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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Cherokee County

North Carolina · 24,298 residents · 456 sq mi
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The short version

With 24,298 people, Cherokee County is a county in North Carolina. The median age is 44.0, about 9 years above the US median. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. Households here earn about 29% less than in North Carolina as a whole. Renters pay $350 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 44.0
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

24,298
+20%since 1990
from 20,170 in 1990
1990 – 2025
44.0
+12%since 1990
from 39.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
456 sq mi
Population, 19902024
19K22K25K28K31K19902000201020202024Cherokee County
202430K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.4%(1,324)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.5%(1,347)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.7%(1,386)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.9%(1,429)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.5%(1,090)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.4%(2,763)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413%(3,165)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5414.9%(3,618)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6413.9%(3,389)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7410.7%(2,612)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.7%(1,627)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.3%(548)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$27,992
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,625 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$15,814
+71%since 1990
from $9,258 in 1990
US average: $21,522
15.3%
−5.1 ptssince 1990
from 20.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$75,500
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $53,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$350
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $266 in 1990
US average: $602
82.2%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 81.0% in 1990
17.8% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(19,287)
Black1.8%(372)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(74)
Asian0.2%(45)
2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(22,875)
Black1.6%(382)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(303)
Asian0.3%(68)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.8%(543)
Puerto Rican0.6%(186)
Cuban0.4%(113)
Dominican0.2%(57)
Guatemalan0.1%(33)
Peruvian0.1%(27)
Spaniard0.1%(18)
Colombian0%(11)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(56)
Hmong0.2%(48)
Cambodian0.1%(31)
Nepalese0.1%(21)
Ancestry
American20.4%(6,016)
English17%(5,019)
Irish11.9%(3,532)
German11%(3,248)
Scottish3.8%(1,109)
Scotch-Irish2.6%(759)
French2%(589)
Italian1.9%(566)
Dutch1.2%(356)
Polish1.2%(347)
Swedish0.9%(264)
Norwegian0.6%(169)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.5%(160)
Swiss0.4%(116)
Austrian0.2%(69)
Greek0.2%(59)
Hungarian0.2%(54)
Arab0.2%(49)
Portuguese0.2%(49)
Slovak0.2%(45)
British0.1%(43)
Russian0.1%(39)
Danish0.1%(37)
Somali0.1%(37)
Lebanese0.1%(29)
Czech0.1%(24)
Syrian0.1%(20)
Australian0.1%(16)
Canadian0%(14)
Ukrainian0%(14)
Slovene0%(13)
Brazilian0%(12)
Finnish0%(9)
Belgian0%(6)
Section 05

Education

11.0%
+3.0 ptssince 1990
from 8.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
73.3%
+13.4 ptssince 1990
from 59.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
3.9%
+1.0 ptssince 1990
from 2.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.4 min
−18%since 1990
from 18.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married18.4%(1,777)
Married69.8%(6,752)
Widowed3.7%(360)
Divorced8.2%(789)
Women 15+
Never married13%(1,373)
Married64.8%(6,853)
Widowed13.3%(1,408)
Divorced8.8%(935)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

12.5%
−7.8 ptssince 2013
from 20.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
38.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 36.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
19.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
34.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 33.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
19.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 21.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 5.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
55.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 54.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
51.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 51.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)17.7%(446)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.1%(482)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era47.1%(1,189)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.3%(84)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.3%(8)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,522 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

Cherokee County, North Carolina has about 24,298 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Cherokee County, North Carolina earns about $27,992 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cherokee County, North Carolina expensive?

In Cherokee County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $75,500, and the typical rent is about $350 a month.

How educated are people in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

About 11.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cherokee County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

About 15.3% of people in Cherokee County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cherokee County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Cherokee County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,128 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →