County population in 2012: 18,235 (55% urban, 45% rural); it was 17,667 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 2,714 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,923 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,755 Renter-occupied apartments: 2,089 (it was 1,761 in 2000)
% of renters here:
23%
State:
32%
Land area: 186 sq. mi. Water area: 0.4 sq. mi.
Population density: 98 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Unicoi County: 84.2 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
We are giving away a $200 prize - enter simply by sending us your own pictures of this county!
Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (27.4%), Manufacturing (18.2%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $659 (0.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $530 (0.6%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 17.7%
(18.0% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 0.0% for Black residents, 16.8% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for other race residents, 0.0% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 44 years old
(Males: 43 years old, Females: 45 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 45 years old, Black residents: 29 years old, American Indian residents: 41 years old, Asian residents: 39 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 22 years old, Other race residents: 21 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
13.1%
Whole state:
13.5%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
4.0%
Whole state:
5.8%
Area name: Johnson City, TN MSA Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Unicoi County is $404 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $501 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $622 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Unicoi County: Fishery (A), No Business Shelter (B), Curley Maple Gap Shelter (C), Chestoa Boating Site (D), Mine Flats Shooting Range (E), Willis Store (F), Beauty Spot Observation Spot (G), Nelson High Point (H), Unaka Mountain Scenic Area (I), Rock Creek Camp Ground (J), Unaka Mountain Campground (K), Cherry Gap Shelter (L), Limestone Cove Campground (M), Scoito Shooting Range (N), CCC Camp Cordell Hull (O), Rock Creek Camp Ground (P), Phillips Mili (Q), Limestone Cove Volunteer Fire Department (R), Medicone Medical Response of Tennessee (S). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Unicoi County include: Fall Gap Church (A), Rice Bend Church (B), Shady Grove Baptist Church (C), Woodby Hill Freewill Baptist Church (D), Higgins Chapel (E), Rice Bend Church (F), Ivy Hill Church (G), Flag Pond Baptist Church (H), Coffee Ridge Baptist Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Tilson Cemetery (1), Buchanan Cemetery (2), Bell Cemetery (3), Blankenship Cemetery (4), Grindstaff Cemetery (5), Sams Cemetery (6), Blankenship Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Little Bald Creek (A), Jones Branch (B), Simerly Creek (C), Slip Creek (D), Spivey Creek (E), Sugarloaf Branch (F), Tilson Branch (G), Whaley Branch (H), Big Bald Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 495 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 67.7% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.6%
Number of foreign born residents: 249 (30% naturalized citizens)
Unicoi County:
1.4%
Whole state:
2.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 7
1990 to 1994: 103
1985 to 1989: 32
1980 to 1984: 40
1975 to 1979: 9
1970 to 1974: 15
1970 to 1974: 0
1965 to 1969: 43
Mean travel time to work (commute): 21.2 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 54.1%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 5,961
One, attached: 73
Two: 214
3 or 4: 219
5 to 9: 77
10 to 19: 96
20 or more: 25
Mobile homes: 1,537
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 12
Housing units in Unicoi County with a mortgage: 1,986 (214 second mortgage, 149 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 2,184
Here:
47.6% with mortgage
State:
66.0% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 52.82%
Here
52.8%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 9,332 Total congregations: 53
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Southern Baptist Convention
United Methodist Church
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Independent Free Will Baptists Associations
Adherents
4,507 (48.3%)
1,068 (11.4%)
1,024 (11.0%)
807 (8.6%)
767 (8.2%)
Congregations
13 (24.5%)
4 (7.5%)
6 (11.3%)
7 (13.2%)
9 (17.0%)
Name
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
Churches of Christ
Other
Adherents
327 (3.5%)
249 (2.7%)
211 (2.3%)
210 (2.3%)
162 (1.7%)
Congregations
3 (5.7%)
3 (5.7%)
1 (1.9%)
2 (3.8%)
5 (9.4%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 56 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $24,837 Average total farm production expenses per farm: $17,578 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 24.95% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.48% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $33,336 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 89.76% Average age of principal farm operators: 58 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 28.41 Corn for grain: 14 harvested acres Vegetables: 16 harvested acres Land in orchards: 77 acres
Tornado activity:
Unicoi County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is slightly below Tennessee state average. It is 1.3 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused 12 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 7/10/1980, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado injured 12 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Unicoi County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly below Tennessee state average. It is 72% 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 90.1 miles away from the county center On 11/23/2006 at 10:42:57, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, 4.3 LG) earthquake occurred 74.5 miles away from the county center On 11/2/2006 at 17:53:02, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 78.3 miles away from the county center On 6/29/1996 at 19:30:42, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 MB, 3.9 LG, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 76.9 miles away from Unicoi County center On 8/17/1990 at 21:01:17, a magnitude 4.0 (3.5 LG, 4.0 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 68.9 miles away from the county center On 10/26/1995 at 00:37:28, a magnitude 4.0 (3.9 MB, 4.0 LG, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 74.6 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML)
Most recent natural disasters:
Tennessee Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3217): September 5, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3217, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Tennessee Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: September 16, 2004 to September 20, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1568): October 7, 2004, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1568, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms & Flooding, Incident Period: July 27, 2001 to August 22, 2001, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1387): August 15, 2001, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1387, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: January 6, 1998 to February 12, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1197): January 13, 1998, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1197, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Heavy Rain, Flash Flooding, Incident Period: March 25, 1994 to April 3, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1022): April 14, 1994, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1022, Natural disaster type: Flash Flood, Heavy Rain
Tennessee Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 17, 1993, Emergency Declared (EM-3095): March 14, 1993, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3095, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snowfall
Tennessee SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: May 6, 1984 to May 11, 1984, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-708): May 25, 1984, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-708, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: November 12, 1977, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-544): November 12, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-544, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Heavy Rains, Flooding, Incident Period: March 21, 1973, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-366): March 21, 1973, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-366, Natural disaster type: Flood, Heavy Rain
The number of natural disasters in Unicoi County (9) is smaller than the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 7 Emergencies Declared: 2
Other production occupations including supervisors (10%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (7%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (6%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5%)
Carpenters (4%)
Construction trades workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (3%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (3%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (9%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (7%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (6%)
Registered nurses (6%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (4%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (72%)
United Kingdom (8%)
Germany (6%)
Italy (3%)
Other Northern Europe (3%)
Other Eastern Europe (3%)
Brazil (3%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Unicoi County (%):
United States or American (32%)
English (17%)
Irish (13%)
German (8%)
Scotch-Irish (5%)
Scottish (3%)
Dutch (3%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 6,399 (86%)
Carpooled: 837 (11%)
Bus or trolley bus: 1 (0%)
Bicycle: 26 (0%)
Walked: 41 (1%)
Other means: 39 (1%)
Worked at home: 129 (2%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Unicoi County, Tennessee in 2000:
228 people in nursing homes
43 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
9 people in homes for the mentally retarded
6 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
6 people in other nonhousehold living situations
People in group quarters in Unicoi County, Tennessee in 2010:
256 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
55 people in other noninstitutional facilities
48 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
29 people in workers’ group living quarters and job corps centers
13 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
4 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $40,074.
7.18% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($30,583 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.18%
Tennessee average:
7.52%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.04% relocated from other counties in Tennessee ($16,049 average AGI)
3.14% relocated from other states ($14,534 average AGI)
Unicoi County:
3.14%
Tennessee average:
3.80%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
6.34% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($31,277 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.34%
Tennessee average:
6.67%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.40% relocated to other counties in Tennessee ($20,703 average AGI)
1.93% relocated to other states ($10,574 average AGI)
Unicoi County:
1.93%
Tennessee average:
2.97%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.1 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.3
Births per 1000 population in Unicoi County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.7 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 14.0
Deaths per 1000 population in Unicoi County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 10.6 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.3
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Unicoi County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 4,086 (3,182 aged, 904 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 5.65 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 5789.980 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 530.980 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 81827.94
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1035.740 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1274.760
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 11.62 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 62.6
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 5.69
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 218.8. This is more than state average.
Household type by relationship:
Households: 17,908
In family households: 15,008 (3,864 male householders, 1,347 female householders)
3,993 spouses, 4,483 children (4,042 natural, 155 adopted, 286 stepchildren), 519 grandchildren, 128 brothers or sisters, 121 parents, 120 other relatives, 347 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,900 (1,180 male householders (984 living alone)), 1,335 female householders (1,216 living alone)), 385 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 405 (308 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,661 2-persons, 1,248 3-persons, 821 4-persons, 326 5-persons, 98 6-persons, 57 7-or-more-persons.
97.4% of residents of Unicoi County speak English at home.
2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (53% speak English very well, 26% speak English well, 12% speak English not well, 9% don't speak English at all).
0.4% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (69% speak English very well, 31% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $239,408,000 ($13524 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $10,164,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $64,799,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $28,382,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $174,000 Federal grants: $29,770,000 Federal procurement contracts: $110,925,000 ($6,462,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $5,358,000 ($956,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $990,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,919,000 Federal Government insurance: $10,458,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 898
Here:
51 per 1000 residents
State:
69 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,307
Here:
74 per 1000 residents
State:
50 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: 0
Here:
0 per 1000 residents
State:
+8 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +338
Here:
+19 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Unicoi County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 2.21 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.8
State:
6.0
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.5
State:
4.2
Year house built
2005 or later: 103
2000 to 2004: 458
1990 to 1999: 1,291
1980 to 1989: 1,455
1970 to 1979: 1,223
1960 to 1969: 861
1950 to 1959: 1,003
1940 to 1949: 733
1939 or earlier: 1,478
Rooms in houses/apartments in Unicoi County, Tennessee
65% of Unicoi County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 52% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 43% lived in Tennessee.
Unicoi County:
65.1%
State average:
54.7%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 12504
Northeast: 520
Midwest: 902
South: 3146
West: 301
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $51,300
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 2%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Unicoi County
44.0 years
38.0 years
(47.0%)
(53.0%)
, Greene County 
, Madison County, North Carolina 
, Mitchell County, North Carolina 
, Washington County 
, Yancey County, North Carolina 
.
