Most African American cities in Tennessee research summary. We used Saturday Night Science to analyze Tennessee’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in Tennessee based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The city with the largest African American population in Tennessee is Brownsville based on the most recent Census data.
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Brownsville is 67.96% Black.
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The least African American city in Tennessee is Church Hill.
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Church Hill is 0.19% Black.
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Tennessee is 16.1% Black.
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Tennessee is the 10th blackest state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.
Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Tennessee is 1,116,871 – at 16.1% of the total population of Tennessee.
The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.
We agree.
But how has the increase in the black population impacted Tennessee? Which cities and towns in Tennessee have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?
We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in Tennessee with the largest African American population in 2024:
Most African American Places In Tennessee
What’s the blackest city in Tennessee? The city with the largest Black population in Tennessee for 2024 is Brownsville. See if Brownsville ranked as one of the most african american places in America.
And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Tennessee or the most diverse places in Tennessee.
The 10 Blackest Cities In Tennessee For 2024
1. Brownsville
/10
Population: 9,739
% African American: 67.96%
# Of African American Residents: 6,619
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.34%
More on Brownsville: Data | Cost Of Living
2. Memphis
/10
Population: 630,027
% African American: 64.1%
# Of African American Residents: 403,837
Percent Change Since 2010: -1.14%
More on Memphis: Data | Cost Of Living
3. Bolivar
/10
Population: 5,197
% African American: 62.19%
# Of African American Residents: 3,232
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.07%
More on Bolivar: Data | Cost Of Living
4. Ripley
/10
Population: 7,794
% African American: 56.94%
# Of African American Residents: 4,438
Percent Change Since 2010: 1.74%
More on Ripley: Data | Cost Of Living
5. Covington
/10
Population: 8,644
% African American: 54.25%
# Of African American Residents: 4,689
Percent Change Since 2010: -9.3%
More on Covington: Data | Cost Of Living
6. Jackson
/10
Population: 67,993
% African American: 45.42%
# Of African American Residents: 30,880
Percent Change Since 2010: 5.69%
More on Jackson: Data | Cost Of Living
7. Humboldt
/10
Population: 7,851
% African American: 38.4%
# Of African American Residents: 3,015
Percent Change Since 2010: -27.78%
More on Humboldt: Data | Cost Of Living
8. Millington
/10
Population: 10,558
% African American: 30.68%
# Of African American Residents: 3,239
Percent Change Since 2010: 18.3%
More on Millington: Data | Cost Of Living
9. Chattanooga
/10
Population: 181,288
% African American: 29.15%
# Of African American Residents: 52,845
Percent Change Since 2010: -6.68%
More on Chattanooga: Data | Cost Of Living
10. Nashville
/10
Population: 684,103
% African American: 26.51%
# Of African American Residents: 181,355
Percent Change Since 2010: 8.47%
More on Nashville: Data | Cost Of Living
Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Tennessee With The Largest Black Population For 2024
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Tennessee.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people in Tennessee. That left us with 93 cities.
We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 68.0% to 0.2%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Brownsville took the distinction of being the most Black, while Church Hill was the least African American city.
We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in Tennessee with the largest African American population.
Read on for more information on how the cities in Tennessee ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: Black Populations Across Tennessee
If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Tennessee according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.
The blackest cities in Tennessee are Brownsville, Memphis, Bolivar, Ripley, Covington, Jackson, Humboldt, Millington, Chattanooga, and Nashville.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Tennessee:
- Church Hill
- La Follette
- Mount Carmel
For more Tennessee reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Tennessee
- Most Dangerous Cities In Tennessee
- Cheapest Places To Live In Tennessee
African American Population By City In Tennessee
| Rank | City | Population | African American Population | % African American |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownsville | 9,739 | 6,619 | 67.96% |
| 2 | Memphis | 630,027 | 403,837 | 64.1% |
| 3 | Bolivar | 5,197 | 3,232 | 62.19% |
| 4 | Ripley | 7,794 | 4,438 | 56.94% |
| 5 | Covington | 8,644 | 4,689 | 54.25% |
| 6 | Jackson | 67,993 | 30,880 | 45.42% |
| 7 | Humboldt | 7,851 | 3,015 | 38.4% |
| 8 | Millington | 10,558 | 3,239 | 30.68% |
| 9 | Chattanooga | 181,288 | 52,845 | 29.15% |
| 10 | Nashville | 684,103 | 181,355 | 26.51% |
| 11 | Milan | 8,165 | 2,082 | 25.5% |
| 12 | La Vergne | 38,553 | 9,639 | 25.0% |
| 13 | Dyersburg | 16,170 | 3,937 | 24.35% |
| 14 | Fayetteville | 7,026 | 1,613 | 22.96% |
| 15 | Bartlett | 57,481 | 13,142 | 22.86% |
| 16 | Clarksville | 167,882 | 38,289 | 22.81% |
| 17 | Union City | 11,068 | 2,468 | 22.3% |
| 18 | Goodlettsville | 17,500 | 3,861 | 22.06% |
| 19 | Henderson | 6,326 | 1,388 | 21.94% |
| 20 | Springfield | 18,775 | 3,872 | 20.62% |
| 21 | Oakland | 9,139 | 1,840 | 20.13% |
| 22 | Pulaski | 8,301 | 1,543 | 18.59% |
| 23 | Paris | 10,311 | 1,889 | 18.32% |
| 24 | Murfreesboro | 153,487 | 26,977 | 17.58% |
| 25 | Martin | 10,823 | 1,854 | 17.13% |
| 26 | Columbia | 42,474 | 7,254 | 17.08% |
| 27 | Lexington | 7,927 | 1,342 | 16.93% |
| 28 | Mckenzie | 5,608 | 946 | 16.87% |
| 29 | Smyrna | 53,760 | 8,939 | 16.63% |
| 30 | Knoxville | 191,857 | 30,603 | 15.95% |
| 31 | Gallatin | 44,947 | 6,875 | 15.3% |
| 32 | East Ridge | 22,040 | 2,694 | 12.22% |
| 33 | Lakeland | 13,811 | 1,661 | 12.03% |
| 34 | Hartsville/trousdale County | 11,596 | 1,368 | 11.8% |
| 35 | Collegedale | 11,001 | 1,277 | 11.61% |
| 36 | Arlington | 14,342 | 1,636 | 11.41% |
| 37 | Shelbyville | 23,676 | 2,690 | 11.36% |
| 38 | Atoka | 10,070 | 1,137 | 11.29% |
| 39 | Millersville | 5,818 | 629 | 10.81% |
| 40 | Lewisburg | 12,376 | 1,313 | 10.61% |
| 41 | Lebanon | 39,562 | 4,180 | 10.57% |
| 42 | Alcoa | 11,095 | 1,171 | 10.55% |
| 43 | Winchester | 9,450 | 969 | 10.25% |
| 44 | Collierville | 51,170 | 5,028 | 9.83% |
| 45 | Hendersonville | 61,589 | 5,233 | 8.5% |
| 46 | Mount Juliet | 39,525 | 3,173 | 8.03% |
| 47 | Cleveland | 47,725 | 3,746 | 7.85% |
| 48 | Munford | 6,357 | 462 | 7.27% |
| 49 | Athens | 14,091 | 1,003 | 7.12% |
| 50 | Dickson | 16,051 | 1,096 | 6.83% |
| 51 | Harriman | 6,000 | 403 | 6.72% |
| 52 | Manchester | 12,325 | 797 | 6.47% |
| 53 | Oak Ridge | 31,535 | 2,034 | 6.45% |
| 54 | Franklin | 83,630 | 5,290 | 6.33% |
| 55 | Morristown | 30,574 | 1,821 | 5.96% |
| 56 | Tullahoma | 21,107 | 1,248 | 5.91% |
| 57 | Johnson City | 70,720 | 4,168 | 5.89% |
| 58 | Savannah | 7,206 | 412 | 5.72% |
| 59 | Elizabethton | 14,375 | 802 | 5.58% |
| 60 | Red Bank | 11,919 | 663 | 5.56% |
| 61 | Sweetwater | 6,310 | 314 | 4.98% |
| 62 | Germantown | 41,094 | 1,987 | 4.84% |
| 63 | Jefferson City | 8,391 | 391 | 4.66% |
| 64 | Portland | 13,177 | 600 | 4.55% |
| 65 | Spring Hill | 51,319 | 2,275 | 4.43% |
| 66 | Mcminnville | 13,756 | 603 | 4.38% |
| 67 | Lawrenceburg | 11,592 | 501 | 4.32% |
| 68 | Kingston | 5,987 | 229 | 3.82% |
| 69 | Dayton | 7,139 | 273 | 3.82% |
| 70 | Fairview | 9,519 | 355 | 3.73% |
| 71 | Cookeville | 34,967 | 1,162 | 3.32% |
| 72 | Kingsport | 55,415 | 1,841 | 3.32% |
| 73 | Nolensville | 14,444 | 470 | 3.25% |
| 74 | Brentwood | 44,830 | 1,454 | 3.24% |
| 75 | Maryville | 31,876 | 942 | 2.96% |
| 76 | Bristol | 27,307 | 777 | 2.85% |
| 77 | Crossville | 12,099 | 322 | 2.66% |
| 78 | Greeneville | 15,458 | 401 | 2.59% |
| 79 | White House | 13,305 | 259 | 1.95% |
| 80 | Greenbrier | 6,954 | 87 | 1.25% |
| 81 | Sevierville | 17,986 | 210 | 1.17% |
| 82 | Newport | 6,850 | 69 | 1.01% |
| 83 | Clinton | 10,060 | 97 | 0.96% |
| 84 | Farragut | 23,795 | 191 | 0.8% |
| 85 | Lenoir City | 10,291 | 80 | 0.78% |
| 86 | Pigeon Forge | 6,345 | 44 | 0.69% |
| 87 | Soddy-Daisy | 13,091 | 77 | 0.59% |
| 88 | Erwin | 6,026 | 29 | 0.48% |
| 89 | Signal Mountain | 8,833 | 39 | 0.44% |
| 90 | Rockwood | 5,468 | 21 | 0.38% |
| 91 | Mount Carmel | 5,486 | 21 | 0.38% |
| 92 | La Follette | 7,349 | 26 | 0.35% |
| 93 | Church Hill | 7,016 | 13 | 0.19% |
Which Tennesse cities have issues of racism? Amongst, neighbours, people and in schools. I am from South Africa, born and raised, and I am black. I love everything I read up about the southern way of life. I have watched a lot of movies about the southern way of life, and I am even considering applying to a university in Tennesse. I would like to know if there are any racial issues for black people in Tennesse, or will there be peace amongst all races?
I think Nashville is the best place to live in Tennessee.
Hi Mr. Khumalo,
Tennessee has become much more diversified throughout the years. The chances of you finding yourself in the face a racial bigotry is very small, but possible. Tennessee is full of God loving wonderful people. As long as you arrive hear with a good attitude, open heart and a good smile you will be successful in all that you do.
Please feel free to reach out to me anytime.
Email: [email protected]
~ God bless