About Cookeville

Cookeville is the county seat of Putnam County, Tennessee, United States and the largest city in the county. Cookeville has a 2025 population of 37,643. Cookeville is currently growing at a rate of 1.46% annually and its population has increased by 7.75% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 34,937 in 2020. Cookeville is recognized as one of the country’s micropolitan areas, smaller cities that function as significant regional economic hubs.
 
The average household income in Cookeville is $67,886 with a poverty rate of 21.94%. The median age in Cookeville is 29.6 years: 26.6 years for males, and 32.1 years for females.
 
Among Tennessee’s 20 micropolitan areas, Cookeville is the largest. The U.S. Census Bureau ranked the Cookeville micropolitan area as the 4th largest-gaining micropolitan area in the country between 2022 and 2023, with a one-year gain of 2,748 and a 2023 population of 148,226. The city is a college town, home to Tennessee Technological University.
 
Tennessee Tech has its roots in the University of Dixie (informally known as Dixie College), which was chartered in November 1909 and began operations in 1912. Dixie College was established as a Christian institution by members of the Broad Street Church of Christ, headed by Jere Whitson. Whitson served as the college’s only president. Incidentally, it struggled with funding and enrollment and the campus was deeded to local governments.
 
On March 27, 1915, the state government accepted control of the campus and chartered the new school as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. The new school included just 13 faculty members and 19 students during the 1916–17 academic year and consisted of only 18 acres of undeveloped land with one administrative building and two student dorms. Due to the rural nature of the school, students also worked in the school garden to grow and prepare their own meals. The first class in 1929 graduated with four-year bachelor’s degrees.
 
Everett Derryberry was elected to serve as Tennessee Tech’s president in 1940. During his duration, the university experienced its largest period of growth with the addition of new buildings and academic programs. He was the longest serving president in university history, leaving office in 1974. During his tenure, the university’s student enrollment had increased from 700 to an amazing 7,000. Tennessee Polytechnic Institute was elevated to university status in 1965, when its name changed to Tennessee Technological University.
 
Nearby cities:
Algood, TN, Baxter, TN, Dodson Branch, TN, Monterey, TN, Sparta, TN