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KNOXVILLE,
FARRAGUT, AND KNOX COUNTY |
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| July 2002 Based on statistics reported in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 3.
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Recently, the Census Bureau released information on Knox County’s residential, economic, and social characteristics collected for the 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Based on the many demographic traits that Knox County citizens share, a generalized sketch of a “typical” area resident can be drawn. Check the following profile to see where the similarities between you and your neighbors lie:
Undoubtedly, not all of the above statements apply directly to you. They are based on averages reported for Knox County as a whole, and many variations can be found depending on where you live within the county. There are major differences between the demographic averages for the City of Knoxville as compared to Knox County, and even more noticeable variations can be seen when Farragut is examined. To understand how we might characterize a typical Knox County resident and to see where local differences can be found, take a closer look at some of the numbers. TOTAL
POPULATION Map of Knox County
ANCESTRY Countywide, the most commonly cited ancestries include English, Irish, German, and American.
MARITAL
STATUS City residents report a slightly higher level of divorce than the general county average, affecting 13% of the population. At the same time, more singles live in the city, comprising a third of the total. That share is driven in part by the University of Tennessee’s student population. The Town of Farragut shows a predominantly married population, with over 70% of residents currently enjoying wedded bliss. Its divorce rate is less than half the countywide average.
EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT On average, residents of Farragut have completed more formal education than the broader Knox County population. About 95% of Farragut citizens over 25 years old have a high school diploma, and 54% hold a bachelor’s degree. Of the 6,500 people with a college education, 2,700 have a graduate or professional degree. Farragut’s college-educated population share is double the Knoxville average.
EMPLOYMENT
STATUS More than 86,000 workers live in the City of Knoxville, while another 9,200 are residents of Farragut. Knoxville’s generalized unemployment rate, 6.5%, was higher than the countywide average. Only 3.1% of Farragut residents were out of work at the time the census was taken. Among Knoxville residents, women comprise almost half the workforce. Countywide, the female share is slightly lower at 46%. In Farragut, 42% of persons in the workforce are women. These participation rates are similar to those reported in the 1990 Census. Unemployment rates in the area’s female labor force are consistent with the figures reported for the total workforce. Knox County Unemployment Rates: 1990-2001
INDUSTRY Within the general services category, the largest segment countywide is the education, health, and social services sector, according to 2000 Census figures. The University of Tennessee, Knox County Schools, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, five major hospitals, and dozens of supporting medical complexes are among the area’s largest employers. More than 42,000 county residents work in this segment, representing almost one-quarter of the total labor force. City of Knoxville and Town of Farragut shares are similarly dedicated to service industries. Local manufacturing employment is down from previous years’ levels. The 1990 Census reported a 14.6% share of the countywide population, but that portion dropped to 10.6% in 2000. Knox County’s agriculture, forestry, and mining industries have declined since 1990. Less than one-half of one percent of the county’s workers are employed in these sectors, with 718 laborers. Knox County Employment by Major Industry: 2000
INCOME Farragut had a similar rate of growth, but its absolute numbers sharply outpaced other local figures. Farragut’s 1999 median household income was $82,726, and its median family income topped the $91,000 mark. The countywide family median was $49,182. Farragut’s median household income was triple the City of Knoxville’s level and double both the statewide figure of $36,360 and the national rate of $41,994. Over 34,000 Knoxvillians live in poverty, comprising 21% of persons in the city for whom poverty status was determined. More than 8,600 are children under 18 years old. Countywide, the total is over 46,000 persons in poverty, representing almost 13% of the population. About 12,000 are children. Farragut, on the other hand, reported just under 3% of its population living below poverty levels. Nearly one-quarter of Knoxville’s families with children live in poverty, and almost half of all families headed by a single mother are poor. About 40% of Knox County’s single-mother families, totaling almost 4,300, have below-poverty incomes. Median Household Income: 1999
Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 3. June 2002
HOUSING A mix of housing types can be found countywide, comprised of 70% single-family homes, 24% apartments, condos, and townhouses, and 5% mobile homes. Farragut’s housing options are more limited, offering 91% single-family units. Farragut has larger homes to match its larger incomes. More than 42% of the houses in the town have 9 or more rooms, with a median of 8 rooms per unit. By comparison, only 5% of the City of Knoxville’s housing stock has more than 9 rooms, and its median is 4.9. The city’s number is partly affected by its sizeable supply of multi-family units, which tend to be smaller with fewer rooms than single-family homes. Almost 40% of Farragut’s housing stock was built in the past 10 years. By comparison, 22% of the county inventory was constructed during the 1990s, and 11% of the city’s supply is less than 10 years old. Alternatively, 13% of Knoxville’s housing inventory is more than 60 years old, providing a large base for historic residential properties. Less than one-half of one percent of the Farragut supply falls into that category. The Knox County median home value in 2000 was $98,500. The City of Knoxville’s median was about 80% of that value at $78,000. Farragut achieved almost 2.5 times the city level, reaching $193,000. All three jurisdictions saw median home values climb more than 50% from 1990 figures. Knox County Housing Types: 2000
Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 3. June 2002
HOME
ENERGY
VEHICLE
OWNERSHIP There are an estimated 1.8 vehicles per household countywide, with a 1.5 vehicle average in Knoxville and 2.2 per household in Farragut.
COMMUTING
TO WORK There are about 5,000 more workers in Knoxville since 1990, but the number of solo drivers grew by 6,700. A reduction in the number of carpoolers and a decline in public transit reliance for daily commuting account for the difference. The number of carpoolers dropped from 9,700 in 1990 to 8,300 in 2000 as only 11% of city residents share rides to work. More than 90% of Farragut residents drive alone to work, while the countywide average is 85%. Public transit figures saw a 23% drop from 1990 rates with fewer than 1,200 Knoxville workers using buses, trolleys, and taxis as their primary means of transportation. In the early-1990s, many economists, sociologists, and planners predicted that the number of people who work from home would grow dramatically over the next several years, influenced by communications advancements, family demands, traffic constraints, and workplace preferences. The 2000 Census figures show, however, that the trend did not materialize. Some growth was measured, but it was modest. The City of Knoxville added 408 new home-workers, while Knox County overall grew by about 1,300, comprising only 2.7% of the workforce. Knox County Commuting: Means of Transportation to Work, 2000
For
the 15% of commuters who used a means of transportation to work other
than driving a car alone, Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 3. June 2002
Census
2000: Selected Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics
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