2018 a Record Year for Tennessee Tourism (Memphis, Knoxville: home, moving, vacation)

[JMT]

Tennessee continues to see rapid tourism growth across all 95 counties. Learn more about the initiatives TDTD and tourism partners accomplished to reach a record-breaking high of $20.7 billion in annual economic impact.

https://industry.tnvacation.com/industry/research

Here are the 20 counties with the most revenue from tourism.

rank...county...millions...1-yr change

1. Davidson...$6,961.35...7.01%
2. Shelby...$3,652.27...4.26%
3. Sevier...$2,457.95...7.97%
4. Knox...$1,174.09...6.94%
5. Hamilton...$1,165.45...4.75%
6. Williamson...$479.58...5.96%
7. Sullivan...$410.06...6.04%
8. Blount...$407.85...7.91%
9. Rutherford...$367.60...4.59%
10. Washington...$272.55...5.83%
11. Montgomery...$244.72...9.12%
12. Madison...$214.83...2.72%
13. Wilson...$172.25...6.31%
14. Sumner...$157.99...6.3%
15. Bradley...$148.46...4.62%
16. Putnam...$140.15...6.15%
17. Maury...$138.87...3.57%
18. Anderson...$136.92...6.61%
19. Cumberland...$127.80...5.15%
20. Hamblen...$106.65...6.18%

STATE TOTAL...$22,020...5.4%

[An Einnseanair]

Four of the top five include the state's largest cities, in order, which makes sense. And of course Sevier is there.

Davidson: Nashville: Country Music
Shelby: Memphis: Blues/BBQ
Sevier: Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Smokies, Black Bears, and Flapjacks
Knox: Knoxville: ??? UT? 4th Largest city?
Hamilton: Chattanooga: Civil War, outdoor hub

Most of the rest of the list are catching overflow from the first five or are smaller mountain counties.

I'm kinda surprised Knox is ahead of Hamilton, but they're so close it's basically a toss-up.

[Gibsonian]

The Herald-Citizen, the local paper in my home tome, reported on the surge in tourism to Putnam County. I was surprised by it, but it makes sense given the amount of outdoor activities that are available.

[jjbradleynyc]

This is great!

Surprised Shelby is above Sevier County, tbh! And by a large, considerable margin.

Knoxville & Chattanooga running neck and neck.

[llsmith42]

Any per capita info available?

[El Scorcho]

Hi everyone,

From Connecticut here. I took my family (wife and three kids) to the Smoky Mountains for the first time this summer and we absolutely loved it. Had a great time in the Gatlinburg and surrounding area. Beautiful country and wonderful people. We drove down and continued on to GA to visit relatives.

We will definitely be going again. I can see us being regular visitors to other parts of the state as well. Nothing against Gatlinburg, but we probably won't stay there again. Don't get me wrong, we had a blast. But once is enough.

Thanks!

[JOinGA]

Originally Posted by El Scorcho

Hi everyone,

From Connecticut here. I took my family (wife and three kids) to the Smoky Mountains for the first time this summer and we absolutely loved it. Had a great time in the Gatlinburg and surrounding area. Beautiful country and wonderful people. We drove down and continued on to GA to visit relatives.

We will definitely be going again. I can see us being regular visitors to other parts of the state as well. Nothing against Gatlinburg, but we probably won't stay there again. Don't get me wrong, we had a blast. But once is enough.

Thanks!

Think about Knoxville as a stop next time you come through Tennessee. We have a very nice downtown with lots to see and do. I think kids would particularly enjoy the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, where they can see memorabilia, but also try out their jump shots and dribbling patterns.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by llsmith42

Any per capita info available?

Yes. I have a list for all 95 counties...but it will take some time to format it to post. Maybe tonight.

[nashvols]

County/Unit...Tourism Spending...2018 pop.......Per capita
Sevier............$2,457,950,000........97,892.... .$25,108.79
Davidson........$6,961,350,000.....692,587......$1 0,051.23
Shelby...........$3,652,270,000......935,764...... .$3,902.98
Hamilton........$1,165,450,000......364,286....... $3,199.27
Blount..............$407,850,000......131,349..... ..$3,105.09
----State Mean Per Capita----..........................$3,098.44
Sullivan............$410,060,000......157,668..... ..$2,600.78
Knox.............$1,174,090,000......465,289...... .$2,523.36
DeKalb...............$49,540,000.......20,138..... ...$2,460.03
Madison............$214,830,000.......97,605...... .$2,201.01
Cumberland......$127,800,000.......59,673........$ 2,141.67
Washington.......$272,550,000.....128,607........$ 2,119.25
Williamson........$479,580,000.....231,729........ $2,069.57
Humphreys.........$37,810,000.......18,486........ $2,045.33
Obion.................$56,260,000.......30,267.... ....$1,858.79
Henry.................$58,570,000.......32,358.... ....$1,810.06
Polk...................$30,420,000.......16,898... .....$1,800.21
Coffee..............$100,230,000.......55,700..... ...$1,799.46
Anderson..........$136,920,000.......76,482....... .$1,790.23
Putnam............$140,150,000.......78,843....... ..$1,777.58
Top Quintile..$17,933,680,000...3,691,621........$4,85 7.94
Benton...............$28,120,000.......16,184..... ...$1,737.52
Dyer..................$64,180,000........37,320... .....$1,719.72
Van Buren............$9,800,000.........5,765........$ 1,699.91
Hardin...............$43,780,000........25,776.... ....$1,698.48
Hamblen..........$106,650,000........64,569....... .$1,651.72
Pickett.................$8,020,000.........5,082.. ......$1,578.12
Campbell............$60,870,000.......39,583...... ..$1,537.78
Lake..................$11,330,000.........7,411... .....$1,528.81
----County Mean Per Capita----........................$1,482.43
Maury..............$138,870,000........94,340..... ...$1,472.02
Cocke................$50,980,000........35,774.... ....$1,425.06
Marion...............$40,620,000........28,575.... ....$1,421.52
Bradley.............$148,460,000......106,727..... ...$1,391.03
Dickson..............$74,090,000.......53,446..... ....$1,386.26
Greene...............$94,090,000.......69,087..... ....$1,361.91
Roane................$71,320,000........53,140.... ....$1,342.12
Wilson..............$172,250,000......140,625..... ...$1,224.89
Decatur..............$14,150,000........11,706.... ....$1,208.78
Rhea..................$39,730,000.......33,044.... .....$1,202.34
Jefferson............$64,420,000........54,012.... ....$1,192.70
2nd Quintile....$1,241,730,000......882,166.......$1,4 07.59
Montgomery......$244,720,000......205,950........$ 1,188.25
Loudon...............$60,910,000.......53,054..... ...$1,148.08
Rutherford........$367,600,000......324,890....... .$1,131.46
Moore..................$6,920,000.........6,411... .....$1,079.39
Hardeman..........$26,890,000........25,220....... .$1,066.22
Henderson..........$29,540,000.......27,847....... ..$1,060.80
Gibson...............$49,870,000........49,045.... ....$1,016.82
Lawrence........... $43,540,000.......43,734...........$995.56
Clay.....................$7,310,000.........7,717. ..........$947.26
Haywood............$16,090,000........17,335...... .....$928.18 ---County Median Per Capita
McMinn..............$48,350,000........53,285..... ......$907.38
Monroe...............$41,860,000.......46,357..... ......$902.99
Perry....................$7,160,000.........8,064. ..........$887.90
Giles..................$25,690,000........29,503.. .........$870.76
White.................$23,490,000........27,107... ........$866.57
Robertson...........$60,060,000........71,012..... ......$845.77
Sumner.............$157,990,000......187,149...... .....$844.19
Houston................$6,250,000........8,263.... ........$756.38
Carroll................$21,070,000.......28,020... .........$751.96
3rd Quintile.....$1,245,310,000..1,219,963.........$1, 020.78
Grainger..............$17,390,000.......23,145.... .......$751.35
Marshall..............$24,510,000.......33,683.... .......$727.67
Carter.................$40,940,000.......56,351... ........$726.52
Fentress..............$13,020,000.......18,217.... .......$714.72
Lincoln................$24,320,000.......34,117... ........$712.84
Chester...............$12,210,000.......17,276.... .......$706.76
Lauderdale..........$17,990,000.......25,825...... .....$696.61
Hawkins..............$39,080,000.......56,530..... ......$691.31
Wayne................$11,370,000.......16,558..... ......$686.68
Grundy.................$9,150,000.......13,346.... .......$685.60
Claiborne............$21,140,000.......31,756..... ......$665.70
Crockett...............$9,520,000.......14,328.... .......$664.43
Stewart................$8,980,000.......13,561.... .......$662.19
Warren...............$26,640,000.......40,878..... ......$651.70
Weakley..............$21,690,000.......33,415..... ......$649.11
Meigs...................$7,760,000.......12,306... ........$630.59
Smith.................$12,440,000.......19,942.... .......$623.81
Bedford..............$30,110,000........49,038.... .......$614.01
Tipton................$37,210,000........61,581... ........$604.24
4th Quintile.......$385,470,000......571,853.......... .$674.07
Cheatham...........$24,000,000.......40,439....... ....$593.49
Franklin..............$24,710,000.......41,890.... .......$589.88
Lewis...................$6,970,000.......12,086... ........$576.70
Johnson..............$10,130,000.......17,778..... ......$569.81
Scott..................$12,240,000.......22,039... ........$555.38
Unicoi...................$9,510,000.......17,761.. ........$535.44
Sequatchie............$7,220,000.......14,876..... .....$485.35
McNairy...............$12,180,000.......25,832.... ......$471.51
Trousdale..............$4,230,000.......11,012.... ......$384.13
Overton................$8,400,000.......22,068.... ......$380.64
Union...................$7,030,000.......19,688... .......$357.07
Hickman...............$8,830,000.......25,063..... ......$352.31
Macon..................$8,180,000.......24,265.... .......$337.11
Cannon.................$4,440,000.......14,462.... ......$307.01
Fayette.................$9,790,000.......40,507... .......$241.69
Morgan.................$5,210,000.......21,579.... ......$241.44
Bledsoe................$3,480,000.......14,755.... ......$235.85
Jackson................$2,420,000.......11,758.... ......$205.82
Hancock...............$1,330,000.........6,549.... ......$203.08
Bottom Quintile..$170,300,000.....404,407...........$421. 11

So I separated these into quintiles....primarily because 95 counties divide evenly by 5, and not any other number (other than 1) until you reach 19.

The counties could be sorted by total spending or total population, and that ordering would reveal all kinds of other insights, but since per capita spending was brought up, these quintiles are ordered by that.

A few things jump out immediately when ordering by per capita spending -- chiefly that while most of the large counties are represented in the top group, there is a healthy mix of smaller counties represented -- so population does not necessarily correlate with higher per capita spending. The two top counties may as well be considered outliers, since they are so far removed from the rest. Sevier County, unsurprisingly, runs away with the competition. Davidson County has a massive overall number as well as a per capita number that is 2.5x larger than Shelby County.

While the top quintile represents all of the major cities, it should be noted that 11 of the counties have fewer than 100,000 residents, and 5 of them have fewer than 50,000. Raise your hand if you thought you would see DeKalb, Humphreys, Obion, and Polk counties in the top group. Putnam, Cumberland, and Anderson? Not shocking. Coffee seems a little out of place until you consider that they host Bonnaroo.

The 2nd and 3rd, and the 4th and Bottom Quintiles can kind of be grouped together.

The second is really interesting because it is filled with a lot of small and midsized counties -- only two counties over 100,000 people, and 11 with fewer than 50,000. The 2nd Quintile actually has a slightly smaller amount of direct spending compared to the 3rd -- but with considerably less population.

The third includes 3 large suburban counties that actually have a pretty high amount of spending, but I think suffer some due to the high growth rates of the region (Rutherford and Montgomery, especially). Even compared to other suburban/exurban counties, these seem to punch a bit below their weight. But with the explosive growth among these counties, it really wouldn't surprise me if their per capita numbers shot up and they end up moving up a tier or two in terms of average spending.

The 4th and Bottom Quintiles do actually show a correlation with population -- almost all the counties are relatively small. The 4th has only 3 counties above 50,000 in population, and the Bottom Quintile has 14 counties with fewer than 25,000 people. A lot of the bottom tier counties have no or very little interstate access.

I might add more later.

P.S. -- sorry for the formatting issues. This site does not make it easy to copy/paste lists.

[An Einnseanair]

Now that order makes more sense.