(See below for:
History of County Formations in Text,
County Abbreviations,
Discontinued Tennessee Counties, and
Destroyed Court Houses.)
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County Formation Chronology in Text |
Washington District of North Carolina formed--------------12 November 1776 Washington County of North Carolina formed-------------------November 1777 Sullivan County, NC, formed from Washington---------------------------1779 Greene County, NC, formed from Washington-------------------------May 1783 Davidson County, NC, formed from Washington---------------------------1783 North Carolina cedes its Western Territory to the Federal Government--------------------------------------------------2 June 1784 Washington, Greene, & Sullivan form provisional State of Franklin----------------------------------------------23 August 1784 North Carolina repeals cession to the Federal Government-----November 1784 State of Franklin forms new counties-----------------------------1785-1787 Caswell formed from Greene & "Indian Lands"---------------------------1785 Sevier formed from Greene & "Indian Lands"----------------------------1785 Spencer formed from Greene & Sullivan---------------------------------1785 Wayne formed from Washington & Wilkes---------------------------------1785 All 7 eastern counties, Washington, Sullivan, Greene, Caswell, Sevier, Spencer, & Wayne, function as the State of Franklin--------1785 Blount formed from "Indian Lands"-------------------------------------1786 North Carolina reconstitutes its government in Greene, Sullivan, and Washington, which function in parallel with the State of Franklin's in those counties---------------------1786 Hawkins County, NC, formed from Sullivan, which functioned in parallel with State of Franklin's Spencer-----------------------1787 Sumner County, NC, formed from Davidson-------------------------------1787 North Carolina's county governments gain supremacy over the State of Franklin's government----------------------------1787 Tennessee County, NC, formed from Davidson----------------------------1788 North Carolina gains supremacy over State of Franklin. Caswell, Sevier, Spencer, & Wayne Counties, formed by State of Franklin, cease to exist-----------------------------------------------------1788 North Carolina passes legislation ceding Western Region to the Federal Government------------------------------22 December 1789 North Carolina's cession of Western Region to the Federal Government executed--------------------------26 May 1790 United States Congress establishes a territorial government called "Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio"-------------------------------------------------26 May 1790 Jefferson formed from Greene & Hawkins--------------------------------1792 Knox formed from Green & Hawkins--------------------------------------1792 Sevier formed from Jefferson------------------------------------------1794 Blount formed from Knox-----------------------------------------------1795 Tennessee admitted as a state----------------------------------1 June 1796 Grainger formed from Hawkins & Knox-----------------------------------1796 Carter formed from Washington-----------------------------------------1796 Tennessee divided into Montgomery & Robertson; ceases to exist--------1796 Cocke formed from Jefferson-------------------------------------------1797 Indians cede all land of present-day Tennessee; all land not already part of a county becomes "Indian Lands"----------------1798 Smith formed from Sumner----------------------------------------------1799 Wilson formed from Sumner---------------------------------------------1799 Williamson formed from Davidson---------------------------------------1799 Anderson formed from Knox---------------------------------------------1801 Roane formed from Knox------------------------------------------------1801 Claiborne formed from Grainger & Hawkins------------------------------1801 Jackson formed from Smith---------------------------------------------1801 Dickson formed from Montgomery & Robertson----------------------------1803 Stewart formed from Montgomery----------------------------------------1803 Rutherford formed from Davidson---------------------------------------1803 Anderson gained from "Indian Lands"-----------------------------------1803 Roane gained from "Indian Lands"--------------------------------------1803 Western Tennessee area containing no counties renamed from "Indian Lands" to "Western District"-------------------------------1803 Campbell formed from Anderson & Claiborne-----------------------------1806 Overton formed from Jackson-------------------------------------------1806 White formed from Jackson & Smith-------------------------------------1806 Sevier gained from Blount---------------------------------------------1806 Bledsoe formed from Roane---------------------------------------------1807 Bedford formed from Rutherford----------------------------------------1807 Warren formed from White----------------------------------------------1807 Franklin formed from Bedford & Warren---------------------------------1807 Hickman formed from Dickson-------------------------------------------1807 Maury formed from Williamson------------------------------------------1807 Rhea formed from Roane------------------------------------------------1807 Giles formed from Maury-----------------------------------------------1809 Humphreys formed from Stewart-----------------------------------------1809 Lincoln formed from Bedford-------------------------------------------1809 Marion formed from "Indian Lands"-------------------------------------1817 Morgan formed from Roane----------------------------------------------1817 Lawrence formed from Hickman & Giles----------------------------------1817 Wayne formed from Hickman---------------------------------------------1817 Hamilton formed from Rhea---------------------------------------------1819 McMinn formed from "Indian Lands"-------------------------------------1819 Monroe formed from Roane----------------------------------------------1819 Shelby formed from "Western District"---------------------------------1819 Hardin formed from "Western District"---------------------------------1819 Perry formed from Hickman---------------------------------------------1819 Carroll formed from "Western District"--------------------------------1821 Henderson formed from "Western District"------------------------------1821 Henry formed from "Western District"----------------------------------1821 Madison formed from "Western District"--------------------------------1821 ("Western District" no longer exists.) Dyer formed from Carroll----------------------------------------------1823 Gibson formed from Carroll & Madison (pending)------------------------1823 Hardeman formed from Hardin & Madison---------------------------------1823 Haywood formed from Madison-------------------------------------------1823 Tipton formed from Madison--------------------------------------------1823 Obion formed from Henry-----------------------------------------------1823 McNairy formed from Hardin--------------------------------------------1823 Weakley formed from Carroll & Henry-----------------------------------1823 Fentress formed from Morgan & Overton---------------------------------1823 Fayette formed from Hardeman & Shelby---------------------------------1824 Gibson organized------------------------------------------------------1824 (Boundary changes 1830-1840:) Haywood gained from Dyer-----------------------------------------1830-1840 Weakley exchanged with Gibson------------------------------------1830-1840 Weakley Gained from Carroll--------------------------------------1830-1840 Blount gained from Monroe----------------------------------------1830-1840 Humphreys gained from Dickson, Hickman, & Stewart----------------1830-1840 Benton formed from Humphreys (pending)--------------------------------1835 Lauderdale formed from Dyer & Tipton----------------------------------1835 Powell authorized from Greene, Hawkins, Sullivan, & Washington; never organized----------------------------1835 Benton organized------------------------------------------------------1836 Bradley formed from "Indian Lands"------------------------------------1836 Cannon formed from Rutherford, Warren, & Wilson-----------------------1836 Coffee formed from Bedford, Franklin, Rutherford, & Warren------------1836 Johnson formed from Carter--------------------------------------------1836 Marshall formed from Bedford, Lincoln, & Maury------------------------1836 Meigs formed from Hamilton & Rhea-------------------------------------1836 DeKalb authorized from Cannon, Warren, & White (pending)--------------1837 Cumberland authorized from Robertson, Montgomery, Dickson, & Davidson; never organized-------------------------------1837 DeKalb organized------------------------------------------------------1838 Polk formed from Bradley & McMinn-------------------------------------1839 Van Buren formed from Warren & White----------------------------------1840 Macon formed from Smith & Sumner--------------------------------------1841 Putnam formed from DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith, & White-1842 Lewis formed from Hickman, Lawrence, Maury, & Wayne-------------------1843 Grundy formed from Coffee & Warren------------------------------------1844 Hancock formed from Claiborne & Hawkins-------------------------------1844 Putnam abolished; area returned to DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith, & White-----------------------------------1844 Cumberland authorized from Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, & Montgomery; never organized---------------------------1844 Hanover authorized from Fayette & Shelby; never organized-------------1844 Jones authorized from Blount & Monroe; never organized----------------1844 Crockett authorized from Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lauderdale, & Madison; not organized at this time------------------1845 Decatur formed from Henderson & Perry---------------------------------1845 Perry gained from Wayne-----------------------------------------------1845 Wayne gained from Hardin----------------------------------------------1845 Rutherford gained from Williamson-------------------------------------1845 Hatchie authorized from Hardeman & McNairy; never organized-----------1846 Cocke name changed to Union County------------------------------------1846 Scott formed from Anderson, Campbell, Fentress, & Morgan--------------1849 (Boundary changes 1850-1860:) Scott gained from Morgan, Anderson, & Campbell-------------------1850-1860 Campbell gained from Scott---------------------------------------1850-1860 Decatur gained from Hardin---------------------------------------1850-1860 Wayne gained from Perry------------------------------------------1850-1860 Lewis gained from Wayne & Lawrence-------------------------------1850-1860 Maury gained from Lewis------------------------------------------1850-1860 Monroe gained from McMinn----------------------------------------1850-1860 Union name changed back to Cocke County-------------------------------1850 Union (new) formed from Anderson, Campbell, Grainger, Knox, & Claiborne----------------------------------------1850 Christian authorized from Carroll, Gibson, Henderson, & Madison; never organized------------------------------1852 Taylor authorized from Wayne & Hardin---------------------------------1852 Putnam reestablished from DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith, & White-----------------------------------1854 Morgan gained from Overton--------------------------------------------1854 DeKalb gained from Smith----------------------------------------------1854 DeKalb exchanged with White-------------------------------------------1854 Cumberland (finally) authorized again from Bledsoe, Morgan, Roane, & White; organized----------------------------------1855 Cheatham formed from Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, & Robertson-------1856 Sequatchie formed from Bledsoe, Grundy, & Marion----------------------1857 Lewis abolished-------------------------------------------------------1866 Lewis reestablished---------------------------------------------------1867 (Boundary changes 1860-1870:) Claiborne & Campbell county lines defined------------------------1860-1870 Union gained from Claiborne--------------------------------------1860-1870 Sequatchie gained from Bledsoe-----------------------------------1860-1870 Grundy gained from Marion----------------------------------------1860-1870 Rutherford exchanged with Williamson-----------------------------1860-1870 Davidson, Montgomery, & Williamson gained from Cheatham----------1860-1870 Hickman gained from Williamson-----------------------------------1860-1870 Dickson gained from Williamson-----------------------------------1860-1870 Cheatham exchanged with Dickson----------------------------------1860-1870 Obion gained from Weakley----------------------------------------1860-1870 Shelby gained from Tipton----------------------------------------1860-1870 Decatur gained from Wayne----------------------------------------1860-1870 Grant authorized from Carroll, Gibson, Henderson, & Madison; never organized------------------------------1869 Clay formed from Jackson & Overton------------------------------------1870 Hamblen formed from Grainger, Hawkins, & Jefferson--------------------1870 Lake formed from Obion------------------------------------------------1870 Loudon formed from Blount, McMinn, Monroe, & Roane--------------------1870 Trousdale formed from Macon, Smith, & Wilson--------------------------1870 James formed from Bradley & Hamilton----------------------------------1870 Ethridge authorized from Carroll, Gibson, & Weakley; never organized--1870 Bell authorized from Fayette & Hardeman; never organized--------------1870 Houston formed from Dickson, Humphreys, & Stewart---------------------1871 Moore formed from Franklin & Lincoln----------------------------------1871 Nashoba authorized from Fayette & Shelby; never organized-------------1871 Crockett reauthorized from Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, & Madison (pending)-1871 Crockett effective----------------------------------------------------1872 Webster authorized from Campbell, Claiborne, & Union; never organized-1873 Unicoi formed from Carter & Washington--------------------------------1875 Wisdom authorized from Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy, & Madison; never organized--------------------------------1875 (Boundary changes 1870-1880:) Hawkins gained from Hancock--------------------------------------1870-1880 Campbell gained from Scott---------------------------------------1870-1880 Marshall gained from Giles---------------------------------------1870-1880 Carroll gained from Henderson------------------------------------1870-1880 Hanes authorized from Benton, Carroll, Decatur, & Henderson; never organized------------------------------1877 Chester formed from Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy, & Madison-----------1879 Pickett formed from Fentress & Overton--------------------------------1879 Scott gained from Fentress--------------------------------------------1879 (Boundary changes 1880-1890:) Meigs gained from Roane------------------------------------------1880-1890 Greene gained from Unicoi & Washington---------------------------1880-1890 Lake gained from Dyer--------------------------------------------1880-1890 Madison gained from Henderson------------------------------------1880-1890 Tipton gained from Fayette---------------------------------------1880-1890 (Boundary changes 1890-1900:) Davidson gained from Williamson----------------------------------1890-1900 Maury gained from Williamson-------------------------------------1890-1900 Benton gained from Decatur & Henry-------------------------------1890-1900 Tipton gained from Shelby----------------------------------------1890-1900 Sevier gained from Blount---------------------------------------------1903 Morgan gained from Anderson-------------------------------------------1903 James merged into Hamilton--------------------------------------------1919 (Boundary changes 1910-1930:) Morgan gained from Scott-----------------------------------------1910-1930 Clay gained from Overton-----------------------------------------1910-1930 Williamson gained from Marshall----------------------------------1910-1930 Lawrence gained from Giles---------------------------------------1910-1930 (Boundary changes 1930-1960:) Washington gained from Sullivan----------------------------------1930-1960 Grainger gained from Union---------------------------------------1930-1960 White gained from Van Buren--------------------------------------1930-1960 Giles gained from Lawrence---------------------------------------1930-1960 Humphreys gained from Perry--------------------------------------1930-1960 Shelby gained from Tipton----------------------------------------1930-1960 (Boundary changes 1960-1985:) Monroe exchanged with Loudon-------------------------------------1960-1985 Monroe gained from McMinn----------------------------------------1960-1985 Loudon gained from McMinn----------------------------------------1960-1985 Sumner gained from Macon-----------------------------------------1960-1985 Haywood gained from Lauderdale & Tipton--------------------------1960-1985 |
Records are now located in Robertson County.
The County Seat was Clarksville
James County was the first county in the United States to be consolidated with another. It was a unique venture in government and the only such instance in Tennessee history of an entire county being wholly merged into another county. Organized in 1870, largely from Hamilton County and a fraction of Bradley County, its forty-eight-year history was plagued with political strife and ended in bankruptcy in 1919. (It was merged into Hamilton County in 1920.)
The Tennessee General Assembly passed the act creating the new county in January 1871, and Governor Dewitt Senter signed the law. The Honorable Elbert Abdiel James, a representative from Hamilton County, introduced the measure. The county was named in honor of his father, Reverend Jesse J. James. A Methodist minister and native of Sullivan County, Reverend James moved his family to Chattanooga around 1854, where they became prominently identified with the industrial and financial growth of the city.
Political motives played a role in the creation of the new 285-square-mile county. The citizens of James County were predominately Republican and rural, while Chattanooga residents were largely Democratic and urban. In the 1870 Census the population of the area that encompassed James County was reported at five thousand people of Scots-Irish, English, German, and Huguenot ancestry, with some blacks, and a few mixed-blood Indians and Melungeons.
Thirteen towns or communities lay scattered across James County, including Ooltewah, Harrison, Apison, and Thatcher's Switch (Collegedale). Ferries along the Tennessee River played a vital role in the lives of James Countians and included Vann's Ferry, Field's Ferry, Teenor's Ferry, McCallie's Ferry, Daughtery's Ferry, and Blythe's Ferry. In 1920 when James County was merged with Hamilton County, it had over only twelve miles of graveled roads, which were poorly kept. Although the creators of the county expected the overflow from Chattanooga's flourishing economy to provide the tax base for building schools and roads for the rural area, the revenues never materialized. In 1919 James County made its quiet exit from politics and the American scene. Created out of political rivalry, plagued by chicanery throughout its history, insufficiently capitalized to provide proper services, deficient in natural resources, and unable to take advantage of nearby industrialization, the county had based its hopes on an agrarian economy dependent on the efforts of self-sufficient farmers, but as their labors provided an inadequate tax base, the result was substandard banking, communication, and transportation facilities.
(There are 96 counties; those in red do not exist now.)
Tennessee County Abbreviations
An =Anderson
Bed=Bedford
Bel=Bell
Ben=Benton
Ble=Bledsoe
Blo=Blount
Br =Bradley
Cam=Campbell
Can=Cannon
Crl=Carroll
Ctr=Carter
Cas=Caswell
Ctm=Cheatham
Chs=Chester
Chr=Christian
Cbn=Claiborne
Cly=Clay
Coc=Cocke
Cof=Coffee
Cr =Crockett
Cu =Cumberland
Da =Davidson
Dec=Decatur
DK =DeKalb
Di =Dickson
Dy =Dyer
Et =Ethridge
Fa =Fayette
Fe =Fentress
Fr =Franklin
Gib=Gibson
Gil=Giles
Gra=Grainger
Gnt=Grant
Gre=Greene
Gru=Grundy
Hbn=Hamblen
Htn=Hamilton
Han=Hancock
Hns=Hanes
Hvr=Hanover
Hdm=Hardeman
Hrn=Hardin
Hat=Hatchie
Haw=Hawkins
Hay=Haywood
Hsn=Henderson
Hry=Henry
Hi =Hickman
Ho =Houston
Hu =Humphreys
Jac=Jackson
Jam=James
Je =Jefferson
Jo =Johnson
Jon=Jones
Kn =Knox
Lak=Lake
Lau=Lauderdale
Law=Lawrence
Le =Lewis
Li =Lincoln
Lo =Loudon
McM=McMinn
McN=McNairy
Mac=Macon
Mad=Madison
Mrn=Marion
Msl=Marshall
Mau=Maury
Me =Meigs
Mro=Monroe
Mty=Montgomery
Moo=Moore
Mor=Morgan
Na =Nashoba
Ob =Obion
Ov =Overton
Pe =Perry
Pi =Pickett
Po =Polk
Pow=Powell
Pu =Putnam
Rh =Rhea
Roa=Roane
Rob=Robertson
Ru =Rutherford
Sc =Scott
Seq=Sequatchie
Sev=Sevier
Sh =Shelby
Sm =Smith
Sp =Spencer
St =Stewart
Sul=Sullivan
Sum=Sumner
Ta =Taylor
Te =Tennessee
Ti =Tipton
Tr =Trousdale
Uci=Unicoi
Unn=Union
VB =Van Buren
War=Warren
Was=Washington
Way=Wayne
We =Weakley
Web=Webster
Wh =White
Wms=Williamson
Wls=Wilson
Wis=Wisdom
Tennessee Discontinued Counties
Spencer:
Formed in 1785 from Sullivan County.
Renamed Hawkins County in 1786.
Tennessee:
Created in 1788 from Davidson County.
It was abolished and divided into Montgomery and Robertson Counties in 1796.
Wayne:
There is an existing Wayne County that was formed from Humphreys and Hickman Counties in 1817. The Wayne County discussed here was an earlier, but completely different Wayne County, which makes up present-day Carter County and part of Johnson County. It was established in 1785 under the State of Franklin, from Washington and Wilkes Counties, but was abolished in 1788 and included in Washington County. That area was moved to Carter County in 1796, and part of it was later moved to Johnson County in 1836.
James:
Formed in 1870 from Hamilton and Bradley Counties.
It was abolished in 1919 and merged with Hamilton County.
All records are located in Hamilton County.
The County Seat was Ooltewah.
Tennessee Destroyed Courthouses
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