Cheatham County, Tennessee
Selected Statistical Information
I.  Geography & Demographics Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank Percent of State
Total Land Area (sq. mi.)                 41,217                303 74th  0.7%
Farmland (2007)          
Acres of Farmland            10,969,798           63,122  68th   0.6%
Number of Farms                 79,280                554  64th   0.7%
Average Size of Farms (Acres)                     138                114  61st   82.6%
Population            
2008 Estimate 6,214,888 39,396 39th  0.6%
2000 Census 5,689,283 35,912 40th  0.6%
1990 Census 4,877,203 27,140 46th  0.6%
Gain (1990 to 2000) 812,080 8,772 23rd  1.1%
Growth Rate (1990 to 2000) 16.7% 32.3% 10th  194.1%
Population Density (per sq. mi.)         Comparison to State Figure
2008 Estimate                   150.8             130.2 39th  86.3%
2000 Census                   138.0             118.7 23rd  86.0%
1990 Census                   118.3               89.7 26th  75.8%
Urban Population         Percent of State
2000 Census            3,618,968             2,432 70th  0.1%
1990 Census            2,969,948             2,552 69th  0.1%
Growth Rate (1990 to 2000) 21.9% -4.7% 62nd  -21.5%
Percent of Population in Urban Areas
2000 Census 63.6% 6.8% 70th  10.6%
1990 Census 60.9% 9.4% 70th  15.4%
Median Age            
2000 Census 36 35 82nd  98.3%
1990 Census 34 32 90th  95.8%
Population Percentages by Age Bracket        
2000 Census
under 18 24.6% 27.7% 5th 
18-24 9.6% 7.3% 91st 
25-44 30.2% 33.5% 4th 
45-64 23.2% 23.0% 78th 
65 & over 12.4% 8.6% 92nd 
1990 Census
under 18 25.1% 28.1% 7th 
18-24 10.9% 8.9% 80th 
25-44 31.8% 35.7% 2nd 
45-64 19.6% 19.0% 84th 
65 & over 12.6% 8.3% 93rd 
Population Growth by Age Bracket, 1990 to 2000  
Population Percentages by Race/Ethnicity (2000 Census)  
Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank* Comparison to State Figure
Males per 100 Females (2007) 95.4 99.7 12th  104.6%
Marriages Recorded per 1,000 Population in 2006 10.7 6.7 88th  62.6%
Divorces Recorded per 1,000 Population in 2006 4.7 5.2 62nd  110.6%
*A rank of 1 indicates the best condition.
II.  Income & Poverty Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank* Comparison to State Figure
Per Capita Personal Income          
2006 $32,172 $30,884 11th  96.0%
2000 $26,097 $24,870 15th  95.3%
Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.55% 3.68% 35th  103.55%
Median Household Income          
2007 $42,389 $52,090 4th  122.9%
2000 $35,760 $46,811 4th  130.9%
Compound Annual Growth Rate 2.46% 1.54% 78th  62.55%
2007 Poverty Rate          
All Ages  15.8% 9.3% 3rd  58.86%
Related Children Under 18 Years  22.5% 13.0% 3rd  57.78%
2000 Census            
All Ages  13.1% 22.6% 90th  171.73%
Related Children Under 18 Years 15.9% 27.7% 89th  174.02%
2007 Food Stamp Recipients (Monthly Average )          
Percent of Households 15.8% 8.9% 2nd  56.50%
Percent of Individuals 14.1% 8.5% 4th  60.12%
2007 Families First           
Percent of Households 2.5% 1.1% 11th  42.98%
Percent of Individuals 2.5% 1.0% 13th  39.41%
*A rank of 1 indicates the best condition.
III.  Health & Healthcare Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank* Comparison to State Figure
2007 Pregnancy & Birth Rates           
Live births per 1,000 Population                    14.2               13.1 36th  92.3%
Percent of Live Births to Unmarried Parents 42.8% 38.7% 49th  90.4%
Percent Low Birth Weight 9.4% 9.3% 56th  98.9%
Pregnancies per 1,000 Females Aged 15-44                    80.7               68.7 53rd  85.1%
Pregnancies per 1,000 Females Aged 10-17                    13.9                8.3 15th  59.7%
Pregnancies per 1,000 Females Aged 10-14                      1.3                0.8 51st  61.5%
* A rank of 1 indicates the best condition.
2007 Mortality Rates           
Number of Deaths per 1,000 Population                      9.3                7.0 4th  75.3%
Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population by Cause of Death
Diseases of the Heart                   233.2             202.5 17th  86.8%
Cancer (Malignant Neoplasm)                   215.3             141.8 3rd  65.9%
* A rank of 1 indicates the best condition.
1st 
1st 
1st 
Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank Comparison to State Figure
Access to Healthcare          
Medical Doctors per 1,000 (2007)                      1.8                0.2 92nd  11.3%
Hospital Beds per 1,000 Population (2006)                      4.2                0.2 79th  4.9%
Nursing Home Beds per 1,000 Pop. 65 & older (2006)                    49.2               46.0 62nd  93.5%
2006 Charity Care--Percent of All Hospital Care  8.5% 0.9% 63rd  10.2%
IV.  Employment
Unemployment Rate   Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank* Comparison to State Figure
2009 (February) 9.5% 8.5% 11th  89.1%
2000 4.0% 2.8% 2nd  69.9%
2007 Youth Unemployment Rate  15.7% 17.3% 54th  110.3%
* A rank of 1 indicates the best condition.
2007 Employment Percentages by Major Industry   Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank Comparison to State Figure
Total Employment All Industries 2,745,397 8,014 51 0.3%
Natural Resources and Mining 0.4% 0.0% 80 0.0%
Construction 4.9% 0.0% 83 0.0%
Manufacturing 13.8% 35.0% 36 252.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 22.1% 16.0% 52 72.3%
Information 1.8% 0.4% 64 21.6%
Financial Activities 5.2% 2.9% 58 55.4%
Professional and Business Services 11.8% 7.0% 40 59.1%
Education and Health Services 12.4% 4.8% 74 39.0%
Leisure and Hospitality 10.1% 7.6% 50 75.5%
Other Services 2.6% 1.5% 50 60.2%
Government 14.9% 18.7% 42 125.1%
Federal 1.8% 1.0% 52 56.3%
State 3.3% 0.2% 55 7.3%
Local 9.9% 17.4% 40 176.2%
2007 Average Annual Wage by Major Industry         County Rank
29th 
80th 
83rd 
58th 
26th 
42nd 
19th 
7th 
79th 
36th 
1st 
68th 
50th 
51st 
24th 
V.  Value of Farmland and Agricultural Products Sold
Tennessee Cheatham County Rank
Estimated Market Value of Farmland & Buildings   $           467,420  $      467,056 38th 
(Average Per Farm)
Estimated Market Value of Farmland & Buildings   $               3,378  $         4,099 21st 
(Average Per Acre)
Total Market Value of Agicultural Products Sold   $  2,617,394,000  $   8,427,000 73rd 
VI.  County Government Finance (municipalities' revenue data not available)
2001-2002 Revenue by Source (in thousands)   Tennessee Percent of Total Cheatham County Percent of State Total
Grand Total  $         8,062,012 100.0%  $    55,297 100.00%
Total State Revenue  $         2,504,883 31.1%  $    24,861 45.0%
Public Schools            1,949,045 24.2%        22,069 39.9%
All Other               555,838 6.9%         2,792 5.0%
Federal Revenue  $           511,055 6.3%  $      2,613 4.7%
Total Local Revenue  $         5,046,074 62.6%  $    27,823 50.3%
Property Tax            2,720,971 33.8%        14,656 26.5%
Local Sales Tax            1,123,100 13.9%         2,055 3.7%
Other Local             1,202,003 14.9%        11,112 20.1%
 Tax Base (in thousands)   Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank Percent of State
2007 Equalized Assessed Property Value  $     131,625,598  $      674,957
Tax Base Per Capita $21,179 $17,133 37th  80.9%
2007 County Property Tax Rate (per $100) $2.78 21st 
2008 Total Taxable Sales   $       69,005,974  $      202,179
Tax Base Per Capita $11,103 $5,132 43rd  46.2%
2008 County Sales Tax Rate 2.25% 52nd 
VII.  Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory
Estimated Costs, 2007 - 2012 (in thousands)   Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank Percent of State
Project  Type
Transportation  $       17,106,712  $      155,578 26th 0.9%
K-12 New School Construction            1,798,581           30,000 18th 1.7%
Public Buildings               526,288           18,000 6th 3.4%
Water & Wastewater            3,855,355           14,230 56th 0.4%
Existing School Improvements            1,899,735           13,343 26th 0.7%
Law Enforcement            1,826,201           13,000 24th 0.7%
Recreation            1,118,527           10,128 24th 0.9%
Community Development               367,547             4,600 12th 1.3%
Libraries, Museums, & Historic Sites               285,785             3,000 10th 1.0%
Industrial Sites & Parks               241,362             2,100 36th 0.9%
Fire Protection               220,725             1,100 23rd 0.5%
Stormwater               371,227                200 34th 0.1%
Non K-12 Education            3,015,869                    - 43rd 0.0%
Other Utilities               598,698                    - 32nd 0.0%
Business District Development               375,758                    - 23rd 0.0%
Public Health Facilities               323,093                    - 30th 0.0%
Housing               100,189                    - 14th 0.0%
School System-wide Need                 63,021                    - 16th 0.0%
Solid Waste                 54,314                    - 30th 0.0%
Other Facilities                 32,755                    - 9th 0.0%
Telecommunications                 17,009                    - 5th 0.0%
Property Acquisition                   3,956                    - 8th 0.0%
Grand Total  $       34,202,707  $      265,279 28th 0.8%
VIII.  Adult & Post-secondary Education
Adult Educational Attainment     Tennessee Cheatham County County Rank
2000 Census
Percent w/ HS diploma (or equivalent) or better 75.9% 75.4% 18th 
Percent w/ Bachelors Degree or better 19.6% 15.1% 21st 
2008 Estimate
1990 Census
Percent w/ HS diploma (or equivalent) or better 67.1% 65.0% 20th 
Percent w/ Bachelors Degree or better 16.0% 10.5% 27th 
 Number of Post-secondary Institutions (2008)      
Four-year Colleges and Universities 77 0
Public 14 0
Private 63 0
Other Public Institutions 93 0
Community Colleges 13 0
Technology Centers 27 0
Two-Year Private Institutions 20 0
Off-campus Sites 33 0
2007 - 2008 Enrollment (full-time equivalent) at Post-secondary Institutions    
Four-year Colleges and Universities*          214,260                     -  
Public 134,696 0
Private 79,564 0
Other Public Institutions* 134,278 0
Community Colleges 80,454 0
Technology Centers 13,939 0
Two-Year Private Insitutions 11,049 0
Off-campus Sites 28,836 0
* Note: By location of instiution, not county of residence of students
IX.  Public School Systems  (Total number of school systems is 136)
Statewide Cheatham County    
Number of Students
2007-2008                 944,738                    6,815               
Percent of Statewide 0.7%          
1997-1998                 834,318                    6,214               
Percent of Statewide 0.7%          
Increase/(Decrease)                 110,420 601          
Percent Change 13.2% 9.7%          
2007-2008
Free or Reduced-price Meals 54.5% 38.4%
Federal Title 1 39.7% 6.7%
Special Education 14.7% 11.3%
English Language Learners 3.2% 0.5%
Statewide Cheatham County    
2007-2008 Accreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 
Elementary Schools 71.5% 100.0%
Secondary Schools 90.8% 100.0%
Students per Classroom Teacher*
2007-2008                      14.9                      15.8               
1997-1998                      15.8                      16.7               
Increase/(Decrease)                       (0.9)                       (0.9)                    
Progress Through School
Promotion Rate
2007-2008 98.0% 97.6%          
1997-1998 96.6% 97.0%
Dropout Rate
2007-2008 10.1% 2.5%
1997-1998 4.5% 1.4%
*Classroom teachers include art, music and physical education teachers.  Because these auxiliary teachers are
included, ratios of students to classroom teachers do not represent and tend to be lower than actual class sizes.
Statewide Cheatham County    
Expenditures per Student
2007-2008 $7,742 $6,632
Percent of Statewide 85.7%          
1997-1998 $5,123 $4,245
Percent of Statewide 82.9%          
Increase/Decrease $2,618 $2,387          
Percent Change 51.1% 56.2%          
Classroom Teachers' Average Salary*
2007-2008 $44,820 $40,081
Percent of Statewide 89.4%
1997-1998 $34,584 $29,322
Percent of Statewide 84.8%
Gain $10,236 $10,759
Percent Change 29.6% 36.7%          
Revenue by Source (percent of total)
2007-2008
State 47.6% 65.1%
Federal 10.8% 7.9%
Local 41.6% 27.0%
System Rank for Percent Local 72nd 
2006-2007
State 45.5% 64.1%
Federal 11.0% 8.4%
Local 43.5% 27.4%
System Rank for Percent Local 74th 
Statewide Cheatham County County Rank
2008-2009 County Area Fiscal Capacity        
Estimated Local Revenue per Student $2,782 $1,487 58th 
Sources of Information for County Profiles
I. Geography & Demographics
U.S. Bureau of the Census--all data except for marriage and divorce rates.
www.census.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture - farmland data
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome
TN Dept. of Health - marriage and divorce rates.
http://health.state.tn.us/
II. Income & Poverty
U.S. Bureau of the Census--median household income data & poverty rates.
www.census.gov
TN Dept. of Human Services--Food Stamp data and Families First data.
http://www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/adfam/afs_fsp.htm
http://www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/adfam/afs_tanf.htm
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis - per capita income data
www.bea.gov
III. Health & Healthcare
TN Dept.of Health, Health Statistics & Research--pregnancy, births, mortality & healthcare access data.
http://health.state.tn.us/statistics/healthdata.htm
IV. Employment
TN Dept. Of Labor and Workforce Development - unemployment data. 
http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/
U.S. Department of Labor - employment data.
ww.bls.gov/lau/home.htm
V. Value of Farmland and Agricultural Product Sold
U.S. Department of Agriculture - farmland data
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome
VI. County Government Finance (municipalities' revenue data not available)
TN County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS), Resource Center--county revenue data.
www.ctas.utk.edu
TN Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessment--equalized assessed property values.
http://www.comptroller.state.tn.us/pa/taxaggr.htm
TN Dept. of Revenue--total taxable sales.
www.state.tn.us/revenue/files.htm
VII. Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory
TN Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations--all data. 
http://tn.gov/tacir/infrastructure.html
VIII. Adult & Post-secondary Education
U.S. Bureau of the Census--educational attainment.
www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/educ-attn.html
TN Higher Education Commission--post-secondary institution and enrollment data.
www.state.tn.us/thec
IX. Public School Systems (Total number of school systems is 136)
TN Department of Education--all data except fiscal capacity.
http://www.state.tn.us/education/mdata.shtml
TN Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations--education fiscal capacity.
http://tn.gov/tacir/fiscalcapacity.html
Prepared by TACIR