| Bulls Gap | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Tennessee#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Bulls Gap |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tennessee |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hawkins |
| Government Type: | Board of Mayor and Aldermen |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Stacy Hayes |
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Jimmy Riley |
| Leader Title2: | Aldermen |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1792[1] |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1955[2] |
| Named For: | John Bull (early settler)[3] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [4] |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.16 |
| Area Land Km2: | 3.16 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.22 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.22 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 756 |
| Population Density Km2: | 239.61 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 620.69 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 360 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1181 |
| Coordinates: | 36.2592°N -83.0794°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 37711 |
| Area Code: | 423 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 47-09560[5] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1269404[6] |
Bulls Gap is a town in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 756 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area - commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bulls Gap Historic District.
The town was named for the famous gunsmith, John Bull, who made his home in the gap of mountains.[7]
Bulls Gap is located at (36.259094, -83.079507).[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2sqmi, all of it land.
In November 1864, a small Civil War battle was fought here. The Battle of Bull's Gap was a Confederate victory, with John C. Breckinridge the victorious general.
| Number | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 705 | 93.25% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3 | 0.4% | |
| Asian | 2 | 0.26% | |
| Other/Mixed | 35 | 4.63% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11 | 1.46% |
As of the census of 2000, there were 714 people, 319 households, and 210 families residing in the town. The population density was 570.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 348 housing units at an average density of 278.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.70% African American, and 0.28% from two or more races.
There were 319 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,074, and the median income for a family was $28,917. Males had a median income of $29,306 versus $21,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,822. About 23.9% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
Legendary country comedian Archie Campbell, who regularly performed at the Grand Ole Opry and starred in the television show Hee Haw, was a native of Bulls Gap. Campbell referred to the town in many of his classic comedy routines. His house has been preserved as a museum and tourist attraction, and U.S. Route 11E through Bulls Gap was renamed "Archie Campbell Highway" following his death in 1987. Every Labor Day weekend the town has an annual three-day celebration honoring Campbell with a car show, food and live music.
American Southern Gospel Singer Kirk Talley grew up in Bulls Gap
New York Times best selling author Amy Greene grew up in the vicinity of Bulls Gap.[9]
In Cormac McCarthy's novel Child of God, Lester Ballard murders a young couple in their car, gets in the car, turns on the radio, and listens to the radio host talk about an upcoming event at Bulls Gap School.[10]
George Washington Harris' short story, "Sut Lovingood at Bull's Gap," is set in Bulls Gap.
Bulls Gap is home to Volunteer Speedway, a dirt racetrack, that is billed as the "World's Fastest Dirt Track."[11]
Schools serving Bulls Gap are a part of the Hawkins County School System, they include:
Bulls Gap has a Post Office located on US Route 11E, with the ZIP Code 37711. It serves portions of Greene, Hawkins and Hamblen counties.