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Feature article
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Church Hill has a variety of family amenities
By J. Ann Tipton
Area residents had been calling it Church Hill since the 1840s, but the area 10 minutes southwest of Kingsport on Highway 11-W didn’t become a town until 1958. Named for the First United Methodist Church, the church on the hill overlooking the downtown area, Church Hill is Hawkins County’s largest municipality with a population of more than 5,900.
Hutchinson Sealing Systems is Church Hill’s largest employer with 620 workers. This international manufacturer of automotive rubber sealants has been in Church Hill since 1989.
Four Hawkins County elementary schools serve Church Hill families: Carter’s Valley Elementary, Church Hill Elementary, McPheeter’s Bend Elementary and Mount Carmel Elementary. Middle and high school students attend Church Hill Middle and then Volunteer High School, both in Church Hill.
Each December the town holds a Christmas parade through the downtown area. Families also participate in a midsummer children’s fishing tournament at Jaycees Park, also the site of Church Hill’s Veteran’s War memorial. The park also has several picnic shelters, a playground, walking trail and Alexander Creek.
In addition to Jaycees Park, Church Hill has four other city parks to choose from. Near Volunteer High School, Samuel L. Taylor Park has a walking trail, a fishing pond, picnic shelters and a playground. Called simply “city park” by Church Hill residents, the 10-acre J.W. Salley Park is home to the city swimming pool, four tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a baseball field and picnic shelters. The city’s newest park, Derrick Park, is located along the Holston River and has several picnic shelters, a playground, walking trail and a boat ramp. Church Hill’s William “Bill” Castle Park overlooks Bays Mountain and has a picnic shelter, gazebo, basketball court and swings. Also located along the Holston River is Laurel Run Park, a Hawkins County park. The property was given to the county following the conclusion of filming of the motion picture “The River,” starring Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek. The park includes a mountain creek, playground equipment, tennis courts and baseball fields.
In addition to the city’s five parks, Church Hill is home to Canton Hall, an antebellum mansion built before the Civil War.
The town boasts 20 restaurants, both fast food and sit down, including local eateries The Mountaineer Restaurant, El Portrillo, Patsy’s Bakery and Randell’s Restaurant.
Church Hill
2000 population -- 5,916
Total households -- 2,534
Own home -- 75%
Married couples with children -- 22%
Married couples with no children -- 38%
High school graduate or higher 76%
Bachelor’s degree or higher 16%
Per capita income $19,656
Note: Percentages have been rounded off.
Source: Census 2000
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