Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Carter County, TN

Welcome to Carter County.

← Back to search

Carter County has a population of 56.3 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 347.7 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 24%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $1.3 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Carter County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Carter County comprises Johnson City, TN metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Elizabethton.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Avery County, Mitchell County, Johnson County, Sullivan County, Unicoi County, and Washington County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
35.2%63.4%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
28.65%70.68%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
25.66%72.82%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
23.23%75.2%+++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
16.38%80.15%+++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
18.49%79.96%+++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

← Back to search

Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%24%
Government
Enterprises
16%21%
Private Industries84%25%
Agriculture<1%-19%
Mining<1%0%
Utilities1%185%
Construction6%0%
Manufacturing11%15%
– Durable10%11%
– Nondurable1%86%
Trade13%48%
– Wholesale2%59%
– Retail11%46%
Transportation1%46%
Information1%41%
Finance & Insurance5%20%
Real Estate18%14%
Professional &
Business Services
6%47%
Educational Services<1%0%
Healthcare &
Social Services
<1%0%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%-34%
Accommodation &
Food Services
4%38%
Other Services24%10%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

← Back to search

Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers549
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
439
📺 Electronics & Appliance
🛒 Grocery Stores1064
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores
⚕️ Health & Personal Care1167
⛽ Gasoline Stations2981
👕 Clothing Stores439
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry
🏸 Sporting Goods556
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores1679
💐 Florists
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns
🍽️ Full-service restaurants2873
🍔 Limited-service restaurants3473
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers645
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation440
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

← Back to search

Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%119%$255,900 N/A
Top 20%49%$166,000 $183,300
Next highest 20%24%$81,900 $105,300
Middle 20%15%$49,300 $63,600
Second lowest 20%9%$29,300 $38,400
Bottom 20%3%$11,400 $19,700
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries64%$70,600
Self-Employment11%$38,600
Investment Income112%$13,300
Social Security39%$22,100
Supplemental Security8%$11,800
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement25%$18,500
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%4%10%11%
$25K
– $49K
1%7%8%9%
$50K
– $99K
<1%9%12%9%
$100K
– $199K
<1%5%7%4%
$200K
& more
<1%<1%1%1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

← Back to search

Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$42,800 $31,400
African-American$20,100 $30,400
Hispanic$41,700
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$34,000 $19,600
Highschool & GED$37,600 $29,000
Some College to
Associate’s
$48,100 $31,000
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$68,300 $40,800
Graduate Degree$60,200 $52,000
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$52,500 $46,600
STEM2$100,600 $74,300
Gray-Collar3$26,500
Pink-Collar4$21,300
Sales5$32,000 $22,100
Blue-Collar6$40,400 $31,300
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

← Back to search

Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves++$
Drought+
Earthquake+$
Hail+$
Heat Waves
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm+
Landslide+++$
Lightning++$
Riverine Flooding+++$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather+$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

← Back to search

ZIP Codes in Carter County


Watauga, TN 37694
Roan Mountain, TN 37687
Elizabethton, TN 37682
Hampton, TN 37658
Elizabethton, TN 37643

ZIP codes are dynamically and randomly generated at no more than ten per click. Refresh to see more.

← Back to search