Anderson County, Tennessee Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Anderson County

U.S. county

Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee

Tennessee's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Tennessee

Founded

November 6, 1801

Joseph Anderson

Largest city

Area

• Total

345 sq mi (890 km²)

• Land

337 sq mi (870 km²)

• Water

7.6 sq mi (20 km²) 2.2%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

77,123

• Estimate

(2023)

80,234

• Density

223.5/sq mi (86.31/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

3rd

Anderson County is a county in the state of Tennessee, USA. It is located in the northern part of East Tennessee. In 2020, about 77,123 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Clinton. Anderson County is part of the larger Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Anderson County
Geography of Anderson County
- Neighboring Counties
- Protected Areas
Population Information
- 2020 Census Details
Economy of Anderson County
Towns and Cities
See also

History of Anderson County

Before Anderson County was formed, this land belonged to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Some early families like the Wallaces and Gibbses settled here. In 1791, the Treaty of Holston was signed. It was meant to stop more settlers from moving into Cherokee lands. But many more people kept coming from Virginia and North Carolina.

This led to some small fights. Things became calmer after the Treaty of Tellico in 1798. This treaty allowed more settlers to move into the area.

Anderson County was created in 1801. It was made from parts of Grainger County, Tennessee and Knox County, Tennessee. Roane County, Tennessee, was also formed from Knox County in the same year. This is why they are sometimes called 'sister counties'.

The county was named after Joseph Anderson. He was a U.S. senator from Tennessee. He also served as a judge and a government money manager.

During the American Civil War, many people in Anderson County did not want to leave the United States. On June 8, 1861, they voted strongly against Tennessee joining the Confederacy.

Big changes came in the 1930s with the building of Norris Dam. This was the first dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). About 2,900 families had to move from their homes for the dam's lake. The town of Norris was built for the dam workers. After the dam was finished, the Clinch River below it became colder. This caused the pearl industry, which relied on mussels in the river, to disappear.

During World War II, the federal government started the Manhattan Project. This brought even more changes to the county. More families had to move, and the city of Oak Ridge was founded.

The Museum of Appalachia in Norris helps us remember how people lived long ago. It shows what pioneer and rural life was like in Anderson County.

Geography of Anderson County

The county covers about 345 square miles. Most of this (337 square miles) is land. About 7.6 square miles (2.2%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Campbell County (north)
Union County (northeast)
Knox County (southeast)
Roane County (southwest)
Morgan County (west)
Scott County (northwest)

Protected Areas

Manhattan Project National Historical Park (part)
Norris Dam State Park (part)
North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (part)

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1810	3,959	—
1820	4,668	17.9%
1830	5,310	13.8%
1840	5,658	6.6%
1850	6,938	22.6%
1860	7,068	1.9%
1870	8,704	23.1%
1880	10,820	24.3%
1890	15,128	39.8%
1900	17,634	16.6%
1910	17,717	0.5%
1920	18,298	3.3%
1930	19,722	7.8%
1940	26,504	34.4%
1950	59,407	124.1%
1960	60,032	1.1%
1970	60,300	0.4%
1980	67,346	11.7%
1990	68,250	1.3%
2000	71,330	4.5%
2010	75,129	5.3%
2020	77,123	2.7%
2023 (est.)	80,234	6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Age pyramid for Anderson County

2020 Census Details

Anderson County racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	66,044	85.63%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	2,841	3.68%
Native American	217	0.28%
Asian	975	1.26%
Pacific Islander	53	0.07%
Other/Mixed	4,173	5.41%
Hispanic or Latino	2,820	3.66%

In 2020, there were 77,123 people living in Anderson County. There were 30,175 households and 19,074 families.

Economy of Anderson County

Anderson County has a strong tourism industry. Many people visit its attractions. These include Norris Lake, the Green McAdoo School, the Museum of Appalachia, and the American Museum of Science and Energy. The county is also known as part of the Norris Highlands.