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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White County

County Profile Tool
White County

Population & Demographics

Location

Time Zone

Central Time Zone

Grand Division

Middle Tennessee

Area (Square Miles)

376.7

County Seat

Sparta

Metropolitan Area

North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area

ECD Region

Upper Cumberland

Population

Population

(2020)

27,351

Population

(2022)

27,420

Population Change

(2020 - 2022)

0.3%

Population Forecast

(2040)

30,064

Foreign Born Population

357

Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)

1.30%

Language Other Than English Spoken At Home

2.20%

Civilian Veteran Population

1,851

Race (Percentage of Population)

White Alone

94.00%

Black or African American, alone

1.80%

American Indian And Alaska Native, alone

0.40%

Asian, alone

0.30%

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone

0.20%

Some Other Race, alone

0.50%

Two or More Races

2.70%

Hispanic or Latino

2.90%

Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total

Under 5 Years Old

Male: 6.30%

Female: 0.053

Total: 5.80%

Under 18 Years Old

Male: 23.40%

Female: 20.50%

Total: 21.90%

18-64 Years Old

Male: 57.60%

Female: 57.80%

Total: 57.70%

65 Years and Over

Male: 19.00%

Female: 21.70%

Total: 20.40%

Median Age

Male: 43

Female: 41.7

Total: 44.3

Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tennessee State Data Center (2024)

Housing & Income

Housing & Income

Households

10,716

Homeownership Rate

75.9%

Persons Per Household

2.53

Living In Same House 1 Year & Over

87.3%

Median Home Value

$161,500

Annual Home Sales

374

Median Sale Price of Homes Sold

$240,000

Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level

17.1%

Total Personal Income

$1.1B

Personal Income Per Capita

$41,483

County Median Wage

$18.00

Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household

Less Than $10,000

4.1%

$10,000 to $14,999

7.8%

$15,000 to $24,999

10.5%

$25,000 to $34,999

12.2%

$35,000 to $49,999

16.9%

$50,000 to $74,999

17.1%

$75,000 to $99,999

15.9%

$100,000 to $149,999

10.3%

$150,000 to $199,999

2.6%

$200,000 or More

2.6%

Median Household Income

$48,220

Percentage of Households by Income Range

Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (2023)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2023)
Lightcast (2023)

Tax Structure

Property Tax

Property Tax Rate (County)

$2.0500

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

7.0%

County Sales Tax Rate

2.25% - 2.75%

Local Sales Tax Collections

(FY 2023)

$9,317,826

Local Sales Tax Collections

(FY 2024)

$8,930,137

Local Sales Tax Collections Growth

(FY 2023 - FY 2024)

4.34%

State Bond Ratings

Moody's

Aaa

Standard & Poor's

AAA

Fitch

AAA

Debt per Capita

State Debt per Capita

$988

County Debt Per Capita

$613

Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)

Labor Force

Labor Force Estimates (2024)
Tennessee
White

Labor Force

Tennessee: 3,420,373

White: 10,862

Employment

Tennessee: 3,303,023

White: 10,418

Unemployment

Tennessee: 117,350

White: 444

Unemployment Rate

Tennessee: 3.40%

White: 4.10%

Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
White

2019

Tennessee: 4.50%

White: 4.50%

2020

Tennessee: 3.40%

White: 3.80%

2021

Tennessee: 3.20%

White: 3.90%

2022

Tennessee: 3.40%

White: 4.10%

Unemployment Rate (by percentage)

Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Industries

Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages

Crop and Animal Production

Employment: 83

Establishments: 14

Avg. Annual Wages: $48,677

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

Employment: 20

Establishments: 2

Avg. Annual Wages: $105,865

Construction

Employment: 208

Establishments: 49

Employment: $42,737

Manufacturing

Employment: 1,914

Establishments: 52

Employment: $53,360

Wholesale Trade

Employment: 265

Establishments: 33

Employment: $70,100

Retail Trade

Employment: 991

Establishments: 88

Employment: $33,548

Transportation and Warehousing

Employment: 430

Establishments: 26

Employment: $59,574

Information

Employment: 44

Establishments: 14

Employment: $60,449

Finance and Insurance

Employment: 147

Establishments: 38

Employment: $58,050

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Employment: 25

Establishments: 16

Employment: $44,398

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Employment: 222

Establishments: 53

Employment: $62,236

Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation

Employment: 501

Establishments: 23

Employment: $27,004

Health Care and Social Assistance

Employment: 637

Establishments: 97

Employment: $41,984

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Employment: 50

Establishments: 6

Employment: $24,578

Accommodation and Food Services

Employment: 535

Establishments: 33

Employment: $19,069

Other Services (except Public Administration)

Employment: 86

Establishments: 25

Employment: $42,329

Government

Employment: 1,227

Establishments: 33

Employment: $45,178

Total

Employment: 7,391

Establishments: 603

Employment: $44,942

Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Employment: 78

Location Quotient*: 25.27

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

Employment: 38

Location Quotient*: 19.23

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Employment: 132

Location Quotient*: 18.5

Woodworkers, All Other

Employment: 7

Location Quotient*: 18.37

Production Workers, All Other

Employment: 187

Location Quotient*: 14.29

Key Cluster
Total Employment

Advanced Materials

0

Aerospace & Defense

0

Appliances & Electrical

0

Automotive

549

Business Services

82

Chemicals

0

Distribution & Logistics

872

Film, Music & Entertainment

0

Food & Beverage

26

Healthcare & Medical Devices

0

Top Employers

Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City

White County School District

Est. Employees: 475

City: Sparta

Tri State Distribution, Inc.

Est. Employees: 314

City: Sparta

Walmart Stores, Inc.

Est. Employees: 298

City: Sparta

White County Government

Est. Employees: 255

City: Sparta

Seastar Solutions / Moeller Marine Products

Est. Employees: 250

City: Sparta

THK Rhythm North American Co., Ltd.

Est. Employees: 222

City: Sparta

White County Community Hospital

Est. Employees: 207

City: Sparta

Ltd Parts

Est. Employees: 153

City: Sparta

BASF Corporation

Est. Employees: 145

City: Sparta

Life Care Centers of America, Inc.

Est. Employees: 131

City: Sparta

Transportation & Logistics

Transportation

Nearest Commercial Service Airport

Nashville International

Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport

88

Daily Flights At Nearest Commercial Service Airport

599

Nearest General Aviation Airport

Upper Cumberland Regional (Sparta)

Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport

6,704'

Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)

24.9

Access of Interstate

I-40 (4 miles)

U.S. Highways

70

State Highways

1, 26, 84, 111, 135, 136, 285, 289

Nearest Port (From County Seat)

Chattanooga, South Pittsburg (Nickajack)

Railroads Serving County

Caney Fork and Western Railroad

Sources:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Data (2024)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey

Education

General Stats
White
Tennessee

Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher

White: 82.0%

Tennessee: 91.5%

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

White: 21.9%

Tennessee: 41.2%

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

White: 14.2%

Tennessee: 32.8%

High School Graduation Rate

White: 97.8%

Tennessee: 90.6%

College Going Rate

White: 51.5%

Tennessee: 56.7%

Average ACT Score

White: 19.1

Tennessee: 19.0

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

Elementary Schools

Enrollment: 1,773

Middle Schools

Enrollment: 839

High Schools

Enrollment: 1,103

Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment

Tennessee Technological University

City: Cookeville

Enrollment: 9,902

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville

City: Crossville

Enrollment: 495

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville

City: McMinnville

Enrollment: 577

Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 1-Year American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Department of Education (2022-2023)
National Center for Education Statistics
Tennessee Board of Regents and Tennessee Higher Education Commission

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

Due to data availability, federal graduation rates were used for Clay, Fentress, and Haywood counties.

Health & Public Safety

Doctors

Number of Doctors

20

Overweight & Obesity Prevalence

Adults*

25.2

Children** (Grade 8)

45.7

Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City

Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands, LLC

Number of Beds: 60

City: Sparta

Sources:
American Medical Association (2023)

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Tennessee Department of Health

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

 

Climate

Climate

Average High Temperature

69.2°F

Average Low Temperature

47.5°F

Average Annual Temperature

58.4°F

Annual Rainfall

61.39"

Elevation (at County Seat)

925'

Prevailing Winds

Southerly

Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)

Community Information

Doyle

Population (2022)

493

Charter Type

General Law Mayor-Alderman

Local Option Sales Tax Rate

2.25%

Phone Number

(931) 657-2459

Retire Tennessee Participant

No

Tennessee Downtowns Participant

No

Main Street Participant

No

Sparta

Population (2022)

4,998

Charter Type

Private Act

Local Option Sales Tax Rate

2.25%

City Property Tax Rate

$0.92

Phone Number

(931) 836-3248

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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