The area that is now Blountville is thought to have been the location of a longhunter fort prior to its permanent settlement.

The site of the town was part of a tract of about 600 acres (240 ha) of land bought by James Brigham in 1782.

[7] On the afternoon of September 22, 1863, during the Civil War, the town was the scene of the four-hour-long Battle of Blountville.

During a major expedition into East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, a Union Army unit attacked Confederate troops at Blountville.

[8] If Blountville were an incorporated town, it would qualify as the second oldest municipality in Tennessee (second only to Jonesborough); however, it was unincorporated at one point in order to avoid having redundant government services for such a small area and population.

This unique status has led to some odd results, including a lawsuit in which it was ruled that neighboring Kingsport was not allowed to annex areas of Sullivan County within a defined distance of the courthouse, in effect ensuring that the county seat could not be annexed out of existence.

[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.9 square miles (13 km2), all land.

On June 1, 2013, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship was held at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville.

[citation needed] NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki died in an airplane crash near Blountville.

[17] Blountville's historic district includes two 18th-century buildings— the Old Deery Inn and the Anderson Townhouse— and several notable 19th-century structures.