List of counties in Tennessee
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the 95 counties in the State
of Tennessee
. A county
is a local level of government smaller than a state
and typically larger than a city
or town
, in a U.S. state
or territory.
As of 2000, Shelby County
was both Tennessee's most populous county, with 897,472 residents, and the largest county in area, covering an area of 755 sq mi (1,955 km²). The least populous county was Pickett County (4,945) 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 569,891. The population of the state of Tennessee as of the 2000 census
was 5,689,283 in an area of 42169 sq mi (109,217 km²). The oldest county is Washington County, founded in 1777. The most recently formed county is Chester County (1879).
According to the 2000 census, the center of population
for Tennessee was located at 35.795862°N 86.397772°W, 2.5 mi (4 km) south of Murfreesboro
in Rutherford County
. 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
.
Some of the counties were formed in part or completely from lands previously controlled by Native Americans. The "Indian lands" were territories that Native Americans
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 In cases where counties had been formed from that territory, the legal right of Native American occupancy was revoked in a federal act prior to the formal establishment of the county. For Tennessee, ten treaties were negotiated between 1770 and 1835, defining the areas assigned to Europe
an settlers and to Native Americans, regulating the right of occupancy regarding the lands. The remaining native population was eventually removed from Tennessee to what became the state of Oklahoma
.
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.
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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. A county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
is a local level of government smaller than a state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
and typically larger than a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
or town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, in a U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
or territory.
As of 2000, Shelby County
Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the state's largest both in terms of population and geographic area, with a population of 927,644 at the 2010 census...
was both Tennessee's most populous county, with 897,472 residents, and the largest county in area, covering an area of 755 sq mi (1,955 km²). The least populous county was Pickett County (4,945) and the smallest in area was Trousdale County, covering 114 sq mi (295 km²). As of the same year, Davidson County
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
, in which the capital Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
is located, covers 502 sq mi (1,300 km²) with a population of 569,891. The population of the state of Tennessee as of the 2000 census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
was 5,689,283 in an area of 42169 sq mi (109,217 km²). The oldest county is Washington County, founded in 1777. The most recently formed county is Chester County (1879).
According to the 2000 census, the center of population
Center of population
In demographics, the center of population of a region is a geographical point that describes a centerpoint of the region's population...
for Tennessee was located at 35.795862°N 86.397772°W, 2.5 mi (4 km) south of Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
in Rutherford County
Rutherford County, Tennessee
Rutherford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, it is the state's fifth-largest county by population with 262,604 people, an increase of 44.3 percent over the 2000 population of 182,023. Its county seat is Murfreesboro, which is also the geographic...
. 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
Geographical centre
In geography, the centroid of the two-dimensional shape of region of the Earth's surface is often known as its geographical centre. There has long been debate over the methods of calculation of the geographical centres of various countries and regions, such as whether to include offshore islands,...
, 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
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
.
Some of the counties were formed in part or completely from lands previously controlled by Native Americans. The "Indian lands" were territories that Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
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 Native American occupancy was revoked in a federal act prior to the formal establishment of the county. For Tennessee, ten treaties were negotiated between 1770 and 1835, defining the areas assigned to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlers and to Native Americans, regulating the right of occupancy regarding the lands. The remaining native population was eventually removed from Tennessee to what became the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
The Federal Information Processing Standard
Federal Information Processing Standard
A Federal Information Processing Standard is a publicly announced standardization developed by the United States federal government for use in computer systems by all non-military government agencies and by government contractors, when properly invoked and tailored on a contract...
(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.
Alphabetical list
Click on the double triangles at the top of a column to sort the table by that column.| County |
FIPS Code |
County Seat County seat A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States.... |
Founded |
Formed from |
Named for | Population (2000) |
Area |
Map |
Defunct counties
There are two defunct counties in Tennessee:- James County, TennesseeJames County, TennesseeJames County was created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on January 30, 1871. Lands were taken from a small portion of Bradley County and the eastern third of Hamilton County. James County was named in honor of the Rev. Jesse J. James, the father of Elbert Abdiel James who introduced...
(1870–1919) - Now part of Hamilton CountyHamilton County, TennesseeHamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 . Its county seat is Chattanooga....
. The county seat was OoltewahOoltewah, TennesseeOoltewah is a census-designated place in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 687 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. - Tennessee County, TennesseeTennessee CountyTennessee County was a subdivision of the territory of North Carolina that later became the state of Tennessee.Tennessee County was organized in 1788 from a portion of Davidson County. It was abolished in 1796 when Tennessee Tennessee County was a subdivision of the territory of North Carolina that...
(1788–1796) - When Tennessee achieved statehood, the previous Tennessee County in North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
became Tennessee County, Tennessee, and was divided into MontgomeryMontgomery County, TennesseeMontgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The county seat is Clarksville. The population was 172,331 at the 2010 census. It is one of the four counties included in the Clarksville, TN–KY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Robertson Counties.
Consolidated counties
Three Tennessee counties operate under consolidated city-countyConsolidated city-county
In United States local government, a consolidated city–county is a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state...
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
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state.
- City of NashvilleNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and Davidson CountyDavidson County, TennesseeDavidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and... - City of LynchburgLynchburg, TennesseeLynchburg is a city in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is governed by a consolidated city-county government unit whose boundaries coincide with those of Moore County. Lynchburg is best known as the location of the Jack Daniel's distillery, whose famous whiskey is...
and Moore County - City of HartsvilleHartsville, TennesseeHartsville is a town in Trousdale County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Trousdale County, with which it shares a consolidated city-county government...
and Trousdale County
External links
- Tennessee Counties official websites at County State Info
- County Technical Assistance Service at the University of Tennessee
- Tennessee County Landforms at the University of Tennessee