County population in 2016: 456,132 (89% urban, 11% rural); it was 382,032 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 81,304 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 36,108 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 105,594 Renter-occupied apartments: 59,837 (it was 52,278 in 2000)
% of renters here:
33%
State:
32%
Land area: 508 sq. mi.
Water area: 17.3 sq. mi.
Population density: 897 people per square mile (very high).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Knox County: 87.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Estimated median household income in 2016: $52,102 ($37,454 in 1999)
This county:
$52,102
Tennessee:
$48,547
Median contract rent in 2016 for apartments: $655 (lower quartile is $491, upper quartile is $878)
This county:
$655
State:
$637
Estimated median house or condo value in 2016: $174,100 (it was $95,700 in 2000)
Knox:
$174,100
Tennessee:
$157,700
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $116,100 - $271,600
Mean price in 2016:
Detached houses: $234,872
Here:
$234,872
State:
$216,477
Townhouses or other attached units: $199,388
Here:
$199,388
State:
$202,370
In 2-unit structures: $148,029
Here:
$148,029
State:
$153,786
In 3-to-4-unit structures: $148,827
Here:
$148,827
State:
$159,626
In 5-or-more-unit structures: $205,394
Here:
$205,394
State:
$230,713
Mobile homes: $61,503
Here:
$61,503
State:
$72,294
Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $245,678
Here:
$245,678
State:
$95,356
Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,210 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $386
Institutionalized population: 3,241
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 5
Rapes: 15
Robberies: 66
Assaults: 437
Burglaries: 1575
Thefts: 3377
Auto thefts: 442
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 4
Rapes: 29
Robberies: 84
Assaults: 465
Burglaries: 1518
Thefts: 3669
Auto thefts: 450
Health of residents in Knox County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2012:
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.3. This is worse than average. 70.5% of residents exercised in the past month. This is about average. 44.1% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is about average. 47.2% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is less than average. 70.4% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is about average. Average weight of males is 195 pounds. This is about average. Average weight of females is 162 pounds. This is about average. 35.1% of residents keep firearms around their homes. This is more than average.
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $1,230 (0.7%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $1,083 (0.6%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 14.9%
Knox County:
14.9%
Tennessee:
15.8%
(12.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 35.5% for Black residents, 28.5% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 9.4% for American Indian residents, 33.2% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 27.9% for other race residents, 28.4% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 37.3 years old
(Males: 35.7 years old, Females: 39.2 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 39.7 years old, Black residents: 32.2 years old, American Indian residents: 36.0 years old, Asian residents: 32.6 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 25.5 years old, Other race residents: 23.9 years old)
Area name: Knoxville, TN MSA Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Knox County is $472 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $569 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $762 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Knox County: Snakeden Mountain Campsite (A), Cosby Ranger Station (B), Round Mountain Campground (C), Round Mountain Lookout (D), Walnut Mountain Appalachian Trail Shelter (E), Bubbling Spring Shooting Range (F), Meadow Creek Lookout (G), French Broad Boating Site (H), Houston Valley Campground (I), Douglas Shores Campground (J), Laws (K), Dayenport Gap Appalachian Trail Shelter (L), Davenport Gap Appalachian Trail Shelter (M), Kyle Carver Orchards (N), Smoky Mountain Golf Course (O), French Broad (P), Gilliland Creek Campsite (Q), Otter Creek Campsite (R), Sugar Cove Campsite (S), Junction (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Knox County include: Big Pigeon Church (A), Faith Mission (B), Little Pigeon Church (C), Allen Chapel (D), Pleasant Point Baptist Church (E), Jones Chapel (F), Catons Grove Methodist Church (G), Rays Chapel (H), Stokely Chapel (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Huff Cemetery (1), Talley Cemetery (2), Inman Cemetery (3), Jack Cemetery (4), Johnson Cemetery (5), Varner Cemetery (6), Jones Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Maddron Creek (A), Lovell Creek (B), Long Branch (C), Little Clifty Branch (D), Bearpen Branch (E), Laurel Creek (F), Kyker Branch (G), Kneelas Creek (H), Allen Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Knox County include: Houston Valley Recreation Area (1), French Broad Recreation Site (2), Rattlesnake Branch Recreation Area (3). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 33,984 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 90.8% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 38.4%
Number of foreign born residents: 20,097 (39.3% naturalized citizens)
Knox County:
4.4%
Whole state:
4.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 5,300
2000 to 2009: 7,600
1990 to 1999: 4,959
1980 to 1989: 2,141
1970 to 1979: 1,044
Before 1970: 1,488
Note: State values scaled to Knox County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 22.2 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 85.6%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 133,796
One, attached: 12,722
Two: 2,728
3 or 4: 5,997
5 to 9: 10,340
10 to 19: 13,813
20 to 49: 8,476
50 or more: 6,445
Mobile homes: 7,449
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 120
Housing units in Knox County with a mortgage: 71,957 (1,064 second mortgage, 6,072 home equity loan, 404 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 44,592
Here:
61.7% with mortgage
State:
59.5% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Knox County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
183,754
365
Mainline Protestant
51,345
116
Catholic
21,988
7
Other
7,178
34
Black Protestant
6,897
29
Orthodox
818
2
None
160,246
-
Knox County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 74
Knox County:
1.75 / 10,000 pop.
State:
1.99 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 5
Here:
0.12 / 10,000 pop.
Tennessee:
0.17 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 58
This county:
1.37 / 10,000 pop.
Tennessee:
0.65 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 162
Knox County:
3.82 / 10,000 pop.
Tennessee:
5.16 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 313
This county:
7.39 / 10,000 pop.
State:
6.56 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Knox County:
12.0%
Tennessee:
11.4%
Adult obesity rate:
Knox County:
27.5%
State:
30.2%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
13.7%
State:
13.5%
Agriculture in Knox County:
Average size of farms: 66 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $14,353 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $499.62 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 60.67% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 32.51% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $15,232 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 29.22% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 1.78% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $33,849 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 94.40% Average age of principal farm operators: 58 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 24.15 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 2.70% Corn for grain: 484 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 26 harvested acres Vegetables: 143 harvested acres Land in orchards: 55 acres
Tornado activity:
Knox County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Tennessee state average. It is 10414424.5 times below overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused one fatality and 11 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 2/18/1976, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado injured 10 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Knox County-area historical earthquake activity is near Tennessee state average. It is 78% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 12.0 miles away from Knox County center On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 154.4 miles away from the county center On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG, Depth: 12.2 mi) earthquake occurred 139.3 miles away from the county center On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 167.5 miles away from the county center On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi) earthquake occurred 276.1 miles away from Knox County center On 9/7/1988 at 02:28:09, a magnitude 4.6 (4.5 MB, 4.6 LG) earthquake occurred 150.1 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Tennessee Severe Winter Storm and Flooding, Incident Period: February 15, 2015 to February 23, 2015, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4211: April 02, 2015, FEMA Id: 4211, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: June 18, 2011 to June 24, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4005: July 20, 2011, FEMA Id: 4005, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood, Wind
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding, Incident Period: April 25, 2011 to April 28, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1974: May 01, 2011, FEMA Id: 1974, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood, Wind
Tennessee Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3217: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3217, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: May 04, 2003 to May 30, 2003, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1464: May 08, 2003, FEMA Id: 1464, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding, Incident Period: May 23, 2000 to May 31, 2000, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1331: June 12, 2000, FEMA Id: 1331, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: April 16, 1998 to May 18, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1215: April 20, 1998, FEMA Id: 1215, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Tennessee Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 17, 1993, Emergency Declared EM-3095: March 14, 1993, FEMA Id: 3095, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snowfall
Tennessee TORNADOES, Incident Period: April 04, 1974, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-424: April 04, 1974, FEMA Id: 424, Natural disaster type: Tornado
Tennessee Heavy Rains, Flooding, Incident Period: March 21, 1973, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-366: March 21, 1973, FEMA Id: 366, Natural disaster type: Flood, Heavy Rain
The number of natural disasters in Knox County (10) is smaller than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8 Emergencies Declared: 2
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 13.0 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 12.5 Births per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 12.1
Births per 1000 population in Knox County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 9.1 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 9.1 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 9.2
Deaths per 1000 population in Knox County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.1 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.1 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2007 to 2013: 5.5
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Knox County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 14.0% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 5.1%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Knox County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Knox County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 63,116 (51,298 aged, 11,818 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 8,396 (8%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Knox County, Tennessee in 1999 - 2014:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (4,210)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (3,137)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (1,831)
Pneumonia, unspecified (1,417)
Breast, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (881)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 10% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 1.75 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 20,082 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 466 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 49,024
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,266 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 917 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 10
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 55 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 90
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 12 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Homicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 64.8. This is less than state average.
Mechanisms of homicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 41.5
Cut/Pierce - 10.0
Other - 13.3
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 130.4. This is less than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 76.6
Suffocation - 22.2
Poisoning - 21.8
Other - 9.7
Household type by relationship:
Households: 456,132
In family households: 347,108 (57,977 male householders, 51,547 female householders)
84,123 spouses, 119,261 children (108,576 natural, 3,899 adopted, 6,786 stepchildren), 8,258 grandchildren, 3,681 brothers or sisters, 4,769 parents, 6,706 other relatives, 10,786 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 97,653 (34,029 male householders (25,545 living alone)), 40,336 female householders (33,135 living alone)), 23,288 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 11,371
Size of family households: 51,966 2-persons, 23,320 3-persons, 21,761 4-persons, 8,541 5-persons, 1,992 6-persons, 1,944 7-or-more-persons.
63,378 married couples with children.
24,669 single-parent households (7,399 men, 17,270 women).
93.6% of residents of Knox speak English at home.
2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home (58% speak English very well, 16% speak English well, 21% speak English not well, 5% don't speak English at all).
1.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (78% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 5% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
1.5% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (53% speak English very well, 25% speak English well, 17% speak English not well, 6% don't speak English at all).
0.6% of residents speak other language at home (58% speak English very well, 18% speak English well, 24% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $2,833,799,000 ($7,083 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $188,148,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $1,006,530,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $535,465,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $15,956,000 Federal grants: $530,396,000 Federal procurement contracts: $469,190,000 ($91,280,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $276,262,000 ($37,697,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $17,824,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $232,468,000 Federal Government insurance: $104,178,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 25,640
Here:
63 per 1000 residents
State:
69 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 19,250
Here:
48 per 1000 residents
State:
50 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +2,527
Here:
+6 per 1000 residents
State:
+8 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +9,605
Here:
+24 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Knox County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 62.11 millions of gallons per day (1% from ground, 99% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.7
State:
6.4
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.3
State:
4.5
Year house built
2014 or later: 3,829
2010 to 2013: 7,449
2000 to 2009: 33,493
1990 to 1999: 33,318
1980 to 1989: 27,075
1970 to 1979: 28,533
1960 to 1969: 23,408
1950 to 1959: 17,397
1940 to 1949: 10,816
1939 or earlier: 16,568
Note: State values scaled to Knox population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Knox County, Tennessee
Note: State values scaled to Knox County population
no vehicle: 2,690
1 vehicle: 29,892
2 vehicles: 49,865
3 vehicles: 22,852
4 vehicles: 7,615
5+ vehicles: 3,635
no vehicle: 8,473
1 vehicle: 31,101
2 vehicles: 20,450
3 vehicles: 5,665
4 vehicles: 732
5+ vehicles: 919
83% of Knox County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 38% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 57% lived in Tennessee.
Knox County:
82.9%
State average:
85.8%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 279,880
Other state: 152,602
Northeast: 20,210
Midwest: 40,015
South: 76,285
West: 16,092
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Knox County
#3 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents that drank alcohol in the past 30 days"
#30 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Evangelical Protestant adherents"
#30 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Evangelical Protestant adherents (pop. 50,000+)"
#49 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the worst general health status score of residents (1-5), 3 years of data"
#50 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Evangelical Protestant congregations (pop. 50,000+)"
#51 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Evangelical Protestant congregations"
#66 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that keep firearms around their homes"
#67 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest average weight of females"
#69 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
#72 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011"
#74 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant adherents"
#74 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant adherents (pop. 50,000+)"
#89 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest increase in the number of infant deaths per 1000 residents 2000-2006 to 2007-2013 (pop. 50,000+)"
#89 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant congregations"
#89 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant congregations (pop. 50,000+)"
#94 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives"
#95 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest surface withdrawal of fresh water for public supply (pop. 50,000+)"
#97 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest Particulate Matter (PM10) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
#100 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest surface withdrawal of fresh water for public supply"
#101 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents that visited a dentist within the past year"
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37.3 years
38.6 years
(48.7%)
(51.3%)
, Chowan County, North Carolina 
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