re: Do you think the Civil War was started over slavery?

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Though it was much easier to have that attitude when the region was made up of 1-2% of those types of people. I agree, it is something to be proud of, but I always get a bit of a chuckle when I hear people from Upper East Tennessee talking about places like South Georgia and Alabama and their "racism" (more of a Jim Crowe era thing than slavery). When blacks make up 3% of your population it is much easier to easily "integrate" and talk about equality than when it is 50/50. The racist language and overtones of life in Kingsport was much higher than anything I ever experienced in West Alabama or Georgia, and most of it was just from total lack of a relationship with those of a different color.

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I don't disagree but Knoxville and a few outlying spots have always been closer to 6-8% which does make a difference. Ironically, Knox Co/Knoxville was the place being railed about most and one of the biggest critics was a preacher from the Kingsport/JC/Bristol area which is very different and where you've got your 1-3% as well as many racists.

The Quakers and abolitionist movement had a larger impact closer to Blount Co. and K-town even into places like what is today UNION CO which has about 0 black folks - even parts of CLAIBORNE nearest UNION Co and Knox were more liberal but only parts. Other areas just didn't want involvement or were pro-union and didn't give a shite about black folks. Ironically, just above UNION/KNOX places like SCOTT and CAMPBELL CO. were pretty bad except for their pro-union sentiments.

I would consider Upper-upper TN no different than N. Alabama and the same is true for places like JEFF CO and HAMBLEN but I do consider the areas where Quakers had more influence very different.

FWIW, I've always considered Kingsport/JC/Bristol absolutely horrific on race. I could never live there and don't know how you did.