Johnson County, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
 Johnson County Courthouse in Mountain City | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofTennessee | |
| Coordinates:36°28′N81°52′W / 36.46°N 81.86°W /36.46; -81.86 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Named after | Thomas Johnson, early settler[1] |
| Seat | Mountain City |
| Largest town | Mountain City |
| Area | |
• Total | 303 sq mi (780 km2) |
| • Land | 298 sq mi (770 km2) |
| • Water | 4.2 sq mi (11 km2) 1.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,948 |
| • Density | 61/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | https://www.johnsoncountytn.gov/ |
Johnson County is the easternmostcounty in theU.S. state ofTennessee. As of the2020 census, the population was 17,948.[2] Itscounty seat isMountain City.[3]
Johnson County was created in 1836 from parts ofCarter County. This followed several years of bickering over the location of Carter County's seat, with residents of what is now Johnson County arguing that travel toElizabethton was too lengthy and difficult. When their petition to move the seat to a more central location was rejected, they petitioned the state legislature for the creation of a new county. The new county was named after Thomas Johnson, an early settler. The county seat was initially named "Taylorsville" in honor of Colonel James P. Taylor (it was changed to "Mountain City" in the 1880s).[1][4]
Most Johnson Countians supported the Union during the Civil War. The county's residents rejected secession by a margin of 788 to 111 in Tennessee's secession referendum on June 8, 1861.[5] The county sent a sizable delegation to theGreeneville session of the pro-UnionEast Tennessee Convention in June 1861.[6]
Due in large part to the county's remoteness, the railroads did not reach Johnson until the early 20th century. The arrival of the railroads during this period aided the development of the timber andmanganese mining industries.[1]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 303 square miles (780 km2), of which 298 square miles (770 km2) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km2) (1.4%) is water.[7]
Situated entirely within theBlue Ridge Mountains,[8] Johnson County is relatively rugged and hilly. The county's boundary with Sullivan County to the northwest is defined as the ridgeline ofHolston Mountain, while theIron Mountains provide the county's boundary withCarter County to the southwest.Snake Mountain, at 5,574 feet (1,699 m), is the county's highest point.[1]
Unlike most of Tennessee, part of northern Johnson County is outside of theSun Belt due to a past error surveying the northern border ofMiddle andEast Tennessee;Laurel Bloomery in particular is north of the Sun Belt.[9] The Sun Belt is defined by the Kinder Institute as being south of36°30'N latitude, which was intended to be the northern border of Tennessee and is the actual northern border ofWest Tennessee.[10]
In terms of average elevation, Johnson County is one of the highest counties (if not the highest) in Tennessee. The county is home to the two highest communities in the state:Trade, at 3,133 feet (955 m), andShady Valley, at 2,785 feet (849 m). Mountain City is the highest incorporated city in Tennessee, at 2,418 feet (737 m). The highest place in Johnson County isSnake Mountain's lower peak, (near the North Carolina state line), at 5,518 feet (1,682 m). The lowest point in the county isWatauga Lake, at an elevation of 1,959 feet (597 m).
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,658 | — | |
| 1850 | 3,705 | 39.4% | |
| 1860 | 5,018 | 35.4% | |
| 1870 | 5,852 | 16.6% | |
| 1880 | 7,766 | 32.7% | |
| 1890 | 8,858 | 14.1% | |
| 1900 | 10,589 | 19.5% | |
| 1910 | 13,191 | 24.6% | |
| 1920 | 12,230 | −7.3% | |
| 1930 | 12,209 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 12,998 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,278 | −5.5% | |
| 1960 | 10,765 | −12.3% | |
| 1970 | 11,569 | 7.5% | |
| 1980 | 13,745 | 18.8% | |
| 1990 | 13,766 | 0.2% | |
| 2000 | 17,499 | 27.1% | |
| 2010 | 18,244 | 4.3% | |
| 2020 | 17,948 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2014[15] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 16,126 | 89.85% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 724 | 4.03% |
| Native American | 28 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 27 | 0.15% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 518 | 2.89% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 516 | 2.87% |
As of the2020 census, there were 17,948 people, 7,205 households, and 4,635 families residing in the county.[17]The median age was 47.6 years; 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 118.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 119.7 males age 18 and over.[17]
The racial makeup of the county was 90.4%White, 4.1%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 3.6% fromtwo or more races;Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.9% of the population.[16]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 7,205 households in the county, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.1% were married-couple households, 20.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
There were 8,723 housing units, of which 17.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.[17]
As of thecensus[19] of 2000, there were 17,499 people, 6,827 households, and 4,751 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 59 people per square mile (23 people/km2). There were 7,879 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.40%White, 2.42%Black orAfrican American, 0.34%Native American, 0.12%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.23% fromother races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 6,827 households, out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% weremarried couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.70% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 114.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $23,067, and the median income for a family was $28,400. Males had a median income of $24,018 versus $18,817 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $13,388. About 18.70% of families and 22.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 26.80% of those under age 18 and 21.50% of those age 65 or over.
Male inmates in theNortheast Correctional Complex, southwest of Mountain City, account for 1,299 (7.4%) of the county's population.[20]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1840 | 390 | 88.84% | 49 | 11.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1844 | 370 | 82.41% | 79 | 17.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1848 | 382 | 85.27% | 66 | 14.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1852 | 365 | 79.69% | 93 | 20.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1856 | 0 | 0.00% | 178 | 27.94% | 459 | 72.06% |
| 1860 | 0 | 0.00% | 144 | 22.09% | 508 | 77.91% |
| 1868 | 501 | 99.80% | 1 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 778 | 93.17% | 57 | 6.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1876 | 717 | 77.77% | 205 | 22.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 1,092 | 84.32% | 203 | 15.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 1,101 | 85.81% | 179 | 13.95% | 3 | 0.23% |
| 1888 | 1,347 | 87.52% | 180 | 11.70% | 12 | 0.78% |
| 1892 | 1,100 | 78.46% | 209 | 14.91% | 93 | 6.63% |
| 1896 | 1,683 | 88.02% | 224 | 11.72% | 5 | 0.26% |
| 1900 | 1,618 | 89.20% | 189 | 10.42% | 7 | 0.39% |
| 1904 | 1,769 | 88.49% | 219 | 10.96% | 11 | 0.55% |
| 1908 | 2,148 | 90.21% | 232 | 9.74% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1912 | 933 | 42.14% | 256 | 11.56% | 1,025 | 46.30% |
| 1916 | 1,812 | 87.33% | 263 | 12.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 3,627 | 92.57% | 291 | 7.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 2,799 | 91.35% | 254 | 8.29% | 11 | 0.36% |
| 1928 | 3,057 | 93.97% | 196 | 6.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 2,400 | 84.51% | 425 | 14.96% | 15 | 0.53% |
| 1936 | 2,882 | 84.39% | 533 | 15.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 2,502 | 84.21% | 469 | 15.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 2,699 | 85.47% | 450 | 14.25% | 9 | 0.28% |
| 1948 | 2,413 | 82.98% | 433 | 14.89% | 62 | 2.13% |
| 1952 | 3,590 | 87.65% | 506 | 12.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,690 | 87.44% | 503 | 11.92% | 27 | 0.64% |
| 1960 | 3,854 | 86.74% | 571 | 12.85% | 18 | 0.41% |
| 1964 | 2,889 | 75.71% | 927 | 24.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,107 | 79.02% | 450 | 11.44% | 375 | 9.54% |
| 1972 | 3,362 | 87.08% | 450 | 11.66% | 49 | 1.27% |
| 1976 | 2,986 | 66.68% | 1,464 | 32.69% | 28 | 0.63% |
| 1980 | 3,716 | 74.99% | 1,141 | 23.03% | 98 | 1.98% |
| 1984 | 3,853 | 79.10% | 999 | 20.51% | 19 | 0.39% |
| 1988 | 3,715 | 73.14% | 1,329 | 26.17% | 35 | 0.69% |
| 1992 | 3,170 | 56.98% | 1,781 | 32.02% | 612 | 11.00% |
| 1996 | 3,137 | 58.54% | 1,698 | 31.69% | 524 | 9.78% |
| 2000 | 3,740 | 66.11% | 1,813 | 32.05% | 104 | 1.84% |
| 2004 | 4,634 | 71.51% | 1,812 | 27.96% | 34 | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 4,621 | 70.11% | 1,837 | 27.87% | 133 | 2.02% |
| 2012 | 4,611 | 74.44% | 1,483 | 23.94% | 100 | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 5,410 | 82.23% | 988 | 15.02% | 181 | 2.75% |
| 2020 | 6,468 | 82.91% | 1,246 | 15.97% | 87 | 1.12% |
| 2024 | 6,829 | 84.12% | 1,212 | 14.93% | 77 | 0.95% |
Johnson County is a long-termRepublican stronghold and is located withinTennessee's 1st congressional district, which has not been represented by a Democrat since 1881. Johnson County has never been carried by a Democratic presidential nominee. Since a Republican Party presidential nominee first appeared on the ballot in Tennessee in1868, there has only been one occasion when Johnson County's voters didn't vote for the official Republican Party candidate, and that was in1912, when voters voted for the officialBull Moose Progressive Party candidate,Theodore Roosevelt, the former Republican president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. Johnson County's voters chose Roosevelt in 1912 rather than the man who was then the incumbent Republican president of the United States,William Howard Taft (president of the United States from 1909 to 1913).
Johnson County was reportedly the strongest county in the US for Republican candidatesCalvin Coolidge in 1924,[22]Herbert Hoover in 1932[23] and the second strongest behindJackson County,Kentucky forAlf Landon in 1936.[24] The Republican candidate has consistently won since 1916,[25][26] during which period no Republican candidate has received less than 56 percent of the county's vote. In 2012,Mitt Romney received 74.4 percent,[27] whileDonald Trump received 82.2 percent in 2016, 82.9 percent in 2020, and then 84.3 percent in 2024.
Steve Earle's song "Copperhead Road" is about a family ofmoonshiners from Johnson County – where, until 2018, alcoholwas prohibited ever sincethe Twenty-First Amendment. The second verse contains the line "Johnson County Sheriff painted on the side".
The childhood home ofValene Ewing, a character in the TV seriesDallas andKnots Landing, is in Johnson County, in the fictional community of Shula.
Places adjacent to Johnson County, Tennessee | |
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Municipalities and communities ofJohnson County, Tennessee,United States | ||
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| Town |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
36°28′N81°52′W / 36.46°N 81.86°W /36.46; -81.86
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