List of counties in Tennessee

There are 95 counties in the U.S. State of Tennessee. As of 2021, Shelby County was both Tennessee's most populous county, with 924,454 residents, and the largest county in area, covering an area of 755 sq mi (1,955 km2). The least populous county was Pickett County (5,079) 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 703,953. The population of the state of Tennessee as of the 2021 census estimate was 6,975,218 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]

Counties of Tennessee
LocationState of Tennessee
Number95
Populations5,079 (Pickett) - 924,454 (Shelby)
Areas114 sq mi (300 km2) (Trousdale) -755 sq mi (1,960 km2) (Shelby)
Government
Subdivisions

According to the 2020 census, the center of population for Tennessee was located at 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 In cases where counties had been formed from that territory, the legal right of American Indian occupancy was revoked in a federal act prior to the formal establishment of the county.[6] For Tennessee, ten treaties were negotiated between 1770 and 1835, defining the areas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 (1757–1837), U.S. Senator from Tennessee and first Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. 77,576 338 sq mi
(875 km2)
Bedford County 003 Shelbyville1807Rutherford CountyRevolutionary War officer Thomas Bedford, a large landowner in the area 51,119 474 sq mi
(1,228 km2)
Benton County 005 Camden1835Humphreys CountyCreek War veteran David Benton (1779–1860), an early settler in the county. 15,872 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
Bledsoe County 007 Pikeville1807Roane County and Indian landsAnthony Bledsoe (1739-1788), Revolutionary War soldier, surveyor, and early settler in Sumner County 15,234 406 sq mi
(1,052 km2)
Blount County 009 Maryville1795Knox CountyWilliam Blount (1749–1800), governor of the Southwest Territory and later U.S. Senator 137,605 559 sq mi
(1,448 km2)
Bradley County 011 Cleveland1836Indian landsTennessee state legislator Edward Bradley. 110,162 329 sq mi
(852 km2)
Campbell County 013 Jacksboro1806Anderson and Claiborne countiesVirginia House of Burgesses member Arthur Campbell (1743–1811), who was a negotiator of Indian treaties. 39,578 480 sq mi
(1,243 km2)
Cannon County 015 Woodbury1836Rutherford, Smith and Warren countiesGovernor of Tennessee Newton Cannon (1781–1841). 14,553 266 sq mi
(689 km2)
Carroll County 017 Huntingdon1821Indian landsGovernor of Tennessee William Carroll (1788–1844). 28,432 599 sq mi
(1,551 km2)
Carter County 019 Elizabethton1796Washington CountySpeaker of the "Lost State of Franklin" Senate
Landon Carter
(1760–1800)[11].		 56,134 341 sq mi
(883 km2)
Cheatham County 021 Ashland City1856Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Robertson countiesTennessee state legislator Edward Cheatham. 41,523 303 sq mi
(785 km2)
Chester County 023 Henderson1879Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy and Madison countiesTennessee state legislator Robert I. Chester. 17,504 289 sq mi
(749 km2)
Claiborne County 025 Tazewell1801Grainger and Hawkins countiesGovernor of Louisiana and Governor of Mississippi Territory William C. C. Claiborne (1775–1817). 32,267 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
Clay County 027 Celina1870Jackson and Overton countiesU.S. Speaker of the House and Secretary of State Henry Clay (1777–1852). 7,555 236 sq mi
(611 km2)
Cocke County 029 Newport1797Jefferson CountyWilliam Cocke (1747–1828), one of Tennessee's first U.S. Senators. 36,418 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
Coffee County 031 Manchester1836Bedford, Warren and Franklin countiesJohn Coffee (1772–1833), frontiersman, planter, and veteran of Creek War and War of 1812. 59,032 429 sq mi
(1,111 km2)
Crockett County 033 Alamo1871Haywood, Madison, Dyer and Gibson countiesDavy Crockett (1786–1836), frontier humorist, Congressman, and defender of the Alamo. 13,979 265 sq mi
(686 km2)
Cumberland County 035 Crossville1855White, Bledsoe, Rhea, Morgan, Fentress and Putnam countiesThe Cumberland Mountains. 62,451 682 sq mi
(1,766 km2)
Davidson County 037 Nashville1783Part of North CarolinaWilliam Lee Davidson (1746–1781), a Brigadier General who died at the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowan's Ford. 703,953 502 sq mi
(1,300 km2)
Decatur County 039 Decaturville1845Perry CountyU.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero Stephen Decatur (1779–1820). 11,391 333 sq mi
(862 km2)
DeKalb County 041 Smithville1837Franklin, Cannon, Jackson and White countiesJohann de Kalb (1721–1780), a German-born baron who assisted the Continentals during the American Revolutionary War. 20,478 304 sq mi
(787 km2)
Dickson County 043 Charlotte1803Montgomery and Robertson countiesU.S. Representative William Dickson (1770–1816). 55,292 490 sq mi
(1,269 km2)
Dyer County 045 Dyersburg1823Indian landsTennessee state legislator Robert Henry Dyer. 36,615 510 sq mi
(1,321 km2)
Fayette County 047 Somerville1824Indian landsGilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), a French-born general in the American Revolutionary War. 42,832 705 sq mi
(1,826 km2)
Fentress County 049 Jamestown1823Morgan, Overton and White countiesTennessee state legislator James Fentress. 18,850 499 sq mi
(1,292 km2)
Franklin County 051 Winchester1807Rutherford County and Indian landsPublisher, scholar, orator, and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790). 43,215 553 sq mi
(1,432 km2)
Gibson County 053 Trenton1823Indian landsJohn H. Gibson, a soldier of the Natchez Expedition and the Creek War. 50,541 603 sq mi
(1,562 km2)
Giles County 055 Pulaski1809Indian landsU.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia William B. Giles (1762–1830). 30,542 611 sq mi
(1,582 km2)
Grainger County 057 Rutledge1796Hawkins and Knox countiesMary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount and "first lady" of the Southwest Territory, which later became Tennessee. 23,763 280 sq mi
(725 km2)
Greene County 059 Greeneville1783Washington CountyAmerican Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene (1742–1786). 70,621 622 sq mi
(1,611 km2)
Grundy County 061 Altamont1844Coffee, Warren and Franklin countiesU.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy (1777–1840). 13,622 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
Hamblen County 063 Morristown1870Jefferson, Grainger and Greene countiesEarly settler Hezekiah Hamblen. 64,468 161 sq mi
(417 km2)
Hamilton County 065 Chattanooga1819Rhea County and Indian landsFirst U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (1755 or 1757–1804). 369,135 543 sq mi
(1,406 km2)
Hancock County 067 Sneedville1844Hawkins and Claiborne countiesPresident of the Continental Congress John Hancock (1737–1793). 6,787 222 sq mi
(575 km2)
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. 25,426 668 sq mi
(1,730 km2)
Hardin County 071 Savannah1819Indian landsJoseph Hardin, legislator of the Southwest Territory and State of Franklin. 26,892 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
Hawkins County 073 Rogersville1786Sullivan CountyU.S. Senator Benjamin Hawkins (1754–1816). 57,288 487 sq mi
(1,261 km2)
Haywood County 075 Brownsville1823Indian landsJudge John Haywood (1762–1826), called "the father of Tennessee history." 17,694 533 sq mi
(1,380 km2)
Henderson County 077 Lexington1821Indian landsJames Henderson, an officer of the War of 1812. 27,953 520 sq mi
(1,347 km2)
Henry County 079 Paris1821Indian landsRevolutionary-era orator and Virginia legislator Patrick Henry (1736–1799). 32,239 562 sq mi
(1,456 km2)
Hickman County 081 Centerville1807Dickson CountyEdwin Hickman, a longhunter killed by Native Americans near the present-day site of Centerville. 25,307 613 sq mi
(1,588 km2)
Houston County 083 Erin1871Dickson, Humphreys, Montgomery and Stewart countiesSam Houston (1793–1863), Tennessee governor and congressman, president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator from Texas, and Texas governor. 8,317 200 sq mi
(518 km2)
Humphreys County 085 Waverly1809Stewart CountyU.S. Representative Parry Wayne Humphreys (1778–1839). 19,211 532 sq mi
(1,378 km2)
Jackson County 087 Gainesboro1801Smith County and Indian landsU.S. President Andrew Jackson (1767–1845). 11,750 309 sq mi
(800 km2)
Jefferson County 089 Dandridge1792Greene and Hawkins countiesU.S. President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826). 55,624 274 sq mi
(710 km2)
Johnson County 091 Mountain City1836Carter CountyThomas Johnson, an early settler of Carter County along the Doe River. 18,170 299 sq mi
(774 km2)
Knox County 093 Knoxville1792Greene and Hawkins countiesHenry Knox (1750–1806), the first U.S. Secretary of War. 486,677 509 sq mi
(1,318 km2)
Lake County 095 Tiptonville1870Obion CountyReelfoot Lake 7,128 163 sq mi
(422 km2)
Lauderdale County 097 Ripley1835Haywood, Dyer and Tipton countiesJames Lauderdale, who was killed in the War of 1812. 25,108 470 sq mi
(1,217 km2)
Lawrence County 099 Lawrenceburg1817Hickman County and Indian landsU.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero James Lawrence (1781–1813). 44,828 617 sq mi
(1,598 km2)
Lewis County 101 Hohenwald1843Hickman, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne countiesMeriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer of the American West. 12,857 282 sq mi
(730 km2)
Lincoln County 103 Fayetteville1809Bedford CountyU.S. Secretary of War Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810). 35,433 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)
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. 56,690 229 sq mi
(593 km2)
Macon County 111 Lafayette1842Smith and Sumner countiesU.S. Senator Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837). 25,699 307 sq mi
(795 km2)
Madison County 113 Jackson1821Indian landsU.S. President James Madison (1758–1836). 98,775 557 sq mi
(1,443 km2)
Marion County 115 Jasper1817Indian landsFrancis Marion (1732–1795), the "Swamp Fox" of the American Revolutionary War. 28,877 500 sq mi
(1,295 km2)
Marshall County 117 Lewisburg1836Giles, Bedford, Lincoln and Maury countiesU.S. Chief Justice John Marshall (1755–1835). 34,984 375 sq mi
(971 km2)
Maury County 119 Columbia1807Williamson County and Indian landsTennessee state senator Abram Maury, Sr. (1766–1825), father of U.S. Representative Abram Poindexter Maury. 104,760 613 sq mi
(1,588 km2)
McMinn County 107 Athens1819Indian landsGovernor of Tennessee Joseph McMinn (1758–1824). 54,059 430 sq mi
(1,114 km2)
McNairy County 109 Selmer1823Hardin CountyJohn McNairy, judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Tennessee. 25,860 560 sq mi
(1,450 km2)
Meigs County 121 Decatur1836Rhea CountyReturn Jonathan Meigs (1740–1823), an officer in the Continental Army who was for many years a federal Indian and military agent in Tennessee. 13,049 195 sq mi
(505 km2)
Monroe County 123 Madisonville1819Indian landsU.S. President James Monroe (1758–1831). 46,698 635 sq mi
(1,645 km2)
Montgomery County 125 Clarksville1796Tennessee CountyJohn Montgomery (c. 1750–1794), leader of the Nickajack Expedition. 227,900 539 sq mi
(1,396 km2)
Moore County 127 Lynchburg1871Bedford, Lincoln and Franklin countiesTennessee state legislator William Moore. 6,644 129 sq mi
(334 km2)
Morgan County 129 Wartburg1817Anderson and Roane countiesAmerican Revolutionary War officer Daniel Morgan (1736–1802). 21,254 522 sq mi
(1,352 km2)
Obion County 131 Union City1823Indian landsThe Obion River. 30,466 545 sq mi
(1,412 km2)
Overton County 133 Livingston1806Jackson County and Indian landsJohn Overton (1766–1833), one of the cofounders of Memphis, Tennessee. 22,839 433 sq mi
(1,121 km2)
Perry County 135 Linden1819Humphreys and Hickman countiesU.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819). 8,472 415 sq mi
(1,075 km2)
Pickett County 137 Byrdstown1879Fentress and Overton countiesTennessee state legislator Howell L. Pickett (1847 - 1914). 5,079 163 sq mi
(422 km2)
Polk County 139 Benton1839McMinn and Bradley countiesU.S. President James K. Polk (1795–1849). 17,776 435 sq mi
(1,127 km2)
Putnam County 141 Cookeville1854Fentress, Jackson, Smith, White and Overton countiesAmerican Revolutionary War officer Israel Putnam (1718–1790). 81,118 401 sq mi
(1,039 km2)
Rhea County 143 Dayton1807Roane CountyU.S. Representative John Rhea (1753–1832). 33,136 316 sq mi
(818 km2)
Roane County 145 Kingston1801Knox County and Indian landsGovernor of Tennessee Archibald Roane (1759 or 1760–1819). 53,992 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
Robertson County 147 Springfield1796Tennessee and Sumner countiesJames Robertson (1742–1814), Tennessee state legislator and founder of the Watauga Settlements. 74,098 477 sq mi
(1,235 km2)
Rutherford County 149 Murfreesboro1803Davidson, Williamson and Wilson countiesGriffith Rutherford, chairman of the legislature of the Southwest Territory. 352,182 619 sq mi
(1,603 km2)
Scott County 151 Huntsville1849Anderson, Campbell, Fentress and Morgan countiesUS. Army general and hero of the Mexican–American War Winfield Scott (1786–1866). 21,917 532 sq mi
(1,378 km2)
Sequatchie County 153 Dunlap1857Hamilton, Marion and Warren countiesCherokee word believed to mean, opossum, he grins or runs. 16,396 266 sq mi
(689 km2)
Sevier County 155 Sevierville1794Jefferson CountyJohn Sevier (1745–1815), governor of the State of Franklin and first Governor of Tennessee. 99,517 592 sq mi
(1,533 km2)
Shelby County 157 Memphis1819Chickasaw Nation lands acquired through the Jackson Purchase.[12]Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), commander at Kings Mountain, first governor of Kentucky, and negotiator of the purchase of the western district from the Chickasaws. 924,454 755 sq mi
(1,955 km2)
Smith County 159 Carthage1799Sumner County and Indian landsAmerican Revolutionary War officer and U.S. Senator Daniel Smith (1748–1818). 20,172 314 sq mi
(813 km2)
Stewart County 161 Dover1803Montgomery CountyDuncan Stewart, Tennessee state legislator and lieutenant governor of Mississippi Territory. 13,855 458 sq mi
(1,186 km2)
Sullivan County 163 Blountville1779Washington CountyGovernor of New Hampshire John Sullivan (1740–1795). 159,265 413 sq mi
(1,070 km2)
Sumner County 165 Gallatin1786Davidson CountyJethro Sumner (1733–1785), an American colonist who defended North Carolina against the British in 1780. 200,557 529 sq mi
(1,370 km2)
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] 61,004 459 sq mi
(1,189 km2)
Trousdale County 169 Hartsville1870Wilson, Macon, Smith and Sumner countiesWilliam Trousdale (1790–1872), Creek and Mexican–American War soldier and officer, state senator and Governor of Tennessee. 12,035 114 sq mi
(295 km2)
Unicoi County 171 Erwin1875Washington and Carter CountyNative American word for the southern Appalachian Mountains, probably meaning white or fog-draped 17,698 186 sq mi
(482 km2)
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 20,040 224 sq mi
(580 km2)
Van Buren County 175 Spencer1840Warren and White countiesU.S. President Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) 6,324 247 sq mi
(640 km2)
Warren County 177 McMinnville1807White, Jackson, Smith counties and Indian landsAmerican Revolutionary War officer Joseph Warren (1741–1775), who sent Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride 41,523 433 sq mi
(1,121 km2)
Washington County 179 Jonesborough1777Part of North CarolinaU.S. President George Washington (1732–1799) 134,236 326 sq mi
(844 km2)
Wayne County 181 Waynesboro1817Hickman CountyAmerican Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745–1796) 16,409 734 sq mi
(1,901 km2)
Weakley County 183 Dresden1823Indian landsU.S. Representative Robert Weakley (1764–1845). 33,036 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)
White County 185 Sparta1806Jackson and Smith countiesJohn White, Revolutionary War soldier and the first European-American settler in the county 27,650 377 sq mi
(976 km2)
Williamson County 187 Franklin1799Davidson CountyU.S. Representative Hugh Williamson (1735–1819). 255,735 582 sq mi
(1,507 km2)
Wilson County 189 Lebanon1799Sumner CountyDavid Wilson, a member of the legislatures of North Carolina and the Southwest Territory. 151,917 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)

Defunct counties

There are two defunct counties in Tennessee:

  • James County, Tennessee (1870–1919): Now part of Hamilton County. The county seat was Ooltewah.
  • Tennessee County, Tennessee (1788–1796): When Tennessee achieved statehood, the previous Tennessee County in North Carolina became Tennessee County, Tennessee, and was divided into Montgomery and Robertson Counties.

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.

  • City of Nashville and Davidson County
  • City of Lynchburg and Moore County
  • City of Hartsville and Trousdale County

See also
  • List of municipalities in Tennessee

References
  1. National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find a county". Archived from the original on 2005-04-10. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
  2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tennessee". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  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 2022-03-31.
  5. "Geographic Center of Tennessee". rutherfordchamber.org. Rutherford County - Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  6. "Indian Lands". FindLaw.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  7. "Treaties". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. University of Tennessee Press. Archived from the original on 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  8. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA. Archived from the original on 2004-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  9. 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 2011-03-09. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  11. "Landon Carter | Entries | Tennessee Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-06. "Landon Carter"
  12. Angela Wallace Finley, "Tipton County", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, University of Tennessee Press, archived from the original on 2013-05-31

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