Counties of Tennessee
LocationState of Tennessee
Number95
Populations5,001 (Pickett) - 929,744 (Shelby)
Areas114 sq mi (300 km2) (Trousdale) -755 sq mi (1,960 km2) (Shelby)
Government
Subdivisions

There are 95 counties in the U.S. State of Tennessee. As of 2022, Shelby County was both Tennessee's most populous county, with 916,371 residents, and the largest county in area, covering an area of 755 sq mi (1,955 km2). The least populous county was Pickett County (5,107) and the smallest in area was Trousdale County, covering 114 sq mi (295 km2). As of the same year, Davidson County, in which the capital Nashville is located, covers 502 sq mi (1,300 km2) with a population of 708,144. The population of the state of Tennessee as of the 2022 census estimate was 7,051,339 in an area of 42,169 sq mi (109,217 km2).[1][2][3] The oldest county is Washington County, founded in 1777. The most recently formed county is Chester County (1879).[1]

According to the 2020 census, the center of population for Tennessee was located at 35°49′16″N 86°19′57″W / 35.821189°N 86.332487°W / 35.821189; -86.332487, 3.5 mi (5.6 km) southeast of Murfreesboro in Rutherford County.[4] The center of population pinpoints the location at which the population of the state, as placed on a map of the state where they reside, would balance out the map. The geographic center, the point where the map of Tennessee would balance without the population, is located 5 mi (8 km) northeast of Murfreesboro. In 1976, the Rutherford County Historical Society marked the geographic center of Tennessee with an obelisk.[5]

Some of the counties were formed in part or completely from lands previously controlled by American Indians. The "Indian lands" were territories that American Indians had occupied from pre-Columbian times and to which they were granted the legal right of occupancy in an act of the United States government. In cases where counties had been formed from that territory, the legal right of American Indian occupancy was revoked in a federal act prior to the formal establishment of the county.[6] For Tennessee, ten treaties were negotiated between 1770 and 1835, defining the areas assigned to European settlers and to American Indians, regulating the right of occupancy regarding the lands. The remaining indigenous population was eventually removed from Tennessee to what became the state of Oklahoma.[7]

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. FIPS codes are five-digit numbers; for Tennessee the codes start with 47 and are completed with the three-digit county code. The FIPS code for each county in the table links to census data for that county.[8]

Alphabetical list

County
FIPS code[8] County seat[1] Est.[1] Origin[9] Etymology[9] Population Area[10][1] Map
Anderson County 001 Clinton1801Knox and Grainger CountiesJoseph Anderson (17571837), U.S. Senator from Tennessee and first Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. 78,913 338 sq mi
(875 km2)
State map highlighting Anderson County
Bedford County 003 Shelbyville1807Rutherford CountyRevolutionary War officer Thomas Bedford, a large landowner in the area 51,950 474 sq mi
(1,228 km2)
State map highlighting Bedford County
Benton County 005 Camden1835Humphreys CountyCreek War veteran David Benton (17791860), an early settler in the county. 16,002 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
State map highlighting Benton County
Bledsoe County 007 Pikeville1807Roane County and Indian landsAnthony Bledsoe (1739-1788), Revolutionary War soldier, surveyor, and early settler in Sumner County 14,798 406 sq mi
(1,052 km2)
State map highlighting Bledsoe County
Blount County 009 Maryville1795Knox CountyWilliam Blount (17491800), governor of the Southwest Territory and later U.S. Senator 139,958 559 sq mi
(1,448 km2)
State map highlighting Blount County
Bradley County 011 Cleveland1836Indian landsTennessee state legislator Edward Bradley. 110,616 329 sq mi
(852 km2)
State map highlighting Bradley County
Campbell County 013 Jacksboro1806Anderson and Claiborne countiesVirginia House of Burgesses member Arthur Campbell (17431811), who was a negotiator of Indian treaties. 39,584 480 sq mi
(1,243 km2)
State map highlighting Campbell County
Cannon County 015 Woodbury1836Rutherford, Smith and Warren countiesGovernor of Tennessee Newton Cannon (17811841). 14,788 266 sq mi
(689 km2)
State map highlighting Cannon County
Carroll County 017 Huntingdon1821Indian landsGovernor of Tennessee William Carroll (17881844). 28,458 599 sq mi
(1,551 km2)
State map highlighting Carroll County
Carter County 019 Elizabethton1796Washington CountySpeaker of the "Lost State of Franklin" Senate
Landon Carter
(17601800)[11].
56,410 341 sq mi
(883 km2)
State map highlighting Carter County
Cheatham County 021 Ashland City1856Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Robertson countiesTennessee state legislator Edward Cheatham. 41,830 303 sq mi
(785 km2)
State map highlighting Cheatham County
Chester County 023 Henderson1879Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy and Madison countiesTennessee state legislator Robert I. Chester. 17,609 289 sq mi
(749 km2)
State map highlighting Chester County
Claiborne County 025 Tazewell1801Grainger and Hawkins countiesGovernor of Louisiana and Governor of Mississippi Territory William C. C. Claiborne (17751817). 32,431 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
State map highlighting Claiborne County
Clay County 027 Celina1870Jackson and Overton countiesU.S. Speaker of the House and Secretary of State Henry Clay (17771852). 7,620 236 sq mi
(611 km2)
State map highlighting Clay County
Cocke County 029 Newport1797Jefferson CountyWilliam Cocke (17471828), one of Tennessee's first U.S. Senators. 36,879 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
State map highlighting Cocke County
Coffee County 031 Manchester1836Bedford, Warren and Franklin countiesJohn Coffee (17721833), frontiersman, planter, and veteran of Creek War and War of 1812. 59,728 429 sq mi
(1,111 km2)
State map highlighting Coffee County
Crockett County 033 Alamo1871Haywood, Madison, Dyer and Gibson countiesDavy Crockett (17861836), frontier humorist, Congressman, and defender of the Alamo. 13,888 265 sq mi
(686 km2)
State map highlighting Crockett County
Cumberland County 035 Crossville1855White, Bledsoe, Rhea, Morgan, Fentress and Putnam countiesThe Cumberland Mountains. 63,522 682 sq mi
(1,766 km2)
State map highlighting Cumberland County
Davidson County 037 Nashville1783Part of North CarolinaWilliam Lee Davidson (17461781), a Brigadier General who died at the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowan's Ford. 708,144 502 sq mi
(1,300 km2)
State map highlighting Davidson County
Decatur County 039 Decaturville1845Perry CountyU.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero Stephen Decatur (17791820). 11,564 333 sq mi
(862 km2)
State map highlighting Decatur County
DeKalb County 041 Smithville1837Franklin, Cannon, Jackson and White countiesJohann de Kalb (17211780), a German-born baron who assisted the Continentals during the American Revolutionary War. 21,003 304 sq mi
(787 km2)
State map highlighting DeKalb County
Dickson County 043 Charlotte1803Montgomery and Robertson countiesU.S. Representative William Dickson (17701816). 55,761 490 sq mi
(1,269 km2)
State map highlighting Dickson County
Dyer County 045 Dyersburg1823Indian landsTennessee state legislator Robert Henry Dyer. 36,410 510 sq mi
(1,321 km2)
State map highlighting Dyer County
Fayette County 047 Somerville1824Indian landsGilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (17571834), a French-born general in the American Revolutionary War. 43,630 705 sq mi
(1,826 km2)
State map highlighting Fayette County
Fentress County 049 Jamestown1823Morgan, Overton and White countiesTennessee state legislator James Fentress. 19,332 499 sq mi
(1,292 km2)
State map highlighting Fentress County
Franklin County 051 Winchester1807Rutherford County and Indian landsPublisher, scholar, orator, and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (17061790). 43,942 553 sq mi
(1,432 km2)
State map highlighting Franklin County
Gibson County 053 Trenton1823Indian landsJohn H. Gibson, a soldier of the Natchez Expedition and the Creek War. 50,837 603 sq mi
(1,562 km2)
State map highlighting Gibson County
Giles County 055 Pulaski1809Indian landsU.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia William B. Giles (17621830). 30,554 611 sq mi
(1,582 km2)
State map highlighting Giles County
Grainger County 057 Rutledge1796Hawkins and Knox countiesMary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount and "first lady" of the Southwest Territory, which later became Tennessee. 24,277 280 sq mi
(725 km2)
State map highlighting Grainger County
Greene County 059 Greeneville1783Washington CountyAmerican Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene (17421786). 71,405 622 sq mi
(1,611 km2)
State map highlighting Greene County
Grundy County 061 Altamont1844Coffee, Warren and Franklin countiesU.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy (17771840). 13,783 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
State map highlighting Grundy County
Hamblen County 063 Morristown1870Jefferson, Grainger and Greene countiesEarly settler Hezekiah Hamblen. 65,168 161 sq mi
(417 km2)
State map highlighting Hamblen County
Hamilton County 065 Chattanooga1819Rhea County and Indian landsFirst U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (1755 or 17571804). 374,682 543 sq mi
(1,406 km2)
State map highlighting Hamilton County
Hancock County 067 Sneedville1844Hawkins and Claiborne countiesPresident of the Continental Congress John Hancock (17371793). 6,845 222 sq mi
(575 km2)
State map highlighting Hancock County
Hardeman County 069 Bolivar1823Hardin County and Indian landsThomas Jones Hardeman, Creek War and War of 1812 soldier, later a member of the Republic of Texas legislature. 25,529 668 sq mi
(1,730 km2)
State map highlighting Hardeman County
Hardin County 071 Savannah1819Indian landsJoseph Hardin, legislator of the Southwest Territory and State of Franklin. 27,077 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
State map highlighting Hardin County
Hawkins County 073 Rogersville1786Sullivan CountyU.S. Senator Benjamin Hawkins (17541816). 58,043 487 sq mi
(1,261 km2)
State map highlighting Hawkins County
Haywood County 075 Brownsville1823Indian landsJudge John Haywood (17621826), called "the father of Tennessee history." 17,550 533 sq mi
(1,380 km2)
State map highlighting Haywood County
Henderson County 077 Lexington1821Indian landsJames Henderson, an officer of the War of 1812. 27,929 520 sq mi
(1,347 km2)
State map highlighting Henderson County
Henry County 079 Paris1821Indian landsRevolutionary-era orator and Virginia legislator Patrick Henry (17361799). 32,379 562 sq mi
(1,456 km2)
State map highlighting Henry County
Hickman County 081 Centerville1807Dickson CountyEdwin Hickman, a longhunter killed by Native Americans near the present-day site of Centerville. 25,455 613 sq mi
(1,588 km2)
State map highlighting Hickman County
Houston County 083 Erin1871Dickson, Humphreys, Montgomery and Stewart countiesSam Houston (17931863), Tennessee governor and congressman, president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator from Texas, and Texas governor. 8,219 200 sq mi
(518 km2)
State map highlighting Houston County
Humphreys County 085 Waverly1809Stewart CountyU.S. Representative Parry Wayne Humphreys (17781839). 19,106 532 sq mi
(1,378 km2)
State map highlighting Humphreys County
Jackson County 087 Gainesboro1801Smith County and Indian landsU.S. President Andrew Jackson (17671845). 11,989 309 sq mi
(800 km2)
State map highlighting Jackson County
Jefferson County 089 Dandridge1792Greene and Hawkins countiesU.S. President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson (17431826). 56,727 274 sq mi
(710 km2)
State map highlighting Jefferson County
Johnson County 091 Mountain City1836Carter CountyThomas Johnson, an early settler of Carter County along the Doe River. 18,086 299 sq mi
(774 km2)
State map highlighting Johnson County
Knox County 093 Knoxville1792Greene and Hawkins countiesHenry Knox (17501806), the first U.S. Secretary of War. 494,574 509 sq mi
(1,318 km2)
State map highlighting Knox County
Lake County 095 Tiptonville1870Obion CountyReelfoot Lake 6,507 163 sq mi
(422 km2)
State map highlighting Lake County
Lauderdale County 097 Ripley1835Haywood, Dyer and Tipton countiesJames Lauderdale, who was killed in the War of 1812. 24,793 470 sq mi
(1,217 km2)
State map highlighting Lauderdale County
Lawrence County 099 Lawrenceburg1817Hickman County and Indian landsU.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero James Lawrence (17811813). 45,415 617 sq mi
(1,598 km2)
State map highlighting Lawrence County
Lewis County 101 Hohenwald1843Hickman, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne countiesMeriwether Lewis (17741809), explorer of the American West. 12,957 282 sq mi
(730 km2)
State map highlighting Lewis County
Lincoln County 103 Fayetteville1809Bedford CountyU.S. Secretary of War Benjamin Lincoln (17331810). 36,004 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)
State map highlighting Lincoln County
Loudon County 105 Loudon1870Roane, Monroe, Blount and McMinn countiesFort Loudoun, which was named for John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, who led British and American forces during the French and Indian War. 58,181 229 sq mi
(593 km2)
State map highlighting Loudon County
Macon County 111 Lafayette1842Smith and Sumner countiesU.S. Senator Nathaniel Macon (17581837). 26,229 307 sq mi
(795 km2)
State map highlighting Macon County
Madison County 113 Jackson1821Indian landsU.S. President James Madison (17581836). 99,245 557 sq mi
(1,443 km2)
State map highlighting Madison County
Marion County 115 Jasper1817Indian landsFrancis Marion (17321795), the "Swamp Fox" of the American Revolutionary War. 29,094 500 sq mi
(1,295 km2)
State map highlighting Marion County
Marshall County 117 Lewisburg1836Giles, Bedford, Lincoln and Maury countiesU.S. Chief Justice John Marshall (17551835). 35,878 375 sq mi
(971 km2)
State map highlighting Marshall County
Maury County 119 Columbia1807Williamson County and Indian landsTennessee state senator Abram Maury, Sr. (17661825), father of U.S. Representative Abram Poindexter Maury. 108,159 613 sq mi
(1,588 km2)
State map highlighting Maury County
McMinn County 107 Athens1819Indian landsGovernor of Tennessee Joseph McMinn (17581824). 54,719 430 sq mi
(1,114 km2)
State map highlighting McMinn County
McNairy County 109 Selmer1823Hardin CountyJohn McNairy, judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Tennessee. 25,988 560 sq mi
(1,450 km2)
State map highlighting McNairy County
Meigs County 121 Decatur1836Rhea CountyReturn Jonathan Meigs (17401823), an officer in the Continental Army who was for many years a federal Indian and military agent in Tennessee. 13,272 195 sq mi
(505 km2)
State map highlighting Meigs County
Monroe County 123 Madisonville1819Indian landsU.S. President James Monroe (17581831). 47,740 635 sq mi
(1,645 km2)
State map highlighting Monroe County
Montgomery County 125 Clarksville1796Tennessee CountyJohn Montgomery (c. 17501794), leader of the Nickajack Expedition. 235,201 539 sq mi
(1,396 km2)
State map highlighting Montgomery County
Moore County 127 Lynchburg1871Bedford, Lincoln and Franklin countiesTennessee state legislator William Moore. 6,742 129 sq mi
(334 km2)
State map highlighting Moore County
Morgan County 129 Wartburg1817Anderson and Roane countiesAmerican Revolutionary War officer Daniel Morgan (17361802). 21,224 522 sq mi
(1,352 km2)
State map highlighting Morgan County
Obion County 131 Union City1823Indian landsThe Obion River. 30,394 545 sq mi
(1,412 km2)
State map highlighting Obion County
Overton County 133 Livingston1806Jackson County and Indian landsJohn Overton (17661833), one of the cofounders of Memphis, Tennessee. 23,044 433 sq mi
(1,121 km2)
State map highlighting Overton County
Perry County 135 Linden1819Humphreys and Hickman countiesU.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero Oliver Hazard Perry (17851819). 8,685 415 sq mi
(1,075 km2)
State map highlighting Perry County
Pickett County 137 Byrdstown1879Fentress and Overton countiesTennessee state legislator Howell L. Pickett (1847 - 1914). 5,107 163 sq mi
(422 km2)
State map highlighting Pickett County
Polk County 139 Benton1839McMinn and Bradley countiesU.S. President James K. Polk (17951849). 17,863 435 sq mi
(1,127 km2)
State map highlighting Polk County
Putnam County 141 Cookeville1854Fentress, Jackson, Smith, White and Overton countiesAmerican Revolutionary War officer Israel Putnam (17181790). 82,382 401 sq mi
(1,039 km2)
State map highlighting Putnam County
Rhea County 143 Dayton1807Roane CountyU.S. Representative John Rhea (17531832). 33,730 316 sq mi
(818 km2)
State map highlighting Rhea County
Roane County 145 Kingston1801Knox County and Indian landsGovernor of Tennessee Archibald Roane (1759 or 17601819). 55,082 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
State map highlighting Roane County
Robertson County 147 Springfield1796Tennessee and Sumner countiesJames Robertson (17421814), Tennessee state legislator and founder of the Watauga Settlements. 75,470 477 sq mi
(1,235 km2)
State map highlighting Robertson County
Rutherford County 149 Murfreesboro1803Davidson, Williamson and Wilson countiesGriffith Rutherford, chairman of the legislature of the Southwest Territory. 360,619 619 sq mi
(1,603 km2)
State map highlighting Rutherford County
Scott County 151 Huntsville1849Anderson, Campbell, Fentress and Morgan countiesUS. Army general and hero of the Mexican–American War Winfield Scott (17861866). 22,035 532 sq mi
(1,378 km2)
State map highlighting Scott County
Sequatchie County 153 Dunlap1857Hamilton, Marion and Warren countiesCherokee word believed to mean, opossum, he grins or runs. 16,909 266 sq mi
(689 km2)
State map highlighting Sequatchie County
Sevier County 155 Sevierville1794Jefferson CountyJohn Sevier (17451815), governor of the State of Franklin and first Governor of Tennessee. 98,789 592 sq mi
(1,533 km2)
State map highlighting Sevier County
Shelby County 157 Memphis1819Chickasaw Nation lands acquired through the Jackson Purchase.[12]Isaac Shelby (17501826), commander at Kings Mountain, first governor of Kentucky, and negotiator of the purchase of the western district from the Chickasaws. 916,371 755 sq mi
(1,955 km2)
State map highlighting Shelby County
Smith County 159 Carthage1799Sumner County and Indian landsAmerican Revolutionary War officer and U.S. Senator Daniel Smith (17481818). 20,489 314 sq mi
(813 km2)
State map highlighting Smith County
Stewart County 161 Dover1803Montgomery CountyDuncan Stewart, Tennessee state legislator and lieutenant governor of Mississippi Territory. 14,035 458 sq mi
(1,186 km2)
State map highlighting Stewart County
Sullivan County 163 Blountville1779Washington CountyGovernor of New Hampshire John Sullivan (17401795). 160,820 413 sq mi
(1,070 km2)
State map highlighting Sullivan County
Sumner County 165 Gallatin1786Davidson CountyJethro Sumner (17331785), an American colonist who defended North Carolina against the British in 1780. 203,858 529 sq mi
(1,370 km2)
State map highlighting Sumner County
Tipton County 167 Covington1823Shelby County (previously Chickasaw lands)[12]Jacob Tipton, father of Armistead Blevins, who supervised the organization of Shelby County; Tipton was killed by Native Americans in 1791 in a conflict over the Northwest Territory.[12] 61,656 459 sq mi
(1,189 km2)
State map highlighting Tipton County
Trousdale County 169 Hartsville1870Wilson, Macon, Smith and Sumner countiesWilliam Trousdale (17901872), Creek and Mexican–American War soldier and officer, state senator and Governor of Tennessee. 12,111 114 sq mi
(295 km2)
State map highlighting Trousdale County
Unicoi County 171 Erwin1875Washington and Carter CountyNative American word for the southern Appalachian Mountains, probably meaning white or fog-draped 17,674 186 sq mi
(482 km2)
State map highlighting Unicoi County
Union County 173 Maynardville1850Grainger, Claiborne, Campbell, Anderson and Knox countiesEither for its creation from parts of five counties or to memorialize East Tennessee's support for preservation of the Union 20,452 224 sq mi
(580 km2)
State map highlighting Union County
Van Buren County 175 Spencer1840Warren and White countiesU.S. President Martin Van Buren (17821862) 6,429 247 sq mi
(640 km2)
State map highlighting Van Buren County
Warren County 177 McMinnville1807White, Jackson, Smith counties and Indian landsAmerican Revolutionary War officer Joseph Warren (17411775), who sent Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride 42,026 433 sq mi
(1,121 km2)
State map highlighting Warren County
Washington County 179 Jonesborough1777Part of North CarolinaU.S. President George Washington (17321799) 136,172 326 sq mi
(844 km2)
State map highlighting Washington County
Wayne County 181 Waynesboro1817Hickman CountyAmerican Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (17451796) 16,308 734 sq mi
(1,901 km2)
State map highlighting Wayne County
Weakley County 183 Dresden1823Indian landsU.S. Representative Robert Weakley (17641845). 33,063 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)
State map highlighting Weakley County
White County 185 Sparta1806Jackson and Smith countiesJohn White, Revolutionary War soldier and the first European-American settler in the county 28,064 377 sq mi
(976 km2)
State map highlighting White County
Williamson County 187 Franklin1799Davidson CountyU.S. Representative Hugh Williamson (17351819). 260,815 582 sq mi
(1,507 km2)
State map highlighting Williamson County
Wilson County 189 Lebanon1799Sumner CountyDavid Wilson, a member of the legislatures of North Carolina and the Southwest Territory. 158,555 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)
State map highlighting Wilson County

Defunct counties

There are two defunct counties in Tennessee:

Consolidated counties

Three Tennessee counties operate under consolidated city–county governments, a city and county that have been merged into one jurisdiction. As such, these governments are simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find a county". Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
  2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  3. State, County, and Municipal Data Tennessee Blue Book 2005-2006, pages 616-626
  4. "Population centers of each U.S. state, 2020". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  5. "Geographic Center of Tennessee". rutherfordchamber.org. Rutherford County - Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  6. "Indian Lands". FindLaw.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  7. "Treaties". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. University of Tennessee Press. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  8. 1 2 "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA. Archived from the original on September 28, 2004. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  9. 1 2 Origins Of Tennessee County Names Archived 2010-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, Tennessee Blue Book 2005-2006, pages 508-513
  10. Keen, Judy. "2010 Census Shows Population and Diversity Trends". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  11. "Landon Carter | Entries | Tennessee Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014. "Landon Carter"
  12. 1 2 3 Angela Wallace Finley, "Tipton County", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, University of Tennessee Press, archived from the original on May 31, 2013

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.