Demographics – especially the natural population status – is something on the mind of most government and civic leaders. The reason is simple. The U.S. population is rapidly aging and here in NE Tenn. the growth rate is faster than it is nationwide.
Here’s a sobering example. In the NE Tenn. counties commonly referred to as the Tri-Cities, there were 6,255 deaths. And since there are more deaths than births these days that’s a natural population loss. The 2018 to 2010 natural population loss was 10,325 people.
That’s why there’s so much focus is on growing the population by attracting new residents.
Here’s rundown of NE Tenn. counties demographic data via the State Data Center’s new population dashboard.
SULLIVAN Co.
2018 population – 157,668
Rank in state – #9
Compound growth since 2010 – up 0.07%
2018-2017 growth – up 717 +0.46%
2018 births – 1,143
2018 deaths – 1,971
2018 natural change – down 498
Natural change since 2010 – down 3,903
2018 net migration – 1,216
Net migration since 2010 – 4,914
WASHINGTON Co.
2018 population – 128,607
Rank in state – #12
Compound growth since 2010 – up 0.52%
2018-2017 growth – up 994. Up 0.78%
2018 births – 1,241
2018 deaths – 1,397
2018 natural change – down 136
Natural change since 2010 – down 398
2018 net migration – 1,149
Net migration since 2010 – 5,966
GREENE Co.
2018 population – 69,087
Rank in state – #20
Compound growth since 2010 – down 0.05%
2018-2017 growth – 328 – up 0.48%
2018 births – 649
2018 deaths – 926
2018 natural change – down 277
Natural change since 2010 – down 1,976
2018 net migration – 604
Net migration since 2010 – 2,283
HAWKINS Co.
2018 population – 56,530
Rank in state – #24
Compound growth since 2010, down 0.25%
2018-2017 growth – Up 60, Up 0.11%
2018 births – 523
2018 deaths – 726
2018 natural change – down 203
Natural change since 2010 – down 1,230
2018 net migration – 265
Net migration since 2010 – 977
CARTER Co.
2018 population – 56,351
Rank in state – #25
Compound growth since 2010, down 0.22%
2018-2017 growth – down 125, down 0.22%
2018 births – 470
2018 deaths – 728
2018 natural change – down 258
Natural change since 2010 – down 1,359
2018 net migration – 136
Net migration since 2010 – 363
JOHNSON Co.
2018 population – 17,778
Rank in state – #70
Compound growth since 2010, down 0.35%
2018-2017 growth – Up 137, Up 0.78%
2018 births – 143
2018 deaths – 235
2018 natural change – down 92
Natural change since 2010 – down 564
2018 net migration – 228
Net migration since 2010 – 111
UNICOI Co.
2018 population – 17,761
Rank in state – #71
Compound growth since 2010, down 0.36%
2018-2017 growth – Up 6, Up 0.03%
2018 births – 157
2018 deaths – 272
2018 natural change – down 115
Natural change since 2010 – down 895
2018 net migration – 122
Net migration since 2010 – 360
Categories: DEMOGRAPHICS
Moved to Sullivan County in 2019 from SF Bay Area to retire. While there will always be people that will stay in an area no matter what and lower their standard of living to accommodate the cost, I think the retiring baby boomers will increasingly relocate out of the most expensive areas to the cheapest areas in order to maintain their lifestyle expectations, and NE TN is very good for that. Retirees are not going to be attracted to the Northeast or the upper midwest. Pacific Northwest is attractive but getting too expensive. TN and NC will probably be the most attractive areas for those who don’t want to endure the population and heat of So Florida or TX.