2521 · Website Greene County Health Department County health department for Greeneville and Greene County. WIC, immunizations, dental, vital records, and family planni… 📞 423-798-1749 · Website Unicoi County Health Department County health department for Erwin and Unicoi County. WIC, immunizations, vital records, and family planning. 📞 423-735-5900 · Website Johnson County Health Department County health department for Mountain City and Johnson County. WIC, immunizations, vital records, and family planning. 📞 423-727-9731 · Website Hancock County Health Department County health department for Sneedville and Hancock County. WIC, immunizations, dental, primary care, and vital records.… 📞 423-733-2228 · Website Virginia — Mount Rogers Health District VDH district serving Washington, Smyth, Bland, Wythe, Carroll, Grayson counties and the cities of Bristol and Galax. Imm… 📞 276-781-7450 · Website Washington County, VA Health Department Local VDH office for Abingdon, Damascus, and Washington County, Virginia residents. WIC, immunizations, family planning,… 📞 276-676-5604 · Website Bristol, VA Health Department City of Bristol Virginia local health department — immunizations, WIC, vital records, and communicable disease control. 📞 276-642-7335 · Website Virginia — LENOWISCO Health District VDH district for Lee, Wise, and Scott counties and the City of Norton — southwest of the Tri-Cities along the KY/VA bord… 📞 276-328-8000 · Website Virginia — Cumberland Plateau Health District VDH district for Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell counties on the far southwest Virginia border. · Website

📻 Media & Information

WJHL-TV (News Channel 11) Local TV news — Tri-Cities. · Website Johnson City Press Daily newspaper — Johnson City / Washington County. · Website Kingsport Times News Daily newspaper — Kingsport / Sullivan County. · Website WCYB-TV 5 Local TV — Bristol / Tri-Cities. · Website SuperTalk 92.9 (WFHG-FM) Local news/talk radio for the Tri-Cities — weather, traffic, and talk. Stream at supertalk929.com. 📞 (276) 466-0098 · Website East Tennessee PBS Public television for East Tennessee and the Tri-Cities — PBS Kids, local education, and streaming on the PBS app. · Website Bristol Herald Courier Daily newspaper covering Bristol TN/VA and the twin cities. · Website Elizabethton Star Weekly community newspaper for Carter County and Elizabethton. · Website The Greeneville Sun Daily newspaper for Greeneville and Greene County — eastern edge of the Tri-Cities market. · Website Washington County Post / Jonesborough Herald & Tribune Community news covering Jonesborough and Washington County. · Website Tri-Cities Business Journal Business news and development coverage for the metro area. · Website VIP Seen Magazine Lifestyle and society magazine covering Northeast Tennessee events and culture. · Website Nfocus Magazine Lifestyle, dining, and culture magazine for Knoxville and the Tri-Cities region. · Website TriCities.com Regional news and events portal affiliated with local TV stations. · Website WCYB.com (News 5 Digital) Digital news from WCYB-TV — breaking news, weather, and community coverage. · Website WJHL.com (News Channel 11 Digital) Digital news arm of WJHL-TV — local headlines, weather, and investigations. · Website Birthplace of Country Music / WBCM Radio Bristol-based nonprofit celebrating the 1927 Bristol Sessions — museum, festival, and low-power community radio. · Website

📡 Radio & TV Broadcast

WJHL-TV — Channel 11 (CBS / ABC) Johnson City-licensed station — primary CBS affiliate for the Tri-Cities. ABC on digital subchannel 11.2. · Website WCYB News 5 — Channel 5 (NBC) Bristol VA-licensed NBC affiliate — main channel 5.1. CW and Fox on 5.2 and 5.3 (see digital guide below). · Website WCYB Digital Subchannels (5.1 · 5.2 · 5.3) One antenna tuned to WCYB Channel 5 carries three major networks on digital subchannels. · Website WKPT-TV — Channel 19 (Cozi TV) Kingsport-licensed UHF station on virtual channel 19 — classic TV and diginet programming. · Website Fox 39 Tri-Cities — Channel 5.3 Fox network affiliate for the Tri-Cities — broadcast on WCYB digital subchannel 5.3 (not a separate dial number). · Website East Tennessee PBS — Channel 2 (WETP-TV) Public television for the Tri-Cities — PBS Kids, documentaries, local education, and Create/World subchannels. Licensed … · Website WETS-FM 89.5 (NPR — ETSU) National Public Radio for the Tri-Cities from East Tennessee State University. · Website WCQR 88.3 (Contemporary Christian) Regional Christian radio based in Kingsport with multiple translators. · Website WQUT 101.5 (Classic Rock) Tri-Cities' heritage classic rock station — successor to original WJHL-FM. · Website SuperTalk 92.9 (WFHG-FM — News/Talk) The Tri-Cities news, talk, weather, and traffic station — licensed to Bluff City, studios in Bristol. Bristol Broadcasti… · Website WJCW 910 AM (News/Talk) Heritage news/talk AM station in Johnson City — successor to WJHL radio. · Website WKPT 1400 AM / ESPN Tri-Cities Sports talk and ESPN Radio affiliate for Kingsport and the Tri-Cities. · Website WTFM 98.5 (Adult Contemporary) Kingsport AC station serving the Sullivan County side of the metro. · Website WXBQ 96.9 (Country — 24 Carrot Country) Bristol-based country station serving TN/VA border communities. · Website WEXX 99.3 (Modern Rock — The X) Alternative/modern rock station based in Elizabethton. · Website Electric 94.9 (WAEZ — Top 40) Mainstream hits station for the Tri-Cities — licensed to Greeneville with a Kingsport translator. Heavy community presen… · Website WRZK 95.9 The Hog (Classic Rock) Kingsport classic rock station — sister to WTFM 98.5 (Holston Valley Broadcasting). · Website Classic Hits 102.7 (WVEK-FM) Tri-Cities classic hits station from Holston Valley Broadcasting — 70s and 80s focus. · Website WOPI 1490 AM (Heritage Bristol) One of the oldest broadcast stations in the South — on the air since 1929 from Bristol VA. Local talk, sports simulcasts… · Website WMEV 93.9 (Country — Southwest VA) High-power country station licensed to Marion VA — strong signal into Abingdon, Bristol VA, and the eastern Tri-Cities. · Website 104.9 Nash Icon (WKOS — Country) Kingsport country station from Cumulus — 1990s–2000s country icons. Sister to WQUT 101.5 and WJCW 910 AM. · Website 96.3 The Possum (WPWT — Classic Country) Local classic country — Colonial Heights AM 870 with FM translators at 96.3 and 100.7 Kingsport. Home of Jen & Cody morn… · Website 105.3 The Beat (WWTB — Hip-Hop / R&B) The Tri-Cities rhythmic station — hip-hop, R&B, and dance. Bristol Broadcasting Company, sister to SuperTalk 92.9, WXBQ … · Website WBCM Radio Bristol 100.1 (Americana / Bluegrass) Low-power community station broadcasting live from the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in downtown Bristol — old-time… · Website Over-the-Air TV Antenna Tips Most Tri-Cities homes receive local networks free with an indoor or attic antenna pointed at Holston Mountain.

🗳️ Federal & State Representatives

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) Tennessee's senior U.S. Senator — represents all of Tennessee including the Tri-Cities. 📞 202-224-4944 · Website U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Tennessee's junior U.S. Senator — statewide representation. 📞 202-224-3344 · Website U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) U.S. House — Tennessee's 1st Congressional District covering Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol TN, Greeneville, and all o… 📞 202-225-6356 · Website U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) U.S. House — Virginia's 9th District covering Bristol VA, Abingdon, and Southwest Virginia portions of the Tri-Cities me… 📞 202-225-3861 · Website TN State Senator Rusty Crowe (R-District 3) Tennessee Senate — Carter, Johnson, and Washington counties (Johnson City, Elizabethton, Jonesborough area). 📞 615-741-2468 · Website TN State Senator Bobby Harshbarger (R-District 4) Tennessee Senate — Hawkins and Sullivan counties (Kingsport, Bristol TN, Church Hill area). 📞 615-741-5761 · Website TN Rep. Tim Hicks (R-District 6) Tennessee House — western Washington County (Gray, Johnson City west side). 📞 615-741-1717 · Website TN Rep. Rebecca Alexander (R-District 7) Tennessee House — eastern Washington County (Jonesborough, eastern Johnson City area). 📞 615-741-2251 · Website TN Rep. John Crawford (R-District 1) Tennessee House — Bristol and eastern Sullivan County. 📞 615-741-7623 · Website TN Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-District 2) Tennessee House — Kingsport and central Sullivan County. 📞 615-741-2886 · Website Virginia General Assembly (Bristol VA / SW VA) Bristol Virginia and Abingdon-area residents are represented in the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate — di… · Website

🎓 Schools & Education

Johnson City Schools K-12 public schools for Johnson City. 📞 423-434-5200 · Website Kingsport City Schools K-12 public schools for Kingsport. 📞 423-378-2100 · Website Bristol Tennessee City Schools K-12 public schools for Bristol TN. 📞 423-652-9364 · Website Tennessee College of Applied Technology Vocational and technical training. 📞 423-543-0071 · Website

🤝 Community Resources

United Way 211 Dial 211 for community resources, housing help, and social services. 📞 211 · Website Johnson City Public Library Main library branch with programs and newcomer resources. 📞 423-434-4450 · Website Kingsport Public Library Downtown library with events and meeting rooms. 📞 423-229-9487 · Website BeLocal Kingsport & Bristol Shop local gift card and business directory for Kingsport and Bristol. Support independent shops, restaurants, and servi… · Website BeLocal Washington County (Johnson City area) Shop local gift card and directory for Washington County, including Johnson City and Jonesborough. A easy way to spend w… · Website

♻️ Trash, Recycling & Special Disposal

Tri-Cities Trash & Recycling — How It Works Most of the region uses county convenience centers (not curbside everywhere). City residents may have municipal pickup —… · Website TN Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collections State-sponsored free drop-off for paint, cleaners, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, and other HHW — dates announced annual… 📞 615-532-9265 · Website Medication & Prescription Drop-Off Permanent secure drop boxes at many pharmacies and law enforcement offices. DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day… · Website Sullivan County Solid Waste & Recycling County transfer stations accept household garbage, cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum/tin, appliances, electronics, tires,… 📞 423-323-6439 · Website City of Kingsport — Curbside Recycling & Convenience Center Kingsport residents: curbside recycling collection plus a new Recycling Convenience Center for drop-off. Sanitation hand… 📞 423-229-9451 · Website City of Bristol, TN — Solid Waste Department Municipal trash and recycling services for Bristol TN residents. County transfer station on Raytheon Rd also serves Sull… 📞 423-989-5514 · Website Washington County Convenience Centers Six county convenience centers for household trash and recycling. Separate brush sites and a waste tire recycling center… 📞 423-753-1006 · Website Hawkins County Solid Waste & Recycling Nine convenience centers plus a dedicated recycling center. Residents allowed ½ pickup load per day. Most centers accept… 📞 423-272-2027 · Website Greene County Solid Waste — 17 Convenience Centers Greene County operates convenience centers across the county accepting household trash, cardboard, plastics, glass, meta… 📞 423-798-1794 · Website Carter County Landfill & Recycling County landfill, dedicated recycling drop-off, and two convenience centers (Roan Mountain and Little Milligan). Cash or … 📞 423-543-6626 · Website Unicoi County Solid Waste & Recycling County convenience station for household trash and recyclables serving Erwin and Unicoi County. 📞 423-743-1711 · Website Paint Disposal — Latex vs. Oil-Based Tennessee rules differ by paint type. Never pour paint down drains or on the ground. Electronics, TVs & Computer Recycling Old computers, TVs, and monitors are banned from landfills in TN. Drop at county transfer stations or special e-waste ev… Cardboard & Paper Recycling Flatten cardboard boxes before drop-off. Most county convenience centers and city recycling programs accept corrugated c…

🛒 Shop local

BeLocal Kingsport & Bristol Gift cards and local businesses for Kingsport and Bristol Website → BeLocal Washington County (Johnson City area) Gift cards and local businesses for Washington County Website →

✅ General to-dos

Update your driver's license and vehicle registration Register to vote in your new county Find a primary care doctor and dentist Explore community groups and local events Subscribe to the weekly events newsletter