Cocke County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the border with North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains. It had a population of 35,999 at the 2020 census and covers 443 square miles (1,150 km2) centred near 35°56′N 83°07′W.
Newport is the county seat and its postal code is 37821. The county has one incorporated city (Newport), one town (Parrottsville), one census-designated place (Cosby) and a dozen unincorporated communities. Cocke County observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Cocke County
Cocke County has three formally recognized places — a city, a town and a census-designated place — alongside a long list of unincorporated communities and crossroads settlements scattered through its river valleys and mountain coves. CDP = census-designated place (unincorporated but tracked separately by the Census Bureau); Unincorp. = an unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | City · seat | 6,868 | 37821 |
| Parrottsville | Town | — | 37843 |
| Cosby | CDP | — | 37722 |
| Allen Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Baltimore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bailey Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bat Harbor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blue Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bluffton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boomer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Briar Thicket | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bridgeport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brookside Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Browns | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bruner Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bybee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carson Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Castle Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Catons Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clevenger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Click Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Del Rio | Unincorp. | — | 37727 |
| Denton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eastport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edgemont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edwina | Unincorp. | — | — |
| English Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Finney Patch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forest Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fowler Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| French Broad | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grassy Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gum Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harmony Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hartford | Unincorp. | — | 37753 |
| High Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holttown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Irish Cut | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jaybird | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jenkins Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jimtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanceville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leadvale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Liberty Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Licklog | Unincorp. | — | — |
| London | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Long Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Northport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nough | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oldtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ottinger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Padgett Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point Pleasant | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rankin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raven Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Read Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Redwine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reidtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salem | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunset Gap | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tom Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wasp | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West End | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Myers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilsonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilton Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wolf Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
Cosby, on the county’s southern edge, sits partly in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains and is often confused with the unincorporated Cosby community around it — both share the name and the ZIP code.
ZIP Codes
- 37821 — Newport (also serves most of central Cocke County)
- 37843 — Parrottsville
- 37722 — Cosby
- 37727 — Del Rio
- 37753 — Hartford
The smaller unincorporated communities scattered through the county’s coves and hollows generally receive mail through one of these five post offices rather than having a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Cocke County straddles the boundary between the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians in the north and the Great Smoky Mountains in the south, where a portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies within the county. The French Broad and Pigeon rivers cross the county and meet near Newport. Elevations range from the river valleys up to peaks along the North Carolina line inside the national park.
Cocke County borders Hamblen County to the north, Greene County to the northeast, Madison County, North Carolina, to the southeast, Haywood County, North Carolina, to the south, Sevier County to the southwest, and Jefferson County to the northwest.
Demographics
Cocke County had 35,999 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 81 people per square mile. Newport, with 6,868 residents, is by far the largest community; Cosby is the next-largest recognized place. Median household income in the county runs well below the Tennessee median of $67,631, consistent with the county’s rural, mountain-valley economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, tourism tied to the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, and light manufacturing anchor the local economy. Newport Utilities and the Cocke County school system are among the larger local employers. The county’s proximity to Gatlinburg and the national park draws seasonal visitors to Del Rio and Hartford, both popular put-in points for whitewater rafting on the French Broad and Pigeon rivers.
History
Cocke County was established by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on October 9, 1797, and named for William Cocke, an early Tennessee statesman and one of the state’s first two U.S. senators. The county voted decisively against secession in 1861, reflecting the strong Unionist sentiment common across much of East Tennessee during the Civil War.
Getting There
Interstate 40 runs the length of the county, connecting Newport to Knoxville to the west and Asheville, North Carolina, to the east. U.S. Route 25/70 and U.S. Route 321 also serve the county.
- Knoxville — 40 miles west
- Gatlinburg — 25 miles southwest
- Asheville, North Carolina — 55 miles east
- Greeneville — 30 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa, near Knoxville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cocke County?
It is in northeastern Tennessee, on the North Carolina border along Interstate 40 between Knoxville and Asheville.
What is the population of Cocke County?
35,999 at the 2020 census.
How big is Cocke County?
443 square miles (1,150 km2), of which about 8.6 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Cocke County?
Newport is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cocke County?
One city (Newport), one town (Parrottsville) and one census-designated place (Cosby), plus a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Cocke County?
37821 (Newport), 37843 (Parrottsville), 37722 (Cosby), 37727 (Del Rio) and 37753 (Hartford).
What river runs through Cocke County?
The French Broad River, joined by the Pigeon River near Newport, both popular for whitewater rafting.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.