Jamie Stitt

Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243
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Cocke County

County Profile Tool
Cocke County

Population & Demographics

Location

Time Zone

Eastern Time Zone

Grand Division

East Tennessee

Area (Square Miles)

434.5

County Seat

Newport

Metropolitan Area

East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area

ECD Region

East

Population

Population

(2010)

35,662

Population

(2020)

35,999

Population Change

(2010 - 2020)

0.90%

Population Forecast

(2040)

36,929

Foreign Born Population

404

Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)

1.10%

Language Other Than English Spoken At Home

2.10%

Civilian Veteran Population

2,600

Race (Percentage of Population)

White Alone

94.70%

Black or African American, alone

1.90%

American Indian And Alaska Native, alone

0.70%

Asian, alone

0.90%

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone

0.10%

Some Other Race, alone

0.00%

Two or More Races

1.70%

Hispanic or Latino

2.60%

Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total

Under 5 Years Old

Male: 5.30%

Female: 5.20%

Total: 5.30%

Under 18 Years Old

Male: 22.10%

Female: 18.80%

Total: 20.40%

18-64 Years Old

Male: 57.20%

Female: 59.40%

Total: 58.30%

65 Years and Over

Male: 20.70%

Female: 21.80%

Total: 21.30%

Median Age

Male: 44.7

Female: 45.8

Total: 45.3

Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2015-2019 5-Year American Community Survey
U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 Annual Population Estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tennessee State Data Center (2022)

Housing & Income

Housing & Income

Households

14,171

Homeownership Rate

69.60%

Persons Per Household

2.5

Living In Same House 1 Year & Over

92.10%

Median Home Value

$112,600

Annual Home Sales

389

Median Sale Price of Homes Sold

$210,000

Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level

20.70%

Total Personal Income

$1.5B

Personal Income Per Capita

$40,384

County Median Wage

$16.04

Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household

Less Than $10,000

9.20%

$10,000 to $14,999

7.30%

$15,000 to $24,999

15.70%

$25,000 to $34,999

13.00%

$35,000 to $49,999

16.70%

$50,000 to $74,999

18.70%

$75,000 to $99,999

9.70%

$100,000 to $149,999

6.10%

$150,000 to $199,999

2.20%

$200,000 or More

1.40%

Median Household Income

$38,530

Percentage of Households by Income Range

Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (2022)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2021)
Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (2022)

Tax Structure

Property Tax

Property Tax Rate (County)

$2.57

State Property Tax

None

Assessment Ratio: Residential Property

25%

Assessment Ratio: Farm Property

25%

Assessment Ratio: Commercial/Industrial Property

40%

Assessment Ratio: Public Utility Property

55%

Assessment Ratio: Business Personal Property

30%

State Tax

State Income Tax on Wages

None

State Income Tax: Interest from Bonds and Notes and Dividends from Stock

None (Hall Income tax was fully repealed January 1, 2021)

Excise Tax (State)

6.5% of Tennessee taxable income

Franchise Tax (state)

0.25% of the greater of net worth or real and tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100.

Unemployment Insurance Tax (state)

2.7% of the first $7,000 in wages for new employers

Sales Tax

State Sales Tax Rate

7.00%

County Sales Tax Rate

2.75%

Local Sales Tax Collections

(FY 2021)

$14,444,430

Local Sales Tax Collections

(FY 2020)

$13,020,988

Local Sales Tax Collections Growth

(FY 2020 - FY 2021)

10.93%

State Bond Ratings

Moody's

Aaa

Standard & Poor's

AAA

Fitch

AAA

Debt per Capita

State Debt per Capita

$992 (Lowest in U.S.)

County Debt Per Capita

$518

Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2022)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2022)
The Tax Foundation (2022)

Labor Force

Labor Force Estimates (2022)
Tennessee
Cocke

Labor Force

Tennessee: 3,352,030

Cocke: 14,656

Employment

Tennessee: 3,238,559

Cocke: 13,905

Unemployment

Tennessee: 113,471

Cocke: 751

Unemployment Rate

Tennessee: 3.40%

Cocke: 5.10%

Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
Cocke

2019

Tennessee: 3.30%

Cocke: 4.50%

2020

Tennessee: 7.50%

Cocke: 10.40%

2021

Tennessee: 4.50%

Cocke: 5.80%

2022

Tennessee: 3.40%

Cocke: 5.10%

Unemployment Rate (by percentage)

Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Industries

Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages

Crop and Animal Production

Employment: 75

Establishments: 4

Avg. Annual Wages: $31,172

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

Employment: 42

Establishments: 3

Avg. Annual Wages: $76,724

Construction

Employment: 191

Establishments: 31

Employment: $43,023

Manufacturing

Employment: 1,209

Establishments: 37

Employment: $67,338

Wholesale Trade

Employment: 106

Establishments: 23

Employment: $58,019

Retail Trade

Employment: 1,444

Establishments: 108

Employment: $31,829

Transportation and Warehousing

Employment: 45

Establishments: 6

Employment: $81,522

Information

Employment: 32

Establishments: 7

Employment: $32,126

Finance and Insurance

Employment: 139

Establishments: 29

Employment: $44,286

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Employment: 44

Establishments: 13

Employment: $69,797

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Employment: 119

Establishments: 39

Employment: $97,326

Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation

Employment: 103

Establishments: 23

Employment: $34,472

Health Care and Social Assistance

Employment: 914

Establishments: 75

Employment: $52,449

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Employment: 171

Establishments: 13

Employment: $19,110

Accommodation and Food Services

Employment: 1,014

Establishments: 66

Employment: $19,561

Other Services (except Public Administration)

Employment: 122

Establishments: 26

Employment: $33,477

Government

Employment: 1,718

Establishments: 40

Employment: $41,348

Total

Employment: 7,542

Establishments: 546

Employment: $43,164

Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Employment: 40

Location Quotient*: 23.78

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Employment: 11

Location Quotient*: 10.38

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

Employment: 22

Location Quotient*: 9.06

Tour and Travel Guides

Employment: 12

Location Quotient*: 6.17

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Employment: 11

Location Quotient*: 5.65

Key Cluster
Total Employment

Advanced Materials

23

Aerospace & Defense

0

Appliances & Electrical

0

Automotive

0

Business Services

51

Chemicals

52

Distribution & Logistics

89

Film, Music & Entertainment

13

Food & Beverage

182

Healthcare & Medical Devices

15

Top Employers

Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City

Cocke County Schools

Est. Employees: 750

City: Newport

Walmart Stores, Inc.

Est. Employees: 375

City: Newport

Sonoco Products Company

Est. Employees: 250

City: Newport

American Appliance Products

Est. Employees: 225

City: Newport

Newport Medical Center

Est. Employees: 231

City: Newport

Cocke County Government

Est. Employees: 220

City: Newport

Eastern Plating, LLC

Est. Employees: 170

City: Newport

Newport City Schools

Est. Employees: 150

City: Newport

Lowe's Home Centers, LLC

Est. Employees: 145

City: Newport

City of Newport

Est. Employees: 116

City: Newport

Transportation & Logistics

Transportation

Nearest Commercial Service Airport

McGhee Tyson (Knoxville)

Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport

61

Daily Flights At Nearest Commercial Service Airport

79

Nearest General Aviation Airport

Moore-Murrell Field (Morristown)

Distance to Nearest General Aviation Airport

22.3

Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport

5,717'

Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)

28.3

Access of Interstate

I-40

U.S. Highways

25, 70, 321

State Highways

9, 32, 35, 73, 107, 160, 339, 340

Nearest Port (From County Seat)

Knoxville

Railroads Serving County

NS

Sources:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 5-Year American Community Survey

Education

General Stats
Cocke
Tennessee

Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher

Cocke: 83.50%

Tennessee: 89.50%

Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher

Cocke: 18.50%

Tennessee: 36.70%

Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher

Cocke: 11.80%

Tennessee: 28.70%

High School Graduation Rate

Cocke: 92%

Tennessee: 89%

College Going Rate

Cocke: 47.20%

Tennessee: 63.40%

Average ACT Score

Cocke: 18.6

Tennessee: 20.2

High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Cocke County Schools
Enrollment

Elementary Schools

Enrollment: 1,878

High Schools

Enrollment: 1,544

Newport Grammar School
Enrollment

Elemetary Schools

Enrollment: 491

Middle Schools

Enrollment: 207

High Schools

Enrollment: 0

Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment

Walters State Community College

City: Morristown

Enrollment: 6,004

Carson-Newman University

City: Jefferson City

Enrollment: 2,659

Tusculum College

City: Greeneville

Enrollment: 1,796

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown

City: Morristown

Enrollment: 1,068

Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 1-Year American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Department of Education (2017-2018)
National Center for Education Statistics (2016-2017)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission

† Regional higher education institutions include those within the selected and surrounding counties.

Health & Public Safety

Doctors

Number of Doctors

25

Overweight & Obesity Prevalence

Adults*

16.10%

Children** (Grade 8)

48.30%

Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City

Tennova Healthcare-Newport Medical Center

Number of Beds: 36

City: Newport

Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System

Number of Beds: 115

City: Morristown

LeConte Medical Center

Number of Beds: 77

City: Sevierville

Greeneville Community Hospital East

Number of Beds: 56

City: Greeneville

Tennova Healthcare-Jefferson Memorial Hospital

Number of Beds: 32

City: Jefferson City

Sources:
Tennessee Department of Health (2014)
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (2014)

† Regional hospitals include those within the selected and surrounding counties.

Climate

Climate

Average High Temperature

69.4°F

Average Low Temperature

47.7°F

Average Annual Temperature

58.6°F

Annual Rainfall

54.11"

Elevation (at County Seat)

1,055'

Prevailing Winds

Southwest

Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)

Community Information

Newport

Population (2020)

6,848

Charter Type

Private Act

Local Option Sales Tax Rate

2.75%

City Property Tax Rate

$2.41

Phone Number

(423) 623-7323

Retire Tennessee Participant

No

Tennessee Downtowns Participant

Yes

Main Street Participant

No

Parrottsville

Population (2020)

279

Charter Type

Private Act

Local Option Sales Tax Rate

2.75%

Phone Number

(423) 623-9380

Retire Tennessee Participant

No

Tennessee Downtowns Participant

No

Main Street Participant

No

Additional Community Information

ThreeStar Certified County

Yes

Sources:
Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2015)
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2015)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 5-Year American Community Survey

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243
615.741.1888 |
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