I just did some net research, and apparently they can be found throughout the state. It turns out that they have also interbred with the red wolves that we've spent so much money trying to reintroduce in the western part of the state (Great Smokies), thus screwing the pooch on another government program.
The reason they're bigger than the western coyotes is because they've crossbred with wolves. BIG. The pics I've seen of western ones look like large foxes. Ours are literally the size of really skinny German Shepards. Lots of places for them to hide- lots of small towns with lots of dense woods in between.