Rhea County Demographics

A map of Rhea County's Population by Race

Rhea County, Tennessee has an estimated population of 33,992, an increase from the 32,870 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 87.2% White, 6.3% Hispanic, 4.2% Multiracial, 1.5% Black, 0.5% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rhea County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rhea is about as racially diverse as it was in 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 Rhea County, that probability was 23.5% in 2020 and 23.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rhea County is ranked the 45th most populous county in Tennessee, out of 95 counties. Rhea County was ranked the 46th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Rhea County's White Population

29,632 residents of Rhea County, or 87.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rhea County is significantly higher than in Tennessee overall, where 71% of the population is White. Rhea County ranks 51st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rhea County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.5%. White residents' share of Rhea County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 87.2%.

Rhea County is more White than neighboring Bledsoe County (86.5% White), McMinn County (85.8% White), and Bradley County (81.2% White). Rhea County is less White than neighboring Meigs County (89.2% White), and Cumberland County (92.8% White).

Rhea County's Black Population

504 residents of Rhea County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rhea County is considerably lower than in Tennessee overall, where 15.4% of the population is Black. Rhea County ranks 61st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rhea County's Black population has declined by an estimated 15.7%. Black residents' share of Rhea County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Rhea County is more Black than neighboring Cumberland County (0.7% Black). Rhea County is less Black than neighboring Meigs County (2.2% Black), Bledsoe County (6.1% Black), McMinn County (3.2% Black), and Bradley County (4.1% Black).

Rhea County's Asian Population

163 residents of Rhea County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rhea County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 1.9% of the population is Asian. Rhea County ranks 34th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rhea County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 16.4%. Asian residents' share of Rhea County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Rhea County is more Asian than neighboring Meigs County (0.4% Asian), Bledsoe County (0.2% Asian), and Cumberland County (0.3% Asian). Rhea County is less Asian than neighboring McMinn County (0.8% Asian), and Bradley County (1.1% Asian).

Rhea County's Hispanic Population

2,142 residents of Rhea County, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rhea County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Rhea County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rhea County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 9.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Rhea County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.3%.

Rhea County is more Hispanic than neighboring Meigs County (1.9% Hispanic), Bledsoe County (3.5% Hispanic), Cumberland County (3.5% Hispanic), and McMinn County (4.6% Hispanic). Rhea County is less Hispanic than neighboring Bradley County (8.4% Hispanic).

Rhea County's Native American/Other Population

138 residents of Rhea County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Rhea County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Rhea County ranks 48th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rhea County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 21.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rhea County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Rhea County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cumberland County (0.1% Native American/Other), and McMinn County (0.2% Native American/Other). Rhea County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Bradley County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Rhea County's Multiracial Population

1,413 residents of Rhea County, or 4.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rhea County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Rhea County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rhea County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 8.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Rhea County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.2%.

Rhea County is more Multiracial than neighboring Bledsoe County (3.4% Multiracial), and Cumberland County (2.4% Multiracial). Rhea County is less Multiracial than neighboring Meigs County (5.9% Multiracial), and McMinn County (5.4% 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.