Census Data for Athens
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Athens a population of 14,021 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Athens a population of 13,458 people.
The city of Athens is located in McMinn County. The 2010 Census gave McMinn County; a population of 52,176 people. This means that Athens had 25.79% of the county's total population, making it McMinn's most populous community.
At the same time, Tennessee had a population of 6,346,105 people, meaning that Athens had 0.21% of the total population of Tennessee - making it the state's 41st most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Athens has a total area of 13.98 square miles [36.2 km²].
McMinn County has a land area of 430.1 square miles [1,114 km²]. At 13.98 square miles [36.2 km²], Athens has 3.25% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Athens, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Athens reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Athens might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 35° 27' 8" (or 35.45°)
- Lon: -84° 36' 13" (or -84.6°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Athens had 6,370 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 13,458 people, this averages 2.11 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Athens had a land area of 13.98 square miles [36.2 km²]. This translates to 455.7 Housing Units per square mile [175.9 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Athens had 6,086 Housing Units, a population of 13,220 people and a land area of 13.54 square miles [35.1 km²]. This gives a density of 2.17 people per Housing Unit and 449.4 Housing Units per square mile [173.5 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Athens and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
McMinn County ...
Athens is located in McMinn County<4> and is the County Seat for McMinn County.
The county had a population of 52,176 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 13,458 people, Athens represented 25.79% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Athens has a population density of 962 people per square mile [371.7 people/km²], McMinn County averages 121.3 people per square mile [46.84 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for McMinn County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Athens, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Athens. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Athens or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Athens, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Athens.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.452422° (or 35°27'8" N)
- Lon: -84.603856° (or -84°36'13" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.448171° (or 35°26'53" N)
- Lon: -84.602069° (or -84°36'7" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,638 feet to the north<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2403124) to Athens. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Athens. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.452488° (or 35°27'8" N)
- Lon: -84.603911° (or -84°36'14" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 29.08 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Athens. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Athens.
Miscellaneous Information for Athens ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either McMinn County or the city of Athens:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 47 (Tennessee)
- County Code: 107 (McMinn County)
- Place Code: 02320 (Athens)
- State & County Code: 47/107 (Tennessee / McMinn County)
- State & Place Code: 47/02320 (Tennessee / Athens)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Athens is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #6 (the East South-Central Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Athens.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Athens: www.cityofathenstn.com/
The official website for McMinn County: www.mcminncounty.org/
The official website for State of Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Tennessee's counties, including McMinn, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 18 degrees and a distance of 1,638 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 214 degrees and a distance of 29.08 feet. |