Bristol, city, Sullivan County, northeastern Tennessee; settled 1769, incorporated as a city 1890. Its main street (shared by Bristol, Virginia) forms the Virginia state line. The contiguous cities constitute a major commercial center in a tobacco- and grain-farming area. Metal products, machine parts, and textiles are among the many manufactures. King College (1867) and Bristol International Raceway are here. The long-disputed state boundary was settled in 1881, the demarcation being the middle of State Street. The city is named for Bristol, England. Population 23,986 (1980); 23,421 (1990); 24,821 (2000).
