Cherokee is a CDP located in Swain County North Carolina. Cherokee has a 2024 population of 1,515. Cherokee is currently declining at a rate of -2.88% annually and its population has decreased by -28.54% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,120 in 2020.
The average household income in Cherokee is $44,573 with a poverty rate of 27.78%. The median age in Cherokee is 45.8 years: 47.2 years for males, and 43.5 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Cherokee was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| Native American | 1,277 | 79.61% |
| White | 154 | 9.6% |
| Two or more races | 125 | 7.79% |
| Black or African American | 31 | 1.93% |
| Other race | 17 | 1.06% |
| Asian | 0 | 0% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
Native American
White
Two or more races
Black or African American
Other race
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 749 | 2.11 | 59.8 | 40.2 |
| Non Family | 309 | 1.13 | 58.3 | 41.7 |
| Married | 252 | 2.48 | 61.9 | 38.1 |
| Female | 132 | 3.63 | 62.9 | 37.1 |
| Male | 56 | 2.29 | 51.8 | 48.2 |
2.7
Average Family Size
2.11
Average Household Size
59.8%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 161 | 14.99% |
| Associates Degree | 17 | 1.58% |
| Bachelors Degree | 67 | 6.24% |
| Graduate Degree | 117 | 10.89% |
| High School Graduate | 409 | 38.08% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 13 | 1.21% |
| Some College | 290 | 27% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native American | 854 | 712 | 91 |
| White | 111 | 105 | 41 |
| 2+ Races | 80 | 65 | 34 |
| Hispanic | 59 | 59 | 42 |
| Black | 11 | 0 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among hispanic people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among hispanic people with a rate of 71.19%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Graduate Degree | $0 | $0 | $17,917 |
| High School Graduate | $34,308 | $42,731 | $22,266 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Overall | $33,049 | $34,461 | $21,719 |
| Some College | $0 | $46,563 | $0 |
$33,049
Average Earnings
$34,461
Average Male
$21,719
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
85.73% of Cherokee residents speak only English, while 14.27% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other languages, which is spoken by 11.41% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native | 1,277 | 338 | 26.47% |
| Hispanic | 91 | 59 | 64.84% |
| Multiple | 106 | 32 | 30.19% |
| White | 134 | 19 | 14.18% |
| Other | 17 | 17 | 100% |
| Black | 10 | 10 | 100% |
27.78%
Overall Poverty Rate
22.19%
Male Poverty Rate
33.55%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Cherokee is Black, with 100% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Cherokee is White, with 14.18% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 0%. Among those working part-time, it was 11.82%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 46.74%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Bachelors or Greater | 61.41% |
| Some College | 30.29% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 16.56% |
| High School | 9.05% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Male Employed | 11.92% |
| Male Unemployed | 0% |
| Female Employed | 0% |
| Female Unemployed | 0% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $48,906 | $51,120 |
| Households | $43,655 | $44,573 |
| Married Families | $61,983 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $37,604 | $35,044 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
42.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
49.0%
Male Marriage Rate
35.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
105
Number of Veterans
72
Male Veterans
33
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 30 |
| First Gulf War | 18 |
| Second Gulf War | 15 |
| Korea | 13 |
| World War II | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 75+ | 72 |
| 35 to 54 | 18 |
| 18 to 34 | 15 |
| 55 to 64 | 0 |
| 65 to 74 | 0 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Native American | 76 | 7.31% |
| 2+ Races | 15 | 15.79% |
| Hispanic | 15 | 16.48% |
| White | 14 | 9.21% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
13.33%
Veteran Poverty Rate
68.57%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
47.1%
Labor Force Participation
46.3%
Employment Rate
1.6%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
87.41%
Born in Cherokee
97.82%
Native Born
2.18%
Foreign Born
1.06%
Non Citizen
1.12%
Naturalized
97.82% of Cherokee residents were born in the United States, with 87.41% having been born in North Carolina. 1.06% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,515 | -45 | -2.88% |
| 2023 | 1,560 | -44 | -2.74% |
| 2022 | 1,604 | -455 | -22.1% |
| 2021 | 2,059 | -61 | -2.88% |
| 2020 | 2,120 | 74 | 3.62% |
| 2019 | 2,046 | -117 | -5.41% |
| 2018 | 2,163 | -146 | -6.32% |
| 2017 | 2,309 | 296 | 14.7% |
| 2016 | 2,013 | -144 | -6.68% |
| 2015 | 2,157 | -553 | -20.41% |
| 2014 | 2,710 | -6 | -0.22% |
| 2013 | 2,716 | -490 | -15.28% |
| 2012 | 3,206 | -154 | -4.58% |
| 2011 | 3,360 | 1,222 | 57.16% |
| 2010 | 2,138 | 0 | 0% |