Unicoi County Demographics

A map of Unicoi County's Population by Race

Unicoi County, Tennessee has an estimated population of 17,756, a less than 1% change from the 17,928 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 90.1% White, 6.7% Hispanic, 2.1% Multiracial, 0.7% Black, 0.2% Native American/Other, and 0.1% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Unicoi County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Unicoi 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 Unicoi County, that probability was 18.1% in 2020 and 18.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Unicoi County is ranked the 72nd most populous county in Tennessee, out of 95 counties. Unicoi County was ranked the 71st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Unicoi County's White Population

16,005 residents of Unicoi County, or 90.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Unicoi County is significantly higher than in Tennessee overall, where 71% of the population is White. Unicoi County ranks 33rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Unicoi County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.1%. White residents' share of Unicoi County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 90.1%.

Unicoi County is more White than neighboring Washington County (85.9% White). Unicoi County is less White than neighboring Yancey County (90.8% White), Mitchell County (91% White), Carter County (92.8% White), and Madison County (91.2% White).

Unicoi County's Black Population

120 residents of Unicoi County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Unicoi County is considerably lower than in Tennessee overall, where 15.4% of the population is Black. Unicoi County ranks 92nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Unicoi County's Black population has grown by an estimated 172.7%. Black residents' share of Unicoi County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Unicoi County is less Black than neighboring Washington County (3.5% Black), Yancey County (0.8% Black), Mitchell County (0.9% Black), Carter County (1.9% Black), and Madison County (1.1% Black).

Unicoi County's Asian Population

25 residents of Unicoi County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Unicoi County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 1.9% of the population is Asian. Unicoi County ranks 79th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Unicoi County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 32.4%. Asian residents' share of Unicoi County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Unicoi County is less Asian than neighboring Washington County (1.5% Asian), Yancey County (0.5% Asian), Mitchell County (0.5% Asian), and Madison County (0.5% Asian).

Unicoi County's Hispanic Population

1,188 residents of Unicoi County, or 6.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Unicoi County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Unicoi County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Unicoi County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Unicoi County's population has increased from 6.2% to 6.7%.

Unicoi County is more Hispanic than neighboring Washington County (4.9% Hispanic), Yancey County (5.8% Hispanic), Mitchell County (5.6% Hispanic), Carter County (2.5% Hispanic), and Madison County (3.6% Hispanic).

Unicoi County's Native American/Other Population

43 residents of Unicoi County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Unicoi County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Unicoi County ranks 87th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Unicoi County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 27.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Unicoi County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Unicoi County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Yancey County (0.1% Native American/Other). Unicoi County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Washington County (0.4% Native American/Other), Mitchell County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Madison County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Unicoi County's Multiracial Population

375 residents of Unicoi County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Unicoi County is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Unicoi County ranks 85th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 95 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Unicoi County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 25.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Unicoi County's population has decreased from 2.8% to 2.1%.

Unicoi County is more Multiracial than neighboring Yancey County (2% Multiracial), and Mitchell County (1.6% Multiracial). Unicoi County is less Multiracial than neighboring Washington County (3.8% Multiracial), Carter County (2.5% Multiracial), and Madison County (2.7% 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.