Kingston, Tennessee Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Kingston, Tennessee is a small town nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is located in Roane County and is approximately 20 miles west of Knoxville. Kingston has a population of just over 5,000 people and covers approximately 8 square miles.

The town was founded in 1807 as part of the Southwest Territory, which later became the state of Tennessee. The name “Kingston” was derived from a Revolutionary War battle fought nearby and won by General William King. The town was an important trading post for goods traveling between Knoxville and Chattanooga during its early years, as well as a stop on the stagecoach line connecting those two cities.

Today, Kingston is known for its beautiful scenery and outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hiking and horseback riding. There are several parks located within the city limits including Watts Bar Lake Park and Rockwood Park which offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests and meadows.

The downtown area features many historic buildings from the 19th century such as churches, homes, stores and other structures that have been preserved to maintain their original charm. There are also several antique stores located downtown where one can find unique items from days gone by. In addition to these attractions there are several restaurants that serve up delicious southern-style cuisine from traditional BBQ to homemade pies.

The city also hosts many festivals throughout the year including Spring Fling which features music performances by local bands; Summerfest which includes an artisan fair; Fall Fun Days with carnival rides; Winterfest with ice sculptures; and Christmas on Main Street with holiday decorations throughout downtown Kingston.

Kingston is a great place to live or visit due to its abundant natural beauty coupled with its charming small-town atmosphere. Its proximity to larger cities such as Knoxville allows access to larger amenities while still maintaining its rural feel providing visitors with an opportunity to experience both worlds at once.

Population: 5,264. Estimated population in July 2024: 5,472 (+4.0% change)
Males: 2,476 (47.0%), Females: 2,788 (53.0%)

Roane County

Zip code: 37763

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.6 years
Median household income: $34,071
Median house value: $85,500

Population by Race

Races in Kingston:

  • White Non-Hispanic (93.2%)
  • Black (3.6%)
  • Two or more races (1.7%)
  • American Indian (1.3%)
  • Hispanic (1.0%)

Ancestries: United States (14.2%), English (13.1%), German (9.0%), Irish (8.0%), Scottish (5.8%), French (3.9%).

Elevation: 233 feet

Land area: 6.5 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Kingston

  • High school or higher: 79.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.5%
  • Unemployed: 8.6%
  • Mean travel time to work: 23.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Kingston city

  • Never married: 18.1%
  • Now married: 61.4%
  • Separated: 1.8%
  • Widowed: 10.9%
  • Divorced: 7.8%

0.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +356 (+7.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Kingston:

  • ROANE MEDICAL CENTER (about 5 miles; HARRIMAN, TN)
  • FORT SANDERS LOUDON MEDICAL CENTER (about 16 miles; LOUDON, TN)
  • RIDGEVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSP AND CENTER (about 19 miles; OAK RIDGE, TN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Kingston:

  • MC GHEE TYSON (about 37 miles; KNOXVILLE, TN; Abbreviation: TYS)
  • LOVELL FIELD (about 76 miles; CHATTANOOGA, TN; Abbreviation: CHA)
  • RICHARD B RUSSELL (about 114 miles; ROME, GA; Abbreviation: RMG)

Other public-use airports nearest to Kingston:

  • ROCKWOOD MUNI (about 13 miles; ROCKWOOD, TN; Abbreviation: RKW)
  • MONROE COUNTY (about 25 miles; MADISONVILLE, TN; Abbreviation: MNV)
  • MCMINN COUNTY (about 34 miles; ATHENS, TN; Abbreviation: MMI)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Kingston:

  • ROANE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 5 miles; HARRIMAN, TN; Full-time enrollment: 3,490)
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE (about 39 miles; KNOXVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 23,333)
  • PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 39 miles; KNOXVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 5,196)
  • LEE UNIVERSITY (about 55 miles; CLEVELAND, TN; Full-time enrollment: 3,171)
  • CLEVELAND STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 55 miles; CLEVELAND, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,022)
  • TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (about 69 miles; COOKEVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 7,204)
  • CARSON-NEWMAN COLLEGE (about 73 miles; JEFFERSON CITY, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,073)

Schools

Public high schools in Kingston:

  • ROANE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 709; Location: 540 CUMBERLAND W ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 254; Location: 530 LOUDON HW; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Kingston:

  • CALVARY BAPTIST SCHOOL (Students: 88; Location: PO BOX 844; Grades: PK – 12)
  • ROANE CO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 76; Location: PO BOX 416; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Kingston:

  • KINGSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 759; Location: 2000 KINGSTON HW; Grades: KG – 05)
  • CHEROKEE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 568; Location: 200 PAINT ROCK FERRY RD; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • MIDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 435; Location: 130 LAUREL BLUFF RD; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Kingston:

  • MICHAEL DUNN CENTER (Students: 30; Location: P O BOX 507; Grades: UG – UG)
  • CAMELOT CARE CENTER INC (Students: 20; Location: 183 FIDDLERS LANE; Grades: 1 – 10)

Libraries

Library in Kingston:

  • KINGSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $141,285; Location: 1000 BRADFORD WAY #3; 18,956 books; 371 audio materials; 882 video materials; 33 serial subscriptions)