Knox County Demographics

A map of Knox County's Population by Race

Knox County, Tennessee has an estimated population of 494,148, an increase from the 478,971 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 79.1% White, 8.0% Black, 6.3% Hispanic, 3.7% Multiracial, 2.3% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Knox County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Knox 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 Knox County, that probability was 37.8% in 2020 and 36.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Knox County is ranked the 3rd most populous county in Tennessee, out of 95 counties. Knox County was ranked the 3rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Knox County's White Population

390,789 residents of Knox County, or 79.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Knox County is higher than in Tennessee overall, where 71% of the population is White. Knox County ranks 76th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Knox County's White population has grown by an estimated 4.5%. White residents' share of Knox County's population has increased from 78.0% to 79.1%.

Knox County is less White than neighboring Anderson County (86.4% White), Blount County (88.5% White), Union County (94% White), Loudon County (85.2% White), and Campbell County (95.7% White).

Knox County's Black Population

39,459 residents of Knox County, or 8.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Knox County is lower than in Tennessee overall, where 15.4% of the population is Black. Knox County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Knox County's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Knox County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 8.0%.

Knox County is more Black than neighboring Anderson County (3.3% Black), Blount County (2.5% Black), Union County (0.3% Black), Loudon County (1.2% Black), and Campbell County (0.5% Black).

Knox County's Asian Population

11,413 residents of Knox County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Knox County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 1.9% of the population is Asian. Knox County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Knox County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 3.9%. Asian residents' share of Knox County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Knox County is more Asian than neighboring Anderson County (1.4% Asian), Blount County (0.8% Asian), Union County (0.1% Asian), Loudon County (0.9% Asian), and Campbell County (0.2% Asian).

Knox County's Hispanic Population

31,276 residents of Knox County, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Knox County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Knox County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Knox County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 9.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Knox County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.3%.

Knox County is more Hispanic than neighboring Anderson County (4.1% Hispanic), Blount County (4.7% Hispanic), Union County (2.4% Hispanic), and Campbell County (1.6% Hispanic). Knox County is less Hispanic than neighboring Loudon County (10.4% Hispanic).

Knox County's Native American/Other Population

2,830 residents of Knox County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Knox County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Knox County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Knox County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 10.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Knox County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Knox County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Union County (0.1% Native American/Other), Loudon County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Campbell County (0.1% Native American/Other). Knox County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Anderson County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Knox County's Multiracial Population

18,381 residents of Knox County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Knox County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Knox County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Knox County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 15.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Knox County's population has decreased from 4.5% to 3.7%.

Knox County is more Multiracial than neighboring Blount County (3% Multiracial), Union County (3.1% Multiracial), Loudon County (1.8% Multiracial), and Campbell County (2% Multiracial). Knox County is less Multiracial than neighboring Anderson County (4% 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.