Census Data for Johnson City
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Johnson City a population of 67,084 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Johnson City a population of 63,152 people.
The city of Johnson City is located in Washington County. The 2010 Census gave Washington County; a population of 123,384 people. This means that Johnson City had 51.2% of the county's total population, making it Washington's most populous community.
At the same time, Tennessee had a population of 6,346,105 people, meaning that Johnson City had 1% of the total population of Tennessee - making it the state's 8th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Johnson City has a total area of 43.27 square miles [112.1 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.33 square miles [0.8 km²]).
Washington County has a land area of 326.5 square miles [845.5 km²]. At 42.94 square miles [111.2 km²], Johnson City has 13.15% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Johnson City, 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 Johnson City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Johnson City 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: 36° 20' 17" (or 36.34°)
- Lon: -82° 22' 38" (or -82.38°)
- 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, Johnson City had 30,583 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 63,152 people, this averages 2.06 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Johnson City had a land area of 42.94 square miles [111.2 km²]. This translates to 706 Housing Units per square mile [272.9 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Johnson City had 25,730 Housing Units, a population of 55,469 people and a land area of 39.27 square miles [101.7 km²]. This gives a density of 2.16 people per Housing Unit and 650 Housing Units per square mile [251 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Johnson City and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Washington County ...
The community of Johnson City is primarily located in Washington County<4>. A portion of Johnson City extends into Carter County and Sullivan County.
The county had a population of 123,384 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 63,152 people, Johnson City represented 51.2% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Johnson City has a population density of 1,459 people per square mile [563 people/km²], Washington County averages 377.9 people per square mile [145.9 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Washington County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Johnson City, 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 Johnson City. 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 Johnson City 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 Johnson City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Johnson City.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 36.338218° (or 36°20'17" N)
- Lon: -82.377427° (or -82°22'38" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 36.335399° (or 36°20'7" N)
- Lon: -82.372760° (or -82°22'21" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,713 feet to the northwest<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 (#2404808) to Johnson City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Johnson City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 36.339405° (or 36°20'21" N)
- Lon: -82.378808° (or -82°22'43" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 593 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Johnson City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Johnson City.
Miscellaneous Information for Johnson City ...
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 Washington County or the city of Johnson City:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Johnson City:
- GNIS ID for Johnson City: 2404808
- GNIS ID for Washington County: 1639797
- GNIS ID for State of Tennessee: 1325873
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Johnson City 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 Johnson City.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Johnson City: www.johnsoncitytn.com/
The official website for Washington County: www.washingtoncountytn.com/
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 Washington, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
<5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 53 degrees and a distance of 1,713 feet. |
<6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 223 degrees and a distance of 593 feet. |