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Feature article
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Gray in prime location for growth
By staff report
Founded as Gray Station, Gray is situated in the northwest section of Washington County. Though parts of it are inside the Johnson City city limits, Gray sits between Kingsport and Johnson City off Interstate 26.
In recent years, that ideal location has spawned tremendous residential and commercial growth, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in Northeast Tennessee.
Though flanked by a plethora of restaurants on two sides — in Kingsport and Johnson City — Gray has 25 restaurants to satisfy most any cravings. With the international cuisine of La Carreta Mexican restaurant and Sunami’s Japanese Steakhouse, standard fast food fare such as McDonald’s and Burger King, and local favorites like the Gray Station Express Deli and Sit-N-Bull restaurant, Gray has offerings to satisfy most any palate.
Gray is home to Citi Commerce Solutions, employing more than 1,600 people within its 130,000-square-foot building.
Citi provides services like fraud detection and performs collections services for credit card account holders with Citi partners like Zales, Tractor Supply and Radio Shack. Citi handles some 70 million inbound and outbound customer service inquiries annually.
Children living in Gray attend Gray Elementary school before heading to Daniel Boone High School in the ninth grade.
For those wanting a higher education, Gray’s location is convenient. Both Northeast State Community College in Blountville and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City are but a few minutes drive a way.
In 2000, state road crews working to widen a part of Highway 75 near Daniel Boone High School uncovered a large prehistoric fossil site. The site has produced specimens never found east of the Mississippi River, and some never seen in all North America. Plans for a visitors center and onsite research facility are in the works, with a target opening date of early 2007.
The fossil site will nicely accompany Gray’s largest attraction, the Appalachian Fairgrounds. Every August the Appalachian Fair blends down home music with crafts, thrill rides, games foods and competitions for family-friendly entertainment.
Gray
2000 population -- 1,273
Total households -- 552
Own home -- 73%
Married couples with children -- 18%
Married couples with no children -- 50%
High school graduate or higher 83%
Bachelor’s degree or higher 15%
Per capita income $22,542
Note: Percentages have been rounded off.
Source: Census 2000
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