Knox County, Tennessee

Knox County
Knox County
U.S. county
	County of Knox
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Country	United States ;
Seat	Knoxville
Area
• Total	526 sq mi (1,360 km2)
• Land	508 sq mi (1,320 km2)
• Water	18 sq mi (50 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	478,971
• Density	910/sq mi (350/km2)
Website	www.knoxcounty.org

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Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 478,971, making it the third-most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Knoxville, which is also the largest city in the county.

History[edit | edit source]

Knox County was established on June 11, 1792, and was named after Henry Knox, the first United States Secretary of War. The county was created from parts of Greene and Hawkins counties. Knoxville, the county seat, was named in honor of Henry Knox and served as the first capital of Tennessee.

Geography[edit | edit source]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 526 square miles (1,360 km²), of which 508 square miles (1,320 km²) is land and 18 square miles (47 km²) (3.4%) is water. The county is located in the Great Appalachian Valley (also known as the Tennessee Valley), between the Cumberland Mountains to the northwest and the Great Smoky Mountains to the southeast.

Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

Anderson County (northwest)
Union County (north)
Grainger County (northeast)
Jefferson County (east)
Sevier County (southeast)
Blount County (south)
Loudon County (southwest)
Roane County (west)

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2020 census, there were 478,971 people, 192,000 households, and 120,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 942 people per square mile (364/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.5% White, 8.7% Black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% Native American, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.8% of the population.

Government[edit | edit source]

Knox County is governed by a mayor-council system. The Knox County Commission is the legislative body, consisting of 11 members elected from single-member districts. The Mayor of Knox County is the chief executive officer and is elected countywide.

Education[edit | edit source]

Knox County is served by the Knox County Schools district, which operates public schools throughout the county. The county is also home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of Knox County is diverse, with major sectors including education, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. The presence of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville contributes significantly to the local economy, providing employment and fostering research and development.

Transportation[edit | edit source]

Knox County is served by several major highways, including Interstate 40, Interstate 75, and Interstate 140. The county is also home to the McGhee Tyson Airport, which provides commercial air service to the region.