Tennessee

Knox

478,971
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Knox

Knox, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 12,446. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 478,971.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 15 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Boyd's Creek, Battle of Cavett's Station 1793, Siege of Knoxville (Fort Sanders), and 122 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020478,971
2010432,226
2000382,032
1990335,749
1980319,694
1970276,293
1960250,523
1950223,007
1940178,468
1930155,902
1920112,926
191094,187
190074,302
189059,557
188039,124
187028,990
186022,813
185018,807
184015,485
183014,498
182013,034
181010,171
180012,446
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Knox

Military engagements that took place in Knox, Tennessee.

Battle of Boyd's Creek
1780
Battle of Cavett's Station 1793
1793
Siege of Knoxville (Fort Sanders)
1863
Battle of Campbell's Station
1863
Battle of Flat Rock Bridge TN
1863
Assault on Fort Sanders (Knoxville)
1863
Occupation of Knoxville (Burnside)
1863
Battle of Fort Sanders
1863
Skirmish at Knoxville (Confederate advance probes)
1863
Fort Sanders Assault (Knoxville)
1863
Battle of Campbell's Station (Burnside)
1863
Second Action at Strawberry Plains
1864
Action at Flat Creek (TN)
1864
Battle of Dandridge
1864
Battle of Strawberry Plains
1864

Historic places in Knox

National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox, Tennessee.

Buffat, Alfred, Homestead
Knoxville
Candoro Marble Works
Knoxville
Old Gray Cemetery
Knoxville
Ramsey House
Knoxville
Blount, William, Mansion
Knoxville
First Baptist Church
Knoxville
First Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Knoxville
Seven Islands Methodist Church (Additional Documentation)
Knoxville
Bishop, Alexander, House
Knoxville
Marble Springs
Knoxville
Russell, Avery, House
Farragut
Knoxville YMCA Building
Knoxville
Market Square Commercial Historic District
Knoxville
Old Knoxville City Hall
Knoxville
McMillan, Alexander, House
Knoxville
Statesview
Knoxville
McCammon, Samuel, House
Knoxville
Chesterfield
Mascot
Ossoli Circle Clubhouse
Knoxville
Westwood
Knoxville
Old Post Office Building (Additional Documentation)
Knoxville
Craighead-Jackson House (Additional Documentation)
Knoxville
Peters House
Knoxville
Wilder, Gen. John T., House
Knoxville
Browse all Tennesseehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

GraingerGreeneGrundyHamblenHamiltonHancockHardemanHardinHawkinsHaywoodHendersonHenryHickmanHoustonHumphreysJacksonJamesJeffersonJohnsonLake
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Everything a full report reveals about Knox County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Knox County, Tennessee. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Knox

When does Knox first appear in the US census?
Knox, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 12,446.
What is the population of Knox?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Knox had a recorded population of 478,971.
Were any battles fought in Knox?
15 documented military engagements took place in Knox, including Battle of Boyd's Creek, Battle of Cavett's Station 1793, Siege of Knoxville (Fort Sanders).
How many historic places are in Knox?
122 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Knox, Tennessee.
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