Johnson City

Around 67,000 people call Johnson City home. It is a high-energy, family-centered city with diverse economic components. The city is led by healthcare, education, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Johnson City is also the heart and the center of the Appalachian mountains high country. You have unique access to the best parts of the mountains. You might be thinking, but I have young kids, or I am not much of a hiker. Give the mountains a chance, and those doubts will fade out. The opportunities to explore waterfalls and mountain peaks that surround this beautiful city will transform the way you view adventure. You will soon find that the only reason you thought you did not like to hike is that you had never been on a hike in the Appalachian Highlands.

Johnson City Schools

Johnson City Schools consists of 11 schools with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 students for the 2019-2020 school year. There are 522 certified teachers, 273 classified employees, and 37 administrators employed by the school system. Science Hill High School is comprised of the 10-12 campus, 9th-grade academy, Career Technical Center, and Topper Academy. There are eight elementary schools, along with Indian Trail Intermediate School, and Liberty Bell Middle School.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) named the district one of the top three school districts in Tennessee in September 2015. SCORE heavily considers academic achievement and student gains in its deliberations.

All teachers in the Johnson City School System are certified with no waivers or permits. Currently, there are 20 teachers who have received National Board Certification and several who are in the process of completing the requirements for certification. Three hundred fifty-eight of our teachers have Master's degrees or higher. All Johnson City Schools' teachers have met requirements for highly qualified status as outlined in the state standards for No Child Left Behind.

Johnson City Schools consistently scores above state and national ACT and SAT scores and our TCAP academic performance exceeds state and national averages in every discipline and grade level tested. We also achieve exemplary ratings at all levels on all non-academic indicators such as attendance, promotion, and drop-out rate.

Higher Education

East Tennessee State University is home to approximately 14,500 students. It offers 112 undergraduate and 75 master’s programs, including one of the country’s select few fully accredited graduate programs in storytelling. It also is the only four-year university in the world with a comprehensive bluegrass music program. ETSU also boasts a College of Pharmacy and the James H. Quillen College of Medicine. With a high-performing public school system and higher learning facilities to meet most anyone’s needs, education is key in East Tennessee.

Northeast State Community College is a comprehensive two-year community college under the governance of the Tennessee Board of Regents of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee. Northeast State provides university parallel programs designed for students desiring to transfer to another college or university, career programs for students planning to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, and continuing education and community service programs for professional growth and personal enrichment to the citizens of Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. Although the main campus is located in Blountville, Tennessee, Northeast State has a satellite facility located at 101 E. Market St., in Johnson city's downtown area. The entrance to the facility's parking garage is located off Buffalo Street.

Milligan University has educated men and women to lead and to serve for over 150 years. Our commitment to Christ-centered liberal arts education has led Milligan to become a growing, well-respected liberal arts institution. Because of our emphasis on scholarship, community, and faith, students come from all over the world to experience our distinctively different approach to higher education.

Milligan offers more than 100 majors, minors, pre-professional degrees, and concentrations in a variety of fields, along with graduate and adult degree completion programs. Consistently recognized for quality and value, Milligan has been recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best regional universities in the South for quality and value; named one of Washington Monthly’s top 20 master’s universities in the nation; and in 2016, listed as the No. 2 best universities in Tennessee by BestColleges.com.

King University establishes students in a robust liberal arts foundation and offers specialization in a contemporary range of undergraduate degrees. These include Nursing, Security and Intelligence Studies, Exercise Science, and Digital Media Art & Design, as well as more traditional majors such as Mathematics, History and Political science, English, Biology, and more.

Undergraduates have the opportunity to engage in a variety of real-world economic and scientific research opportunities, and to interact with prominent voices examining the intersection of faith and culture. On-campus and online learning programs are available, plus a dual degree program in Engineering. Graduate and Professional offerings include master’s degrees in nursing, business and education, and a doctoral degree in nursing practice.

The value of the school’s educational environment has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which has named King a Best Regional University in the South for nearly 30 consecutive years. King has also been recognized by the Brookings Institution, which in 2016 ranked the University third in Tennessee for preparing students for high-paying careers.
King’s main campus resides on 135 scenic acres in Bristol, Tennessee. University-centered athletic opportunities include membership on one of 28 teams competing in the NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas or participation in on-campus leagues and groups sponsored by King’s Student Life group. Additionally, Bristol is officially recognized as the Birthplace of Country Music, and the Tri-Cities area features a wealth of live music, including the nationally known Rhythm and Roots Reunion weekend festival. Students can also enjoy concerts, races, and sporting events at nearby Bristol Motor Speedway, along with outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, and exploring the Blue Ridge and the Smoky Mountains.









Ballad Health is Leading the charge in the medical industry in the Tri-Cities. Ballad is an integrated healthcare system serving 29 counties of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina, and Southeast Kentucky. Their system was created to improve the health of the people they serve. Ballad Health operates a family of 21 hospitals, including three tertiary medical centers, a dedicated children’s hospital, community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a behavioral health hospital, an addiction treatment facility, long-term care facilities, home care, and hospice services, retail pharmacies, outpatient services, and a comprehensive medical management corporation.

Johnson City Medical Center is a 445-bed regional tertiary referral center for the entire service area and one of five Level 1 Trauma Centers in the state of Tennessee. Since 1911, Johnson City Medical Center has been dedicated to helping the people of our region attain their highest possible level of health (Ballad Health).

Franklin Woods Community Hospital is an acute care 80-bed hospital located in Johnson City, Tenn. Franklin Woods (FWCH) has a wide range of specialty and subspecialty care, including general acute medical services, a family birth center, 24/7 emergency services, and comprehensive diagnostic imaging. The hospital also provides advanced surgical services, including minimally invasive da Vinci robotic surgery options (Ballad Health).

State of Franklin Healthcare Associates (SoFHA) is a progressive, patient-centered system of 13 medical practices. Most are located on our main campus in Johnson City, Tennessee. We also offer the first “call-ahead,” walk-in clinic in the region. Our SoFHA physicians establish strong connections with patients first and foremost, allowing for efficient and timelier healthcare.

There are many walk-in clinics and specialty facilities to suit your medical needs. The list above is just a glimpse of with Johnson City has to offer.





When you drive around town, you will notice the beautiful blue mountains that surround the area. One of the more popular mountains, known as Buffalo Mountain, anchors the south part of Johnson City. Buffalo Mountain Park is part of the Johnson City parks and rec system and was obtained through a land swap. The park trail system offers hiking with beautiful views of the area, encompassing 725 acres. Here's a list of trails and parks in Johnson City and the Appalachian Highlands.









Label - Label is the Tri-Cities premier downtown restaurant featuring a full sushi bar, fresh ground burgers, and 100% wood-grilled entrees selections

Southern Craft - Rustic downtown smokehouse serving Southern-style slow-smoked and dry-rubbed meats. Offering all homemade sauces, classic sides, and a full bar.

Firehouse Restaurant - Firehouse has been operating since 1980! They started their business in the back storeroom of the Buc Plaza Convenience Market offering a simple menu of Bar-B-Que sandwiches and side items! Fast forward to now as they have developed their reputation to be one of the top places for BBQ in Johnson City!

El Charolais - El Charolais is your destination for great food, friendly service, and everything is Muy Mexicano

Mid City Grill - Best Burgers in the Tri-Cities, we also serve Vegan and Vegetarian fare.

Main Street Pizza - The restaurant specializes in hand made pizzas and meticulously created subs, salads, pasta dishes, desserts, and more.

Sahibs - Sahib offers an extensive menu of fine Indian cuisine. We have a variety of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and low-calorie entrees available.