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Chester County, Tennessee
Selected Statistical Information
I.  Geography & Demographics Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Total Land Area (sq. mi.)            41,217               289 76th  0.7%
Population          
2003 Estimate 5,841,748 15,842 76th  0.3%
2000 Census 5,689,283 15,540 78th  0.3%
1990 Census 4,877,203 12,819 65th  0.3%
Gain (1990 to 2000) 812,080 2,721 65th  0.3%
Growth Rate (1990 to 2000) 16.7% 21.2% 34th  127.5%
Population Density (per sq. mi.)          
2003 Estimate              141.7              54.9 76th  38.7%
2000 Census              138.0              53.9 76th  39.0%
1990 Census              118.3              44.4 62nd  37.5%
Urban Population          
Count
2000 Census       3,618,968            5,244 56th  0.1%
1990 Census       2,969,948            4,760 56th  0.2%
Growth Rate (1990 to 2000) 21.9% 10.2% 41st  46.5%
Percent of Population in Urban Areas
2000 Census 63.6% 33.7% 38th  53.0%
1990 Census 60.9% 37.1% 32nd  61.0%
Median Age          
2000 Census 35.9 34.1 91st  95.0%
1990 Census 33.5 32.7 85th  97.6%
Population Percentages by Age Bracket        
2000 Census
under 18 24.6% 24.2% 38th 
18-24 9.6% 14.4% 3rd 
25-44 30.2% 26.4% 87th 
45-64 23.2% 21.4% 91st 
65 & over 12.4% 13.6% 52nd 
1990 Census
under 18 25.1% 23.7% 73rd 
18-24 10.9% 15.6% 4th 
25-44 31.8% 26.7% 94th 
45-64 19.6% 19.1% 83rd 
65 & over 12.6% 15.0% 35th 
Population Growth by Age Bracket, 1990 to 2000
Population Percentages by Race/Ethnicity (2000 Census)
Males per 100 Females (2000 Census) 94.9 94.5 65th  99.6%
Marriages Recorded per 1,000 Population in 2000 29.2 18.4 73rd  63.0%
Divorces Recorded per 1,000 Population in 2000 11.9 8.1 87th  68.1%
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II.  Income & Poverty Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Per Capita Personal Income          
2003 $28,641 $21,681 61st  75.7%
2000 $26,097 $19,889 63rd  76.2%
Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.15% 2.92% 40th  92.64%
Median Household Income          
2002 $37,129 $34,305 33rd  92.4%
2000 $35,760 $34,772 30th  97.2%
Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.90% -0.67% 45th  -35.53%
2002 Poverty Rate          
All Ages 13.6% 14.9% 48th  109.56%
Related Children Under 18 Years 18.6% 18.7% 62nd  100.54%
1999 Poverty Rate (2000 Census)          
All Ages 13.1% 19.1% 14th  145.58%
Related Children Under 18 Years 15.9% 23.4% 17th  147.02%
Food Stamp Recipients (Mean April to November 2004)      
Percent of Households (Compared to 2004 NACO est.) 16.0% 16.1% 60th  100.80%
Percent of Individuals (Compared to 2003 Census est.) 14.1% 13.8% 62nd  98.11%
Families First (2003)          
Cases as a Percent of All Families 4.5% 3.4% 28th  73.86%
(Compared to Census 2000 Number of Families)
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III.  Health & Healthcare Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Pregnancy & Birth Rates (2003)          
Live births per 1,000 Population               13.5              12.3 49th  91.1%
Percent of Live Births to Unmarried Parents 37.2% 26.8% 84th  72.0%
Percent Low Birth Weight 9.4% 13.1% 3rd  139.4%
Pregnancies per 1,000 Females Aged 15-44               75.0              60.3 76th  80.4%
Pregnancies per 1,000 Females Aged 10-17               13.9              11.8 47th  84.9%
Pregnancies per 1,000 Females Aged 10-14                 1.6               3.6 4th  225.0%
Mortality Rates (2002)          
Number of Deaths per 1,000 Population                 9.8               8.7 85th  89.1%
Number of Deaths per 100,000 Population by Cause of Death
Diseases of the Heart              280.0            182.8 93rd  65.3%
Cancer (Malignant Neoplasm)              216.1            189.1 82nd  87.5%
6th 
20th 
5th 
Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Access to Healthcare          
Medical Doctors per 1,000 (2004)                 2.3               0.4 78th  19.3%
Hospital Beds per 1,000 Population (2000)                 4.1                 -   78th  0.0%
Nursing Home Beds per 1,000 Pop. 65 & older (2000)               54.5              62.2 38th  114.2%
Charity Care--Percent of All Hospital Care (2000) 1.3% n/a n/a n/a
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IV.  Employment
Unemployment Rate   Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
2004 5.4% 5.1% 72nd  95.7%
2001 4.6% 4.2% 78th  91.3%
Youth Unemployment Rate (2003) 18.8% 20.9% 47th  111.1%
2003 Employment Percentages by Major Industry Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Total Employment All Industries 2,598,417 3,498 72nd  0.1%
Natural Resources and Mining 0.4% 0.0% 84th  0.0%
Construction 4.4% 0.0% 88th  0.0%
Manufacturing 15.8% 15.7% 79th  99.6%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 22.1% 23.2% 68th  104.6%
Information 1.9% 0.4% 75th  18.4%
Financial Activities 5.3% 2.3% 79th  44.4%
Professional and Business Services 11.1% 2.6% 68th  23.5%
Education and Health Services 11.5% 17.7% 53rd  153.9%
Leisure and Hospitality 9.5% 4.4% 79th  46.7%
Other Services 2.7% 1.6% 70th  59.5%
Government 15.1% 27.7% 68th  182.8%
Federal 2.0% 0.9% 80th  47.2%
State 3.2% 0.1% 89th  1.8%
Local 10.0% 26.7% 66th  268.1%
2003 Average Annual Wage by Major Industry       County Rank
77th 
84th 
88th 
43rd 
57th 
44th 
84th 
53rd 
30th 
72nd 
10th 
94th 
55th 
17th 
94th 
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V.  County Government Finance (municipalities' revenue data not available)
2001-2002 Revenue by Source (in thousands) Tennessee Percent of Total Chester County Percent of Total
Grand Total  $    8,062,012 100.0%  $      19,502 100.00%
Total State Revenue  $    2,504,883 31.1%  $      10,374 53.2%
Public Schools       1,949,045 24.2%            8,367 42.9%
All Other          555,838 6.9%            2,007 10.3%
Federal Revenue  $      511,055 6.3%  $        1,515 7.8%
Total Local Revenue  $    5,046,074 62.6%  $        7,614 39.0%
Property Tax       2,720,971 33.8%            3,051 15.6%
Local Sales Tax       1,123,100 13.9%            2,118 10.9%
Other Local        1,202,003 14.9%            2,445 12.5%
2001 Tax Base (in thousands)   Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Equalized Assessed Property Value  $  91,908,338  $     144,406
Tax Base Per Capita $16,155 $9,293 86th  57.5%
2004 County Property Tax Rate (per $100) $2.02 73rd 
Total Taxable Sales  $  57,062,837  $      68,747
Tax Base Per Capita $10,030 $4,424 65th  44.1%
2004 County Sales Tax Rate 2.75% 1st 
VI.  Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory
        Tennessee Chester County County Rank Percent of State
Estimated Costs, 2003-2008 (in thousands)
Transportation  $    9,405,428  $      21,792 57th  0.2%
Water and Wastewater       3,333,945            3,400 88th  0.1%
Existing School Improvements       2,014,780               200 78th  0.0%
K-12 New School Construction       1,690,459                   - 58th  0.0%
Non K-12 Education       1,517,533                   - 37th  0.0%
Recreation       1,179,120            8,575 20th  0.7%
Other Utilities          604,097               650 35th  0.1%
Law Enforcement          946,793            2,000 51st  0.2%
Business District Development          849,724                   - 32nd  0.0%
Libraries and Museums          353,698               100 52nd  0.0%
Industrial Sites and Parks          371,272               650 68th  0.2%
Community Development          240,753                   - 59th  0.0%
Stormwater          429,255                   - 47th  0.0%
Navigation          357,330                   - 6th  0.0%
Public Buildings          381,123            9,582 5th  2.5%
Public Health Facilities          256,621            1,500 14th  0.6%
Fire Protection          172,728               600 33rd  0.3%
Housing            63,438                   - 19th  0.0%
Solid Waste          163,704                   - 40th  0.0%
Other Facilities            21,164                   - 10th  0.0%
LEA System-wide Need            35,210                   - 22nd  0.0%
Telecommunications            35,833                   - 20th  0.0%
Property Acquisition              8,813                   - 6th  0.0%
Grand Total  $  24,432,821  $      49,049 69th  0.2%
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VII.  Adult & Post-secondary Education
Adult Educational Attainment   Tennessee Chester County County Rank
2000 Census
Percent w/ HS diploma (or equivalent) or better 76.3% 58.4% 89th 
Percent w/ Bachelors Degree or better 20.1% 6.8% 88th 
1990 Census
Percent w/ HS diploma (or equivalent) or better 67.1% 54.6% 58th 
Percent w/ Bachelors Degree or better 16.0% 8.7% 41st 
Number of Post-secondary Institutions      
Four-year Colleges and Universities 46 1
Public 11 0
Private 35 1
Other Public Institutions 90 0
Community Colleges 13 0
Technology Centers 27 0
Off-campus Sites 50 0
Enrollment (full-time equivalent) at Post-secondary Institutions  
Four-year Colleges and Universities          158,536          1,966
Public          103,035               -  
Private            55,501          1,966
Other Public Institutions            59,299               -  
Community Colleges            49,013               -  
Technology Centers            10,286               -  
Off-campus Sites--included in figures for main campus.
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VIII.  Public School Systems  (Total number of school systems is 136)
Statewide Chester County
Number of Students
2002-03     903,380            2,444               
Percent of Statewide 0.3%          
1992-93     841,098            2,283               
Percent of Statewide 0.3%          
Increase/(Decrease)      62,282 161          
Percent Change 7.4% 7.0%          
Special Program Eligibility/Participation (2002-03)
Free or Reduced-price Meals 42.4% 37.0%
Federal Title 1 28.7% 9.4%
Special Education 15.0% 8.9%
English Language Learners 1.5% 0.5%
Statewide Chester County
Accreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (2002-03)
Elementary Schools 69.8% 0.0%
Secondary Schools 90.9% 100.0%
Students per Classroom Teacher*
2002-03          15.7             17.5               
1992-93          18.3             19.5               
Increase/(Decrease)           (2.6)              (1.9)                    
Progress Through School
Promotion Rate
2002-03 96.9% 98.9%
1992-93 96.1% 98.7%
Dropout Rate
2002-03 11.3% 4.1%
1998-99 14.8% 7.5%
*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 Chester County
Expenditures per Student
2002-03 $6,247 $4,811
Percent of Statewide 77.0%          
1992-93 $3,769 $2,941
Percent of Statewide 78.0%          
Increase/Decrease $2,478 $1,870          
Percent Change 65.7% 63.6%          
Classroom Teachers' Average Salary*
2002-03 $39,186 $33,005
Percent of Statewide 84.2%
1992-93 $28,960 $24,440
Percent of Statewide 84.4%
Gain $10,226 $8,565
Percent Change 35.3% 35.0%          
Revenue by Source (percent of total)
2002-03
State 46.3% 67.7%
Federal 10.5% 11.9%
Local 43.2% 20.4%
System Rank for Percent Local 121st 
2000-01
State 47.0% 68.8%
Federal 9.5% 10.2%
Local 43.5% 21.0%
System Rank for Percent Local 121st 
Statewide Chester County County Rank
2005-06 County Area Fiscal Capacity      
Estimated Revenue per Student $2,478 $1,238 66th 
Percent of Statewide 50.0%
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Sources of Information for County Profiles
I. Geography & Demographics
U.S. Bureau of the Census--all data.
http://www.census.gov/
II. Income & Poverty
U.S. Bureau of the Census--income data & poverty rates.
http://www.census.gov/
TN Dept. of Human Services--Food Stamp data.
www.state.tn.us/humanserv/foodstamps.htm
TN Dept. of Human Services--Families First data.
www.state.tn.us/humanserv/famfir.htm
NACO County Household Data
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Data_and_Demographics&Template=/cffiles/counties/income_st_res.cfm
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
http://www.bea.gov/
III. Health & Healthcare
TN Dept.of Health, Health Statistics & Research--pregnancy, births, mortality & healthcare access data.
www2.state.tn.us/health/statistics/HealthData/hsr_healthdata.htm
Statistical Profiling of Tennessee
http://hit.state.tn.us/SpotToc.aspx
IV. Employment
U.S. Department of Labor--all data.
ww.bls.gov/lau/home.htm
V. County Government Finance (municipalities' revenue data not available)
TN County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS), Resource Center--county revenue data.
http://www.ctas.utk.edu/
TN Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessment--equalized assessed property values.
www.comptroller.state.tn.us/cpdivpa.htm
TN Dept. of Revenue--total taxable sales.
www.state.tn.us/revenue/files.htm
VI. Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory
TN Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations--all data. 
www.state.tn.us/tacir/infrastructure.htm
VII. 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 data.
www.state.tn.us/thec
VIII. 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/mreport.htm
TN Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations--education fiscal capacity.
www.state.tn.us/tacir