Most diverse counties in Tennessee

The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.

Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in Tennessee using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.

Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.

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#50. Moore County

- Index: 0.137
- Total population: 6,378
- White: 92.8% (5,919)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (140)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.6% (105)
- Asian: 2.4% (153)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (61)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)

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#49. Dickson County

- Index: 0.140
- Total population: 52,680
- White: 92.6% (48,792)
- Black or African American: 4.2% (2,213)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (253)
- Asian: 0.5% (264)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (975)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (183)

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#48. Perry County

- Index: 0.141
- Total population: 7,962
- White: 92.6% (7,372)
- Black or African American: 2.7% (218)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (12)
- Asian: 2.2% (178)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (151)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (31)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#47. McMinn County

- Index: 0.143
- Total population: 53,053
- White: 92.5% (49,050)
- Black or African American: 3.7% (1,953)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (205)
- Asian: 0.8% (415)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (37)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (1,082)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (311)

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#46. Houston County

- Index: 0.143
- Total population: 8,164
- White: 92.4% (7,542)
- Black or African American: 5.4% (441)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (60)
- Asian: 0.2% (14)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (16)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (91)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)

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#45. Hickman County

- Index: 0.146
- Total population: 24,813
- White: 92.3% (22,891)
- Black or African American: 5.2% (1,299)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (144)
- Asian: 0.4% (94)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (352)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (26)

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#44. Decatur County

- Index: 0.146
- Total population: 11,686
- White: 92.2% (10,780)
- Black or African American: 4.4% (518)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (362)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (26)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#43. Wayne County

- Index: 0.160
- Total population: 16,693
- White: 91.4% (15,258)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (1,143)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (25)
- Asian: 0.8% (132)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.5% (83)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (52)

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#42. McNairy County

- Index: 0.160
- Total population: 25,844
- White: 91.5% (23,639)
- Black or African American: 5.5% (1,428)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (49)
- Asian: 0.2% (54)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (569)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (105)

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#41. Warren County

- Index: 0.162
- Total population: 40,702
- White: 91.4% (37,221)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (862)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (129)
- Asian: 0.7% (283)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (95)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (1,103)
- Some other Race: 2.5% (1,009)

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#40. Washington County

- Index: 0.167
- Total population: 127,805
- White: 91.1% (116,464)
- Black or African American: 4.2% (5,340)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (450)
- Asian: 1.7% (2,137)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (4)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (2,654)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (756)

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#39. Anderson County

- Index: 0.172
- Total population: 76,061
- White: 90.9% (69,131)
- Black or African American: 3.5% (2,671)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (422)
- Asian: 1.3% (982)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (66)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (2,019)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (770)

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#38. Franklin County

- Index: 0.179
- Total population: 41,725
- White: 90.4% (37,735)
- Black or African American: 4.8% (1,988)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (18)
- Asian: 0.4% (185)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (28)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (1,361)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (410)

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#37. Coffee County

- Index: 0.180
- Total population: 55,209
- White: 90.4% (49,924)
- Black or African American: 3.9% (2,163)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (27)
- Asian: 1.1% (596)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (10)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (1,157)
- Some other Race: 2.4% (1,332)

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#36. Bledsoe County

- Index: 0.188
- Total population: 14,836
- White: 89.9% (13,343)
- Black or African American: 3.3% (491)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.1% (307)
- Asian: 0.1% (10)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.0% (592)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (93)

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#35. Henderson County

- Index: 0.189
- Total population: 27,977
- White: 89.7% (25,091)
- Black or African American: 7.8% (2,192)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.1% (35)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (22)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (606)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (31)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#34. Bradley County

- Index: 0.190
- Total population: 105,749
- White: 89.8% (95,001)
- Black or African American: 5.1% (5,358)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (149)
- Asian: 1.2% (1,277)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (34)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (2,016)
- Some other Race: 1.8% (1,914)

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#33. Marshall County

- Index: 0.191
- Total population: 32,965
- White: 89.6% (29,548)
- Black or African American: 7.6% (2,491)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (21)
- Asian: 0.3% (106)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (461)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (338)

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#32. Lincoln County

- Index: 0.191
- Total population: 33,924
- White: 89.7% (30,413)
- Black or African American: 7.2% (2,428)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (70)
- Asian: 0.6% (195)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (761)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (57)

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#31. Henry County

- Index: 0.200
- Total population: 32,284
- White: 89.1% (28,754)
- Black or African American: 8.2% (2,643)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (84)
- Asian: 0.4% (127)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (511)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (165)

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#30. Williamson County

- Index: 0.208
- Total population: 225,389
- White: 88.8% (200,077)
- Black or African American: 4.1% (9,281)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (227)
- Asian: 4.2% (9,495)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (60)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (5,291)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (958)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#29. Weakley County

- Index: 0.210
- Total population: 33,510
- White: 88.5% (29,651)
- Black or African American: 8.4% (2,831)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (148)
- Asian: 0.3% (84)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (21)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (484)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (291)

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#28. Grundy County

- Index: 0.214
- Total population: 13,344
- White: 88.1% (11,758)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (96)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (131)
- Asian: 0.2% (26)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 9.9% (1,321)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (12)

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#27. Hamblen County

- Index: 0.215
- Total population: 64,132
- White: 88.4% (56,703)
- Black or African American: 4.6% (2,964)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (201)
- Asian: 0.9% (562)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (186)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (1,571)
- Some other Race: 3.0% (1,945)

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#26. Wilson County

- Index: 0.224
- Total population: 136,666
- White: 87.8% (119,957)
- Black or African American: 7.1% (9,757)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (466)
- Asian: 1.7% (2,256)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (27)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (2,274)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (1,929)

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#25. Robertson County

- Index: 0.228
- Total population: 70,280
- White: 87.5% (61,489)
- Black or African American: 7.3% (5,110)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (192)
- Asian: 0.6% (391)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (42)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (1,584)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (1,472)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

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#24. Sumner County

- Index: 0.234
- Total population: 183,437
- White: 87.2% (159,883)
- Black or African American: 7.3% (13,457)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (465)
- Asian: 1.4% (2,564)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (164)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (4,086)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (2,818)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#23. Carroll County

- Index: 0.235
- Total population: 27,886
- White: 86.8% (24,211)
- Black or African American: 10.3% (2,867)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (68)
- Asian: 0.4% (113)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (36)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (561)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (30)

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#22. Giles County

- Index: 0.248
- Total population: 29,285
- White: 86.1% (25,222)
- Black or African American: 9.8% (2,871)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (92)
- Asian: 0.2% (65)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (787)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (248)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

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#21. Chester County

- Index: 0.250
- Total population: 17,190
- White: 86.1% (14,794)
- Black or African American: 8.9% (1,535)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (6)
- Asian: 0.5% (78)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (425)
- Some other Race: 2.0% (352)

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#20. Knox County

- Index: 0.261
- Total population: 461,104
- White: 85.5% (394,105)
- Black or African American: 8.7% (40,147)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (1,306)
- Asian: 2.2% (10,114)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (205)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (10,337)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (4,890)

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#19. Obion County

- Index: 0.263
- Total population: 30,365
- White: 85.2% (25,859)
- Black or African American: 10.3% (3,126)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (76)
- Asian: 0.4% (116)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (630)
- Some other Race: 1.8% (551)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

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#18. Bedford County

- Index: 0.266
- Total population: 48,292
- White: 85.2% (41,129)
- Black or African American: 8.1% (3,908)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (111)
- Asian: 0.2% (96)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (21)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (1,080)
- Some other Race: 4.0% (1,947)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

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#17. Trousdale County

- Index: 0.267
- Total population: 10,231
- White: 84.9% (8,690)
- Black or African American: 10.2% (1,042)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (54)
- Asian: 0.2% (25)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (390)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (30)

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#16. Maury County

- Index: 0.282
- Total population: 91,976
- White: 83.9% (77,153)
- Black or African American: 11.5% (10,571)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (195)
- Asian: 0.9% (866)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (19)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (2,460)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (712)

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#15. Dyer County

- Index: 0.313
- Total population: 37,416
- White: 81.8% (30,612)
- Black or African American: 12.9% (4,836)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (222)
- Asian: 0.8% (290)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (56)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (1,052)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (348)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#14. Crockett County

- Index: 0.348
- Total population: 14,399
- White: 79.5% (11,447)
- Black or African American: 13.0% (1,877)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (17)
- Asian: 0.3% (48)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (325)
- Some other Race: 4.7% (679)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

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#13. Gibson County

- Index: 0.357
- Total population: 49,228
- White: 78.2% (38,519)
- Black or African American: 17.1% (8,423)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (221)
- Asian: 0.3% (156)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (40)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (1,618)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (251)

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#12. Tipton County

- Index: 0.362
- Total population: 61,447
- White: 77.7% (47,750)
- Black or African American: 18.4% (11,313)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (194)
- Asian: 0.8% (520)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (2)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (1,288)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (380)

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#11. Rutherford County

- Index: 0.386
- Total population: 315,815
- White: 76.8% (242,518)
- Black or African American: 14.8% (46,723)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (801)
- Asian: 3.4% (10,850)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (61)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (10,341)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (4,521)

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#10. Hamilton County

- Index: 0.395
- Total population: 360,919
- White: 75.3% (271,750)
- Black or African American: 19.1% (69,100)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (707)
- Asian: 2.1% (7,445)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (142)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (7,594)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (4,181)

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#9. Fayette County

- Index: 0.441
- Total population: 40,164
- White: 69.5% (27,926)
- Black or African American: 27.4% (11,000)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (350)
- Asian: 0.7% (269)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (365)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (253)

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#8. Montgomery County

- Index: 0.460
- Total population: 200,180
- White: 70.5% (141,131)
- Black or African American: 20.1% (40,208)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (1,113)
- Asian: 2.2% (4,409)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (782)
- 2 or more races: 4.8% (9,514)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (3,023)

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#7. Lake County

- Index: 0.462
- Total population: 7,401
- White: 67.5% (4,997)
- Black or African American: 28.5% (2,110)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (10)
- Asian: 0.2% (18)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (154)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (112)

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#6. Lauderdale County

- Index: 0.489
- Total population: 25,989
- White: 62.9% (16,359)
- Black or African American: 33.7% (8,769)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (218)
- Asian: 0.3% (72)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (520)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (51)

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#5. Davidson County

- Index: 0.514
- Total population: 687,488
- White: 64.0% (440,299)
- Black or African American: 27.1% (186,295)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,534)
- Asian: 3.6% (24,865)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (412)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (17,947)
- Some other Race: 2.3% (16,136)

RealElectrical // Wikimedia Commons

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#4. Hardeman County

- Index: 0.521
- Total population: 25,443
- White: 55.1% (14,022)
- Black or African American: 41.9% (10,648)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (78)
- Asian: 0.7% (187)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (342)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (166)

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#3. Haywood County

- Index: 0.523
- Total population: 17,623
- White: 46.8% (8,243)
- Black or African American: 50.8% (8,950)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (8)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (5)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (179)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (238)

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#2. Madison County

- Index: 0.525
- Total population: 97,625
- White: 57.9% (56,534)
- Black or African American: 37.2% (36,352)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (112)
- Asian: 1.1% (1,054)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (1,987)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (1,586)

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#1. Shelby County

- Index: 0.557
- Total population: 936,374
- White: 39.1% (366,180)
- Black or African American: 53.7% (502,669)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,562)
- Asian: 2.6% (24,626)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (264)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (15,617)
- Some other Race: 2.7% (25,456)

Most diverse counties in Tennessee

#50. Moore County

#49. Dickson County

#48. Perry County

#47. McMinn County

#46. Houston County

#45. Hickman County

#44. Decatur County

#43. Wayne County

#42. McNairy County

#41. Warren County

#40. Washington County

#39. Anderson County

#38. Franklin County

#37. Coffee County

#36. Bledsoe County

#35. Henderson County

#34. Bradley County

#33. Marshall County

#32. Lincoln County

#31. Henry County

#30. Williamson County

#29. Weakley County

#28. Grundy County

#27. Hamblen County

#26. Wilson County

#25. Robertson County

#24. Sumner County

#23. Carroll County

#22. Giles County

#21. Chester County

#20. Knox County

#19. Obion County

#18. Bedford County

#17. Trousdale County

#16. Maury County

#15. Dyer County

#14. Crockett County

#13. Gibson County

#12. Tipton County

#11. Rutherford County

#10. Hamilton County

#9. Fayette County

#8. Montgomery County

#7. Lake County

#6. Lauderdale County

#5. Davidson County

#4. Hardeman County

#3. Haywood County

#2. Madison County

#1. Shelby County

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