Unicoi County, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Unicoi County
U.S. county
Unicoi County Courthouse in Erwin
Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	March 23, 1875
Named for	Cherokee word for "fog-draped" or "hazy"
Seat	Erwin
Largest town	Erwin
Area
• Total	186 sq mi (480 km2)
• Land	186 sq mi (480 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.2%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,928
• Density	98/sq mi (38/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st

Unicoi County (/ˈjuːnɪˌkɔɪ/) is a county in the state of Tennessee. In 2020, about 17,928 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Erwin.

The name Unicoi comes from a Cherokee word. It means "white," "hazy," or "fog-draped." This name describes the mist often seen in the mountains of this area. Unicoi County is part of the larger "Tri-Cities" region. This area includes Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.

History of Unicoi County

Unicoi County was formed in 1875. It was made from parts of Washington and Carter counties. However, people had started settling here over a hundred years earlier. For a long time, the county was mostly farms. This changed when railroads arrived in the 1880s.

Southern Potteries and Blue Ridge China

In the 1910s, a company called the Clinchfield Railroad started a pottery factory in Erwin. This factory later became "Southern Potteries." They made popular dishes called Blue Ridge China. These dishes were special because they had hand-painted designs. The company closed in the 1950s. But Blue Ridge dishes are still popular with people who collect old items.

How to Say Unicoi

You can hear the name spoken here: Hear it spoken. This recording is from the Unicoi County Mayor Greg Lynch in 2010.

Geography of Unicoi County

The Appalachian Trail approaching the top of Big Bald

Unicoi County covers about 186 square miles. Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.3 square miles, is water. This makes it the fifth-smallest county in Tennessee.

The Nolichucky River flows into Unicoi County from North Carolina. This river is the main waterway in the county.

Mountains and Trails

Unicoi County is entirely within the Blue Ridge Mountains. These mountains include the Bald Mountains and the Unaka Range. Big Bald is the highest mountain in the Balds. It is also the highest point in Unicoi County, at 5,516 feet (1,681 meters) tall.

The famous Appalachian Trail crosses Big Bald. The top of the mountain is a "grassy bald." This means it's a wide, open area with grass. From here, you can see amazing views of the mountains all around.

Neighboring Counties

• Washington County (north)
• Carter County (northeast)
• Mitchell County, North Carolina (east)
• Yancey County, North Carolina (south)
• Madison County, North Carolina (southwest)
• Greene County (west)

Protected Natural Areas

Unicoi County has parts of important protected areas:

• Appalachian Trail
• Cherokee National Forest

It also has a state park:

• Rocky Fork State Park

Unicoi County Population

Age pyramid Unicoi County

The 2020 United States census counted 17,928 people living in Unicoi County. There were 7,658 households and 4,953 families.

Population Makeup in 2020

Towns and Communities

Unicoi County has a few towns and smaller communities.

Main Towns

• Erwin (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
• Unicoi

Census-Designated Place

• Banner Hill (This is a special area defined for census data.)

Smaller Communities

• Bumpas Cove (partially in the county)
• Flag Pond
• Limestone Cove

Education in Unicoi County

All students in Unicoi County attend schools in the Unicoi County School District.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Unicoi para niños