Regional Growth Projections
Over the past 40 years, growth in the PlanET area has been steady. Through both boom and bust economic cycles, steady population and job gains have been made year after year.
Population Trends and Projections
From a five-county population in 1970 of 435,000, the region has swelled to nearly 700,000 residents in 2010, an annual growth rate of 1.5% over the period. The addition of over 154,000 residents in Knox County accounted for about 59% of the growth in the region. Blount County's growth of 59,000 people was second. Anderson County's growth rate of 0.6% fell below the pace experienced in other counties.
Source: Knoxville Regional Travel Model Update 2012: Socioeconomic Control Total Projections Report, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization
Looking forward, the rate of population growth is expected to continue for the next 30 years. A regional growth rate of 1.45% results in an additional 300,000 people projected to call the area home and pushing the PlanET regional population to nearly one million people.