Bristol, VA

Full City Profile · Virginia · Bristol city County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
17,024 Population 1,323/sq mi density
$44,706 Median Income $29,646 per capita
$168,700 Home Value $202,748 Zillow
$775 Median Rent 27.7% income on rent
55°F Avg Temperature
435 Violent Crime/100K 3,040 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.1 / 5.0
$44,706 median income, 4.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$168,700 home value, $775/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
435 violent crimes/100K (15% above avg)
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Bristol experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 47.3 inches. The area receives 9.2 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average54.7°F
1% above US avg
January Average35°F (1°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation1,799 ft (548 m)
Area13.2 sq mi (34.1 km²)
Population Density1,323/sq mi
Coordinates36.6170°N, 82.1576°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyBristol city County
Nearest AirportFoothills Regional (MRN)
63 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.3"
24% above US avg
Snowfall 9.2"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.69"
Driest Month (Oct) 2.78"

Air Quality

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.3 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score8.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability86.8 / 100
Community Resilience23.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave No Rating
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

77 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 14, 2025.

Nov 10, 2012 6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky M4.2 99 km
Aug 17, 1990 9 km NNW of Loyall, Kentucky M4.0 115 km
Jul 30, 1997 6 km NNE of Tazewell, Tennessee M3.8 125 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 62 km
Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 25 km
Mar 5, 2019 7 km NE of Maynardville, Tennessee M3.4 146 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 132 km
Nov 8, 1990 5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky M3.2 95 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 144 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 143 km
Apr 29, 2018 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee M3.1 116 km
Jan 17, 1999 7 km NNW of Flat Lick, Kentucky M3.1 149 km
Apr 13, 2001 11 km W of Sneedville, Tennessee M3.0 106 km
Nov 24, 2012 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.0 143 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 32 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 126 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 82 km
Jul 17, 2019 7 km SW of New Tazewell, Tennessee M3.0 136 km
Apr 5, 2005 1 km SE of Blaine, Tennessee M2.9 147 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 67 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Hugo (1989, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1989 Hugo Category 1 234 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

91 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 15 fatalities, 215 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 19 km 3
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 75 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 87 km 6
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 50 km 0
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 34 km 1
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 61 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 29 km 2
May 8, 2009 EF2 100 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 41 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 61 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF2 86 km 0
Jul 6, 1980 EF2 98 km 0
Jan 25, 1975 EF2 39 km 0
Apr 22, 1967 EF2 66 km 0
Mar 12, 1967 EF2 87 km 1
Apr 9, 1965 EF2 53 km 0
Jun 3, 1962 EF2 4 km 0
Apr 8, 1957 EF2 53 km 0
Mar 5, 1955 EF2 66 km 0
Sep 25, 2024 EF1 69 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (32,565 ac, 1987).

Year Name Acres Distance
1987 UNNAMED 32,565 95 km
1991 UNNAMED 22,282 91 km
1991 UNNAMED 17,406 97 km
1999 UNNAMED 17,328 96 km
1994 UNNAMED 15,526 89 km
1987 UNNAMED 15,138 84 km
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 87 km
1999 UNNAMED 10,990 86 km
1987 UNNAMED 9,572 82 km
1991 UNNAMED 9,084 80 km
1994 UNNAMED 8,114 94 km
2001 UNNAMED 7,177 92 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 91 km
2016 LITTLE SHEPHERD TRAIL 6,751 93 km
1999 UNNAMED 6,457 99 km
2016 SILVER MINE 6,082 97 km
2001 UNNAMED 5,790 80 km
1991 BRADSHAW 5,029 84 km
2014 North Fork Rx 4,934 72 km
1987 KIWIS CREEK 4,879 82 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 35°F (1°C) 3.8 in Coldest
February 38°F (3°C) 3.9 in
March 45°F (7°C) 4.5 in
April 54°F (12°C) 4.4 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.4 in
June 70°F (21°C) 4.3 in
July 74°F (23°C) 4.7 in Warmest, Wettest
August 73°F (23°C) 3.8 in
September 67°F (19°C) 3.3 in
October 56°F (13°C) 2.8 in Driest
November 45°F (7°C) 3.3 in
December 38°F (3°C) 4.2 in

Bristol has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 35°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.3 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.7") and October the driest (2.8").

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