Unicoi County is a county in Tennessee, United States, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains along the North Carolina line in the state’s far northeast corner. It had a population of 17,928 at the 2020 census and covers 186 square miles (480 km2) of mostly mountainous terrain, centred near 36°06′N 82°26′W.
Erwin is the county seat, and its postal code is 37650. The county has two incorporated towns (Erwin and Unicoi) and five recognized unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 47171.
Towns & Villages in Unicoi County
Unicoi County has just two incorporated towns and a scatter of small unincorporated communities and rural crossroads across its mountain coves and valleys. In the table below, Town marks an incorporated municipality and Unincorp. marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin | Town · seat | — | 37650 |
| Unicoi | Town | — | — |
| Banner Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bumpus Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chestoa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clearbranch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coffee Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Davis Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ernestville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flag Pond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harris Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hulan Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lillydale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Limestone Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Love Station | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marbleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Garden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rice Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| River Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rocky Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shadtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shallowford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Temple Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Unaka Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whispering Pines | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodby Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
Erwin and Unicoi are the county’s only two incorporated towns, less than three miles apart along the Nolichucky River. Most of the names above are historic cove and hollow communities rather than platted settlements, and several — Bumpus Cove, Clearbranch, Flag Pond, Limestone Cove, and Shallowford — are the county’s officially recognized unincorporated communities.
ZIP Codes
- 37650 — Erwin (also serves most of the surrounding county)
Unicoi and the smaller mountain communities largely share Erwin’s 37650 ZIP or draw rural-route service from neighboring towns; the county has no other confirmed post office ZIP of its own.
Geography
Unicoi County lies entirely within the Blue Ridge Mountains, its narrow valleys hemmed in by the Unaka and Bald mountain ranges that form the state line with North Carolina. The Nolichucky River, entering the county from North Carolina through a deep gorge, is the primary drainage and cuts the county’s main lowland corridor past Erwin. Elevations run from river-valley floor near Erwin up to ridgelines above 5,000 feet along the eastern boundary.
Unicoi County borders Washington County to the north, Carter County to the northeast, Mitchell County, North Carolina to the east, Yancey County, North Carolina to the south, Madison County, North Carolina to the southwest, and Greene County to the west.
Demographics
Unicoi County’s population was 17,928 at the 2020 census. Erwin, the county seat, and Unicoi, its second incorporated town, together hold most of the county’s residents; the rest live scattered through mountain coves and hollows. Median household income in the county runs below the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting the county’s rural, mountainous economy. Population density works out to roughly 96 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Unicoi County’s economy has centred on rail and manufacturing since the late 19th century. Erwin grew around the Clinchfield Railroad’s shops and yards, and the town remains home to Nuclear Fuel Services, a federal nuclear-fuel fabrication facility, one of the county’s largest employers. Tourism tied to the Cherokee National Forest, the Appalachian Trail (which crosses the county’s eastern ridges), and the Nolichucky Gorge’s whitewater rafting outfitters supplements the manufacturing base. Erwin’s annual Unicoi County Apple Festival, held each October, draws visitors from across the Tri-Cities region.
History
Unicoi County was created on March 23, 1875, from parts of Washington and Carter counties. Its name comes from a Cherokee word meaning “white,” “hazy,” or “fog-draped,” describing the mist that settles over the surrounding mountains. The county’s economy shifted from subsistence agriculture to rail and timber in the 1880s, when the Clinchfield Railroad built its shops at Erwin. In 1916, a circus elephant, Mary, was hanged in Erwin after killing her trainer — an episode still recounted locally as one of the county’s best-known historical footnotes.
Getting There
U.S. Route 19W and U.S. Route 23 run through the county, connecting Erwin to Johnson City and the wider Tri-Cities region. Interstate 26 passes just north of the county line in Washington County.
- Johnson City — 20 miles northwest
- Asheville, North Carolina — 55 miles southeast
- Kingsport — 40 miles north
- Bristol — 45 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Tri-Cities Airport (TRI), about 30 miles north of Erwin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Unicoi County?
It is in northeastern Tennessee, along the North Carolina state line, part of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol Tri-Cities region.
What is the population of Unicoi County?
17,928 at the 2020 census.
How big is Unicoi County?
186 square miles (480 km2) of land, almost entirely mountainous terrain.
What is the county seat of Unicoi County?
Erwin.
How many towns are in Unicoi County?
Two incorporated towns, Erwin and Unicoi, plus several unincorporated mountain communities.
What ZIP codes are in Unicoi County?
Erwin’s ZIP is 37650; most other parts of the county are served through it.
Where does the name Unicoi come from?
From a Cherokee word meaning “white,” “hazy,” or “fog-draped,” describing the mist common in the county’s mountains.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.