Fiber Internet Keeps Bristol, TN Connected, Competitive
Bristol, TN, is home to spectacular scenery, music and sporting events, plus gig-speed fiber internet, making it an ideal place to live, work and play.
The Appalachian Mountains’ sweeping beauty, storied country traditions and boundless recreational opportunities combine with a thriving small city vibe to make Bristol, TN, a truly special community. From nearby national forests and spectacular lakes and caverns, to several scenic golf courses, to the world-renowned Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol’s appeals are nearly endless.
Bristol forms one of the main cities within the greater Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, whose overall population exceeds 300,000. Additionally, Bristol is part of the Tri-Cities of Tennessee and Virginia, a famously proud region of half a million people. It provides easy access to cities and towns throughout Appalachia. Kingsport and Johnson City, Tennessee, are about 30 minutes away, and Boone, North Carolina, is reachable in under 90 minutes.
At almost 1,700 feet in elevation in southwest Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains, Bristol brims with the best of rural traditions and outstanding outdoor recreation. Located off I-81, Bristol is twinned to Bristol, VA, divided by the state line. Mere minutes from Bristol’s downtown, many gorgeous lakes, parks, forests, streams and almost uncountable hiking trails are yours to discover.
Although Bristol is rooted in its rural mountain heritage, it’s also connected to the world of global commerce and communication through fiber internet—the fastest, most reliable internet available. Thanks to the advanced fiber network provided by Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES), Bristol residents don’t have to sacrifice opportunities for remote-work and ecommerce, or even for high-definition streaming TV and movies when they live here. Keep reading to learn more reasons why Bristol may be an ideal community for you and your family, too!
In This Article
Downtown Bristol Bustles With Activity — and Country Music!
Though it’s a small town at heart, Bristol surprises many visitors and new residents with its vibrant city core. State Street, the main downtown thoroughfare, also divides the town into its Tennessee and Virginia halves. Together, the twin towns on both sides of the state line have over 160 businesses and dozens of loft-style apartments on State Street alone.
Over five contiguous blocks, residents can browse Bristol’s charming downtown to enjoy its numerous shops and restaurants, including its delectable barbecue. And don’t forget to sample its many local craft breweries!
But more than anything else, its distinct music heritage sets Bristol apart from other small towns. Indeed, Bristol has been formally recognized by Congress as the nation’s birthplace of country music — and nothing demonstrates this better than the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in downtown Bristol. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the museum honors country music as one of America’s great contributions to the arts and tells the story of some of the legends who made music history in the town, including Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter family, as well as the famous “Bristol Sessions” recordings in 1927.
And to complement the museum’s celebration of country music, Bristol also hosts the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion every September, one of the Southeast’s most popular music festivals. More than 100 bands and performers fill the downtown core over three days each year, helping to recall Bristol and the surrounding area’s many influences on country music — and launch new legends.
Mountain Scenery and Natural Recreation Abound
As fun as Bristol’s downtown area can be, make no mistake — most people come here for the stunning scenery and easy access to a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities. Within short drives, residents can enjoy three magnificent natural treasures: South Holston Lake, Cherokee National Forest and Bristol Caverns.
Nearby South Holston Lake offers exceptional fly fishing and smallmouth bass angling, as well as boating. Its 7,580 acres of shimmering water surrounded by dense forests teem with fish, birds and other wildlife that are attracted to it. Bristol residents can also kayak and even jet ski on the lake, too.
When you fancy losing yourself deep within nature, your family — or even just you — can wander through the Cherokee National Forest’s 650,000 acres of pristine forest. Laden with waterfalls, streams and hiking trails, it’s only about 90 minutes from Bristol. Cherokee National Forest serves as the perfect gateway to experience Appalachia’s lush and biodiverse forests. And when you’re ready to venture just a tad further from town, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina provides even more hiking trails and recreation in the crisp mountain air.
Closer to home, many Bristol residents enjoy delving deep beneath the earth’s surface in the impressive Bristol Caverns. Only about a 15-minute drive from downtown Bristol, these caverns offer three levels to explore, including an underground river that’s 180 feet below the ground! These natural caverns are caked with a multitude of colorful veins of minerals, which, along with the many varied rock formations create an otherworldly ambience that captivates the curious.
Bristol Motor Speedway Brings Big Thrills
Apart from its stunning mountain scenery and natural beauty, Bristol stands out for another reason — the iconic and internationally-renowned Bristol Motor Speedway. One of NASCAR’s fastest short tracks, Bristol is America’s fourth largest sports venue of any kind — and the 10th largest in the world. Indeed, nearly 150,000 people can enjoy a race at this enormous facility.
But lest you think the Speedway is only about great racing, it also hosts music concerts that draw thousands of fans, including Country Thunder, an immensely popular multi-act event held in October. Some of country music’s biggest stars regularly perform at Bristol Motor Speedway, including acclaimed country music duo Brooks and Dunn.
Bristol Has Great Golf
Racing isn’t the only sport that draws admirers to Bristol, however. Golfers will love testing their skills in the area. Indeed, in some ways, Bristol serves as a regional golf haven, attracting players from across the country who enjoy scenic courses that make the most of the natural topography and environment. Twelve courses are within a short drive of downtown Bristol, including two public municipal courses and several private clubs.
Among the more interesting courses in the area is the Olde Farm Golf Club, which was created along a valley once traversed by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Renowned golf course designer Bobby Weed devised this outstanding course with the gorgeous — and often challenging — natural features top-of-mind.
BTES’s Fiber Internet Keeps Bristol Residents Well-Connected
Beyond its unique Appalachian heritage and outdoorsy orientation, Bristol is fortunate to have another special advantage over other small towns—fiber internet. Simply the most dependable internet available today, Bristol’s high-speed fiber internet is provided by BTES.
BTES’s sophisticated fiber technology transmits internet through light, delivering speeds up to 20 times faster than copper-based cable. Thus, multiple users can stream simultaneously on multiple devices. Bristol residents can rest assured that their internet will be there for them when they need it. And BTES offers download speeds of up to 1-Gig per second!
For families drawn to mountain scenery and the great outdoors, while still desiring the amenities of a small southern city, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more amenable town than Bristol, Tennessee. And because Bristol residents can avail themselves of fiber internet, they won’t feel like they’re leaving the conveniences of high-speed internet and the global economy behind them!