Grainger County Demographics

A map of Grainger County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	22,631	21,748	93.3%	92.4%
Hispanic	877	773	3.6%	3.3%
Multiracial	274	758	1.1%	3.2%
Black	259	118	1.1%	0.5%
Native American/Other	182	77	0.8%	0.3%
Asian	43	53	0.2%	0.2%

Grainger County, Tennessee has an estimated population of 24,266, an increase from the 23,527 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 93.3% White, 3.6% Hispanic, 1.1% Black, 1.1% Multiracial, 0.8% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Grainger County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Grainger has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Tennessee overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Grainger County, that probability was 14.3% in 2020 and 12.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Grainger County is ranked the 61st most populous county in Tennessee, out of 95 counties. Grainger County was ranked the 61st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Grainger County's White Population

22,631 residents of Grainger County, or 93.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Grainger County is significantly higher than in Tennessee overall, where 71% of the population is White. Grainger County ranks 17th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Grainger County's White population has grown by an estimated 4.1%. White residents' share of Grainger County's population has increased from 92.4% to 93.3%.

Grainger County is more White than neighboring Jefferson County (89.6% White), and Hamblen County (76.9% White). Grainger County is less White than neighboring Claiborne County (94% White), Union County (94% White), and Hancock County (95.3% White).

Grainger County's Black Population

259 residents of Grainger County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Grainger County is considerably lower than in Tennessee overall, where 15.4% of the population is Black. Grainger County ranks 80th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Grainger County's Black population has grown by an estimated 119.5%. Black residents' share of Grainger County's population has increased from 0.5% to 1.1%.

Grainger County is more Black than neighboring Claiborne County (0.6% Black), Union County (0.3% Black), and Hancock County (0.6% Black). Grainger County is less Black than neighboring Jefferson County (1.5% Black), and Hamblen County (2.9% Black).

Grainger County's Asian Population

43 residents of Grainger County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Grainger County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 1.9% of the population is Asian. Grainger County ranks 77th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Grainger County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 18.9%. Asian residents' share of Grainger County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Grainger County is more Asian than neighboring Union County (0.1% Asian). Grainger County is less Asian than neighboring Jefferson County (0.5% Asian), Hamblen County (1% Asian), Claiborne County (0.6% Asian), and Hancock County (0.3% Asian).

Grainger County's Hispanic Population

877 residents of Grainger County, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Grainger County is slightly lower than in Tennessee overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Grainger County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Grainger County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 13.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Grainger County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.6%.

Grainger County is more Hispanic than neighboring Claiborne County (1.7% Hispanic), Union County (2.4% Hispanic), and Hancock County (1.5% Hispanic). Grainger County is less Hispanic than neighboring Jefferson County (4.7% Hispanic), and Hamblen County (15.1% Hispanic).

Grainger County's Native American/Other Population

182 residents of Grainger County, or 0.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Grainger County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Grainger County ranks 88th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Grainger County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 136.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Grainger County's population has increased from 0.3% to 0.8%.

Grainger County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jefferson County (0.7% Native American/Other), Claiborne County (0.2% Native American/Other), Union County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Hancock County (0% Native American/Other). Grainger County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Hamblen County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Grainger County's Multiracial Population

274 residents of Grainger County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Grainger County is slightly lower than in Tennessee overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Grainger County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Grainger County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 63.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Grainger County's population has decreased from 3.2% to 1.1%.

Grainger County is less Multiracial than neighboring Jefferson County (3% Multiracial), Hamblen County (3.1% Multiracial), Claiborne County (2.9% Multiracial), Union County (3.1% Multiracial), and Hancock County (2.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.