Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Tennessee

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April 15, 2021
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Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Tennessee

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Tennessee using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Cannon County

- Population: 14,178
- Born in Tennessee: 9,904 (69.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,956 (27.9% of population)
--- Midwest (8.1%), Northeast (3.4%), South (13.6%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 220 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Tipton County

- Population: 61,447
- Born in Tennessee: 42,984 (70.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 16,897 (27.5% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (3.0%), South (13.4%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,017 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Thomas R Machnitzki (thomas@machnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Fayette County

- Population: 40,164
- Born in Tennessee: 28,139 (70.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,111 (27.7% of population)
--- Midwest (6.6%), Northeast (1.9%), South (16.9%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 714 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Fentress County

- Population: 18,213
- Born in Tennessee: 12,810 (70.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,129 (28.2% of population)
--- Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (4.1%), South (11.3%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 210 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#26. White County

- Population: 26,800
- Born in Tennessee: 18,874 (70.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,535 (28.1% of population)
--- Midwest (11.4%), Northeast (3.5%), South (11.1%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 335 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Van Buren County

- Population: 5,760
- Born in Tennessee: 4,059 (70.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,621 (28.1% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (3.5%), South (12.2%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 72 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Warren County

- Population: 40,702
- Born in Tennessee: 28,720 (70.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 9,294 (22.8% of population)
--- Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (1.9%), South (11.2%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 2,514 (6.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (4.8%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Rhea County

- Population: 32,719
- Born in Tennessee: 23,124 (70.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 8,675 (26.5% of population)
--- Midwest (9.4%), Northeast (2.9%), South (11.8%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 855 (2.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (2.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Hancock County

- Population: 6,587
- Born in Tennessee: 4,676 (71.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,789 (27.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (3.3%), South (16.8%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 66 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Smith County

- Population: 19,740
- Born in Tennessee: 14,041 (71.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,314 (26.9% of population)
--- Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (2.6%), South (13.1%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 351 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Marion County

- Population: 28,538
- Born in Tennessee: 20,319 (71.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,860 (27.5% of population)
--- Midwest (5.9%), Northeast (1.5%), South (17.5%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 273 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#19. Madison County

- Population: 97,625
- Born in Tennessee: 69,833 (71.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 24,037 (24.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.0%), Northeast (1.7%), South (11.8%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 2,959 (3.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.7%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Union County

- Population: 19,488
- Born in Tennessee: 13,949 (71.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,256 (27.0% of population)
--- Midwest (8.4%), Northeast (2.7%), South (14.2%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 201 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Lawrence County

- Population: 43,390
- Born in Tennessee: 31,365 (72.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,356 (26.2% of population)
--- Midwest (8.6%), Northeast (1.8%), South (14.0%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 478 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#16. Hickman County

- Population: 24,813
- Born in Tennessee: 17,953 (72.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,531 (26.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.7%), Northeast (3.5%), South (10.2%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 252 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Carroll County

- Population: 27,886
- Born in Tennessee: 20,297 (72.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,151 (25.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (2.2%), South (10.5%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 330 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Macon County

- Population: 23,842
- Born in Tennessee: 17,466 (73.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,747 (24.1% of population)
--- Midwest (6.5%), Northeast (3.0%), South (12.9%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 581 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.8%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Flickr user chiacomo // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Lake County

- Population: 7,401
- Born in Tennessee: 5,436 (73.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,839 (24.8% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (1.4%), South (11.6%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 94 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Overton County

- Population: 22,068
- Born in Tennessee: 16,285 (73.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,444 (24.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.7%), Northeast (3.7%), South (8.6%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 307 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Gibson County

- Population: 49,228
- Born in Tennessee: 36,440 (74.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,857 (24.1% of population)
--- Midwest (9.0%), Northeast (1.9%), South (11.3%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 687 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Morgan County

- Population: 21,545
- Born in Tennessee: 16,154 (75.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,208 (24.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.8%), Northeast (2.8%), South (11.3%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 137 (0.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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GamblinMonkey // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Dyer County

- Population: 37,416
- Born in Tennessee: 28,112 (75.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 8,475 (22.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (1.2%), South (8.7%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 713 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Decatur County

- Population: 11,686
- Born in Tennessee: 8,861 (75.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,739 (23.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.2%), Northeast (2.2%), South (10.7%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 64 (0.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Scott County

- Population: 21,969
- Born in Tennessee: 16,858 (76.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,986 (22.7% of population)
--- Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (1.9%), South (10.5%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 84 (0.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Crockett County

- Population: 14,399
- Born in Tennessee: 11,231 (78.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,499 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (6.7%), Northeast (1.2%), South (8.4%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 625 (4.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (3.8%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Henderson County

- Population: 27,977
- Born in Tennessee: 22,030 (78.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,375 (19.2% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (1.6%), South (7.7%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 315 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Lauderdale County

- Population: 25,989
- Born in Tennessee: 20,604 (79.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,835 (18.6% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (1.8%), South (7.4%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 488 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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RealElectrical // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Hardeman County

- Population: 25,443
- Born in Tennessee: 20,256 (79.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,685 (18.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.6%), Northeast (1.6%), South (10.8%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 289 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#2. Grundy County

- Population: 13,344
- Born in Tennessee: 10,802 (81.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,422 (18.2% of population)
--- Midwest (4.9%), Northeast (2.8%), South (8.3%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 63 (0.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#1. Haywood County

- Population: 17,623
- Born in Tennessee: 14,838 (84.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,153 (12.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (6.1%), West (0.3%)
- Born in another country: 601 (3.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (2.7%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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