List of counties in Tennessee - wikipedia List of counties in Tennessee Counties of Tennessee Location State of Tennessee Number 95 Populations Greatest : 927,644 ( Shelby ) Least : 5,077 ( Pickett ) Average : 70,695 ( 2017 ) Areas Largest : 755 sq mi ( 1,960 km ) ( Shelby ) Smallest : 114 sq mi ( 300 km ) ( Trousdale ) Average : 444 sq mi ( 1,150 km ) Government County government Subdivisions cities, towns, unincorporated communities, census designated place See also : List of United States counties and county - equivalents 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 2010, Shelby County was both Tennessee 's most populous county, with 927,644 residents, and the largest county in area, covering an area of 755 sq mi ( 1,955 km ). The least populous county was Pickett County ( 4,945 ) and the smallest in area was Trousdale County, covering 114 sq mi ( 295 km ). As of the same year, Davidson County, in which the capital Nashville is located, covers 502 sq mi ( 1,300 km ) 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 42,169 sq mi ( 109,217 km ). 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 ° 47 ′ 45 '' N 86 ° 23 ′ 52 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.795862 ° N 86.397772 ° W ﻿ / 35.795862 ; - 86.397772, 2.5 mi ( 4.0 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 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 In cases where counties had been formed from that territory, the legal right of American Indian occupancy was revoked in a federal act prior to the formal establishment of the county. 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. 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. Contents 1 Alphabetical list 2 Defunct counties 3 Consolidated counties 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Alphabetical list County FIPS code County seat Established Origin Etymology Population Area Map Anderson County 001 Clinton 1801 Knox and Grainger Counties Joseph Anderson ( 1757 -- 1837 ), U.S. Senator from Tennessee and first Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. 7004751290000000000 ♠ 75,129 7002338000000000000 ♠ 338 sq mi ( 7002875000000000000 ♠ 875 km ) Bedford County 003 Shelbyville 1807 Rutherford County Revolutionary War officer Thomas Bedford, a large landowner in the area 7004450580000000000 ♠ 45,058 7002474000000000000 ♠ 474 sq mi ( 7003122800000000000 ♠ 1,228 km ) Benton County 005 Camden 1835 Humphreys County Creek War veteran David Benton ( 1779 -- 1860 ), an early settler in the county. 7004164890000000000 ♠ 16,489 7002394000000000000 ♠ 394 sq mi ( 7003102000000000000 ♠ 1,020 km ) Bledsoe County 007 Pikeville 1807 Roane County and Indian lands Anthony Bledsoe ( 1739 - 1788 ), Revolutionary War soldier, surveyor, and early settler in Sumner County 7004128760000000000 ♠ 12,876 7002406000000000000 ♠ 406 sq mi ( 7003105200000000000 ♠ 1,052 km ) Blount County 009 Maryville 1795 Knox County William Blount ( 1749 -- 1800 ), governor of the Southwest Territory and later U.S. Senator 7005123010000000000 ♠ 123,010 7002559000000000000 ♠ 559 sq mi ( 7003144800000000000 ♠ 1,448 km ) Bradley County 011 Cleveland 1836 Indian lands Tennessee state legislator Edward Bradley. 7004989630000000000 ♠ 98,963 7002329000000000000 ♠ 329 sq mi ( 7002852000000000000 ♠ 852 km ) Campbell County 013 Jacksboro 1806 Anderson and Claiborne counties Virginia House of Burgesses member Arthur Campbell ( 1743 -- 1811 ), who was a negotiator of Indian treaties. 7004407160000000000 ♠ 40,716 7002480000000000000 ♠ 480 sq mi ( 7003124300000000000 ♠ 1,243 km ) Cannon County 015 Woodbury 1836 Rutherford, Smith and Warren counties Governor of Tennessee Newton Cannon ( 1781 -- 1841 ). 7004138010000000000 ♠ 13,801 7002266000000000000 ♠ 266 sq mi ( 7002689000000000000 ♠ 689 km ) Carroll County 017 Huntingdon 1821 Indian lands Governor of Tennessee William Carroll ( 1788 -- 1844 ). 7004285220000000000 ♠ 28,522 7002599000000000000 ♠ 599 sq mi ( 7003155100000000000 ♠ 1,551 km ) Carter County 019 Elizabethton 1796 Washington County Speaker of the `` Lost State of Franklin '' Senate Landon Carter ( 1760 -- 1800 ). 7004574240000000000 ♠ 57,424 7002341000000000000 ♠ 341 sq mi ( 7002883000000000000 ♠ 883 km ) Cheatham County 021 Ashland City 1856 Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Robertson counties Tennessee state legislator Edward Cheatham. 7004391050000000000 ♠ 39,105 7002303000000000000 ♠ 303 sq mi ( 7002785000000000000 ♠ 785 km ) Chester County 023 Henderson 1879 Hardeman, Henderson, McNairy and Madison counties Tennessee state legislator Robert I. Chester. 7004171310000000000 ♠ 17,131 7002289000000000000 ♠ 289 sq mi ( 7002749000000000000 ♠ 749 km ) Claiborne County 025 Tazewell 1801 Grainger and Hawkins counties Governor of Louisiana and Governor of Mississippi Territory William C.C. Claiborne ( 1775 -- 1817 ). 7004322130000000000 ♠ 32,213 7002434000000000000 ♠ 434 sq mi ( 7003112400000000000 ♠ 1,124 km ) Clay County 027 Celina 1870 Jackson and Overton counties U.S. Speaker of the House and Secretary of State Henry Clay ( 1777 -- 1852 ). 7003786100000000000 ♠ 7,861 7002236000000000000 ♠ 236 sq mi ( 7002611000000000000 ♠ 611 km ) Cocke County 029 Newport 1797 Jefferson County William Cocke ( 1747 -- 1828 ), one of Tennessee 's first U.S. Senators. 7004356620000000000 ♠ 35,662 7002434000000000000 ♠ 434 sq mi ( 7003112400000000000 ♠ 1,124 km ) Coffee County 031 Manchester 1836 Bedford, Warren and Franklin counties John Coffee ( 1772 -- 1833 ), frontiersman, planter, and veteran of Creek War and War of 1812. 7004527960000000000 ♠ 52,796 7002429000000000000 ♠ 429 sq mi ( 7003111100000000000 ♠ 1,111 km ) Crockett County 033 Alamo 1871 Haywood, Madison, Dyer and Gibson counties Davy Crockett ( 1786 -- 1836 ), frontier humorist, Congressman, and defender of the Alamo. 7004145860000000000 ♠ 14,586 7002265000000000000 ♠ 265 sq mi ( 7002686000000000000 ♠ 686 km ) Cumberland County 035 Crossville 1855 White, Bledsoe, Rhea, Morgan, Fentress and Putnam counties The Cumberland Mountains. 7004560530000000000 ♠ 56,053 7002682000000000000 ♠ 682 sq mi ( 7003176600000000000 ♠ 1,766 km ) Davidson County 037 Nashville 1783 Part of North Carolina William Lee Davidson ( 1746 -- 1781 ), a Brigadier General who died at the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowan 's Ford. 7005626681000000000 ♠ 626,681 7002502000000000000 ♠ 502 sq mi ( 7003130000000000000 ♠ 1,300 km ) Decatur County 039 Decaturville 1845 Perry County U.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero Stephen Decatur ( 1779 -- 1820 ). 7004117570000000000 ♠ 11,757 7002333000000000000 ♠ 333 sq mi ( 7002862000000000000 ♠ 862 km ) DeKalb County 041 Smithville 1837 Franklin, Cannon, Jackson and White counties Johann de Kalb ( 1721 -- 1780 ), a German - born baron who assisted the Continentals during the American Revolutionary War. 7004187230000000000 ♠ 18,723 7002304000000000000 ♠ 304 sq mi ( 7002787000000000000 ♠ 787 km ) Dickson County 043 Charlotte 1803 Montgomery and Robertson counties U.S. Representative William Dickson ( 1770 -- 1816 ). 7004496660000000000 ♠ 49,666 7002490000000000000 ♠ 490 sq mi ( 7003126900000000000 ♠ 1,269 km ) Dyer County 045 Dyersburg 1823 Indian lands Tennessee state legislator Robert Henry Dyer. 7004383350000000000 ♠ 38,335 7002510000000000000 ♠ 510 sq mi ( 7003132100000000000 ♠ 1,321 km ) Fayette County 047 Somerville 1824 Indian lands Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette ( 1757 -- 1834 ), a French - born general in the American Revolutionary War. 7004384120000000000 ♠ 38,412 7002705000000000000 ♠ 705 sq mi ( 7003182600000000000 ♠ 1,826 km ) Fentress County 049 Jamestown 1823 Morgan, Overton and White counties Tennessee state legislator James Fentress. 7004179590000000000 ♠ 17,959 7002499000000000000 ♠ 499 sq mi ( 7003129200000000000 ♠ 1,292 km ) Franklin County 051 Winchester 1807 Rutherford County and Indian lands Publisher, scholar, orator, and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin ( 1706 -- 1790 ). 7004410520000000000 ♠ 41,052 7002553000000000000 ♠ 553 sq mi ( 7003143200000000000 ♠ 1,432 km ) Gibson County 053 Trenton 1823 Indian lands John H. Gibson, a soldier of the Natchez Expedition and the Creek War. 7004496830000000000 ♠ 49,683 7002603000000000000 ♠ 603 sq mi ( 7003156200000000000 ♠ 1,562 km ) Giles County 055 Pulaski 1809 Indian lands U.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia William B. Giles ( 1762 -- 1830 ). 7004294850000000000 ♠ 29,485 7002611000000000000 ♠ 611 sq mi ( 7003158200000000000 ♠ 1,582 km ) Grainger County 057 Rutledge 1796 Hawkins and Knox counties Mary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount and `` first lady '' of the Southwest Territory, which later became Tennessee. 7004226570000000000 ♠ 22,657 7002280000000000000 ♠ 280 sq mi ( 7002725000000000000 ♠ 725 km ) Greene County 059 Greeneville 1783 Washington County American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene ( 1742 -- 1786 ). 7004688310000000000 ♠ 68,831 7002622000000000000 ♠ 622 sq mi ( 7003161100000000000 ♠ 1,611 km ) Grundy County 061 Altamont 1844 Coffee, Warren and Franklin counties U.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy ( 1777 -- 1840 ). 7004137030000000000 ♠ 13,703 7002361000000000000 ♠ 361 sq mi ( 7002935000000000000 ♠ 935 km ) Hamblen County 063 Morristown 1870 Jefferson, Grainger and Greene counties Early settler Hezekiah Hamblen. 7004625440000000000 ♠ 62,544 7002161000000000000 ♠ 161 sq mi ( 7002417000000000000 ♠ 417 km ) Hamilton County 065 Chattanooga 1819 Rhea County and Indian lands First U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton ( 1755 or 1757 -- 1804 ). 7005336463000000000 ♠ 336,463 7002543000000000000 ♠ 543 sq mi ( 7003140600000000000 ♠ 1,406 km ) Hancock County 067 Sneedville 1844 Hawkins and Claiborne counties President of the Continental Congress John Hancock ( 1737 -- 1793 ). 7003681900000000000 ♠ 6,819 7002222000000000000 ♠ 222 sq mi ( 7002575000000000000 ♠ 575 km ) Hardeman County 069 Bolivar 1823 Hardin County and Indian lands Thomas Jones Hardeman, Creek War and War of 1812 soldier, later a member of the Republic of Texas legislature. 7004272530000000000 ♠ 27,253 7002668000000000000 ♠ 668 sq mi ( 7003173000000000000 ♠ 1,730 km ) Hardin County 071 Savannah 1819 Indian lands Joseph Hardin, legislator of the Southwest Territory and State of Franklin. 7004260260000000000 ♠ 26,026 7002578000000000000 ♠ 578 sq mi ( 7003149700000000000 ♠ 1,497 km ) Hawkins County 073 Rogersville 1786 Sullivan County U.S. Senator Benjamin Hawkins ( 1754 -- 1816 ). 7004568330000000000 ♠ 56,833 7002487000000000000 ♠ 487 sq mi ( 7003126100000000000 ♠ 1,261 km ) Haywood County 075 Brownsville 1823 Indian lands Judge John Haywood ( 1762 -- 1826 ), called `` the father of Tennessee history. '' 7004187870000000000 ♠ 18,787 7002533000000000000 ♠ 533 sq mi ( 7003138000000000000 ♠ 1,380 km ) Henderson County 077 Lexington 1821 Indian lands James Henderson, an officer of the War of 1812. 7004277690000000000 ♠ 27,769 7002520000000000000 ♠ 520 sq mi ( 7003134700000000000 ♠ 1,347 km ) Henry County 079 Paris 1821 Indian lands Revolutionary - era orator and Virginia legislator Patrick Henry ( 1736 -- 1799 ). 7004323300000000000 ♠ 32,330 7002562000000000000 ♠ 562 sq mi ( 7003145600000000000 ♠ 1,456 km ) Hickman County 081 Centerville 1807 Dickson County Edwin Hickman, a longhunter killed by Native Americans near the present - day site of Centerville. 7004246900000000000 ♠ 24,690 7002613000000000000 ♠ 613 sq mi ( 7003158800000000000 ♠ 1,588 km ) Houston County 083 Erin 1871 Dickson, Humphreys, Montgomery and Stewart counties Sam Houston ( 1793 -- 1863 ), Tennessee governor and congressman, president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator from Texas, and Texas governor. 7003842600000000000 ♠ 8,426 7002200000000000000 ♠ 200 sq mi ( 7002518000000000000 ♠ 518 km ) Humphreys County 085 Waverly 1809 Stewart County U.S. Representative Parry Wayne Humphreys ( 1778 -- 1839 ). 7004185380000000000 ♠ 18,538 7002532000000000000 ♠ 532 sq mi ( 7003137800000000000 ♠ 1,378 km ) Jackson County 087 Gainesboro 1801 Smith County and Indian lands U.S. President Andrew Jackson ( 1767 -- 1845 ). 7004116380000000000 ♠ 11,638 7002309000000000000 ♠ 309 sq mi ( 7002800000000000000 ♠ 800 km ) Jefferson County 089 Dandridge 1792 Greene and Hawkins counties U.S. President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson ( 1743 -- 1826 ). 7004514070000000000 ♠ 51,407 7002274000000000000 ♠ 274 sq mi ( 7002710000000000000 ♠ 710 km ) Johnson County 091 Mountain City 1836 Carter County Thomas Johnson, an early settler of Carter County along the Doe River. 7004182440000000000 ♠ 18,244 7002299000000000000 ♠ 299 sq mi ( 7002774000000000000 ♠ 774 km ) Knox County 093 Knoxville 1792 Greene and Hawkins counties Henry Knox ( 1750 -- 1806 ), the first U.S. Secretary of War. 7005432226000000000 ♠ 432,226 7002509000000000000 ♠ 509 sq mi ( 7003131800000000000 ♠ 1,318 km ) Lake County 095 Tiptonville 1870 Obion County Reelfoot Lake 7003783200000000000 ♠ 7,832 7002163000000000000 ♠ 163 sq mi ( 7002422000000000000 ♠ 422 km ) Lauderdale County 097 Ripley 1835 Haywood, Dyer and Tipton counties James Lauderdale, who was killed in the War of 1812. 7004278150000000000 ♠ 27,815 7002470000000000000 ♠ 470 sq mi ( 7003121700000000000 ♠ 1,217 km ) Lawrence County 099 Lawrenceburg 1817 Hickman County and Indian lands U.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero James Lawrence ( 1781 -- 1813 ). 7004418690000000000 ♠ 41,869 7002617000000000000 ♠ 617 sq mi ( 7003159800000000000 ♠ 1,598 km ) Lewis County 101 Hohenwald 1843 Hickman, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties Meriwether Lewis ( 1774 -- 1809 ), explorer of the American West. 7004121610000000000 ♠ 12,161 7002282000000000000 ♠ 282 sq mi ( 7002730000000000000 ♠ 730 km ) Lincoln County 103 Fayetteville 1809 Bedford County U.S. Secretary of War Benjamin Lincoln ( 1733 -- 1810 ). 7004333610000000000 ♠ 33,361 7002570000000000000 ♠ 570 sq mi ( 7003147600000000000 ♠ 1,476 km ) Loudon County 105 Loudon 1870 Roane, Monroe, Blount and McMinn counties Fort Loudoun, which was named for John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, who led British and American forces during the French and Indian War. 7004485560000000000 ♠ 48,556 7002229000000000000 ♠ 229 sq mi ( 7002593000000000000 ♠ 593 km ) Macon County 111 Lafayette 1842 Smith and Sumner counties U.S. Senator Nathaniel Macon ( 1758 -- 1837 ). 7004222480000000000 ♠ 22,248 7002307000000000000 ♠ 307 sq mi ( 7002795000000000000 ♠ 795 km ) Madison County 113 Jackson 1821 Indian lands U.S. President James Madison ( 1758 -- 1836 ). 7004982940000000000 ♠ 98,294 7002557000000000000 ♠ 557 sq mi ( 7003144300000000000 ♠ 1,443 km ) Marion County 115 Jasper 1817 Indian lands Francis Marion ( 1732 -- 1795 ), the `` Swamp Fox '' of the American Revolutionary War. 7004282370000000000 ♠ 28,237 7002500000000000000 ♠ 500 sq mi ( 7003129500000000000 ♠ 1,295 km ) Marshall County 117 Lewisburg 1836 Giles, Bedford, Lincoln and Maury counties U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall ( 1755 -- 1835 ). 7004306170000000000 ♠ 30,617 7002375000000000000 ♠ 375 sq mi ( 7002971000000000000 ♠ 971 km ) Maury County 119 Columbia 1807 Williamson County and Indian lands Tennessee state legislator Abram Poindexter Maury ( 1801 -- 1848 ). 7004809560000000000 ♠ 80,956 7002613000000000000 ♠ 613 sq mi ( 7003158800000000000 ♠ 1,588 km ) McMinn County 107 Athens 1819 Indian lands Governor of Tennessee Joseph McMinn ( 1758 -- 1824 ). 7004522660000000000 ♠ 52,266 7002430000000000000 ♠ 430 sq mi ( 7003111400000000000 ♠ 1,114 km ) McNairy County 109 Selmer 1823 Hardin County John McNairy, judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Tennessee. 7004260750000000000 ♠ 26,075 7002560000000000000 ♠ 560 sq mi ( 7003145000000000000 ♠ 1,450 km ) Meigs County 121 Decatur 1836 Rhea County Return Jonathan Meigs ( 1740 -- 1823 ), an officer in the Continental Army who was for many years a federal Indian and military agent in Tennessee. 7004117530000000000 ♠ 11,753 7002195000000000000 ♠ 195 sq mi ( 7002505000000000000 ♠ 505 km ) Monroe County 123 Madisonville 1819 Indian lands U.S. President James Monroe ( 1758 -- 1831 ). 7004445190000000000 ♠ 44,519 7002635000000000000 ♠ 635 sq mi ( 7003164500000000000 ♠ 1,645 km ) Montgomery County 125 Clarksville 1796 Tennessee County John Montgomery ( c. 1750 -- 1794 ), leader of the Nickajack Expedition. 7005172331000000000 ♠ 172,331 7002539000000000000 ♠ 539 sq mi ( 7003139600000000000 ♠ 1,396 km ) Moore County 127 Lynchburg 1871 Bedford, Lincoln and Franklin counties Tennessee state legislator William Moore. 7003636200000000000 ♠ 6,362 7002129000000000000 ♠ 129 sq mi ( 7002334000000000000 ♠ 334 km ) Morgan County 129 Wartburg 1817 Anderson and Roane counties American Revolutionary War officer Daniel Morgan ( 1736 -- 1802 ). 7004219870000000000 ♠ 21,987 7002522000000000000 ♠ 522 sq mi ( 7003135200000000000 ♠ 1,352 km ) Obion County 131 Union City 1823 Indian lands The Obion River. 7004318070000000000 ♠ 31,807 7002545000000000000 ♠ 545 sq mi ( 7003141200000000000 ♠ 1,412 km ) Overton County 133 Livingston 1806 Jackson County and Indian lands John Overton ( 1766 -- 1833 ), one of the cofounders of Memphis, Tennessee. 7004220830000000000 ♠ 22,083 7002433000000000000 ♠ 433 sq mi ( 7003112100000000000 ♠ 1,121 km ) Perry County 135 Linden 1819 Humphreys and Hickman counties U.S. naval officer and War of 1812 hero Oliver Hazard Perry ( 1785 -- 1819 ). 7003791500000000000 ♠ 7,915 7002415000000000000 ♠ 415 sq mi ( 7003107500000000000 ♠ 1,075 km ) Pickett County 137 Byrdstown 1879 Fentress and Overton counties Tennessee state legislator Howell L. Pickett. 7003507700000000000 ♠ 5,077 7002163000000000000 ♠ 163 sq mi ( 7002422000000000000 ♠ 422 km ) Polk County 139 Benton 1839 McMinn and Bradley counties U.S. President James K. Polk ( 1795 -- 1849 ). 7004168250000000000 ♠ 16,825 7002435000000000000 ♠ 435 sq mi ( 7003112700000000000 ♠ 1,127 km ) Putnam County 141 Cookeville 1854 Fentress, Jackson, Smith, White and Overton counties American Revolutionary War officer Israel Putnam ( 1718 -- 1790 ). 7004723210000000000 ♠ 72,321 7002401000000000000 ♠ 401 sq mi ( 7003103900000000000 ♠ 1,039 km ) Rhea County 143 Dayton 1807 Roane County U.S. Representative John Rhea ( 1753 -- 1832 ). 7004318090000000000 ♠ 31,809 7002316000000000000 ♠ 316 sq mi ( 7002818000000000000 ♠ 818 km ) Roane County 145 Kingston 1801 Knox County and Indian lands Governor of Tennessee Archibald Roane ( 1759 or 1760 -- 1819 ). 7004541810000000000 ♠ 54,181 7002361000000000000 ♠ 361 sq mi ( 7002935000000000000 ♠ 935 km ) Robertson County 147 Springfield 1796 Tennessee and Sumner counties James Robertson ( 1742 -- 1814 ), Tennessee state legislator and founder of the Watauga Settlements. 7004662830000000000 ♠ 66,283 7002477000000000000 ♠ 477 sq mi ( 7003123500000000000 ♠ 1,235 km ) Rutherford County 149 Murfreesboro 1803 Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties Griffith Rutherford, chairman of the legislature of the Southwest Territory. 7005262604000000000 ♠ 262,604 7002619000000000000 ♠ 619 sq mi ( 7003160300000000000 ♠ 1,603 km ) Scott County 151 Huntsville 1849 Anderson, Campbell, Fentress and Morgan counties US. Army general and hero of the Mexican - American War Winfield Scott ( 1786 -- 1866 ). 7004222280000000000 ♠ 22,228 7002532000000000000 ♠ 532 sq mi ( 7003137800000000000 ♠ 1,378 km ) Sequatchie County 153 Dunlap 1857 Hamilton, Marion and Warren counties Cherokee word believed to mean, opossum, he grins or runs. 7004141120000000000 ♠ 14,112 7002266000000000000 ♠ 266 sq mi ( 7002689000000000000 ♠ 689 km ) Sevier County 155 Sevierville 1794 Jefferson County John Sevier ( 1745 -- 1815 ), governor of the State of Franklin and first Governor of Tennessee. 7004898890000000000 ♠ 89,889 7002592000000000000 ♠ 592 sq mi ( 7003153300000000000 ♠ 1,533 km ) Shelby County 157 Memphis 1819 Chickasaw Nation lands acquired through the Jackson Purchase. Isaac Shelby ( 1750 -- 1826 ), commander at Kings Mountain, first governor of Kentucky, and negotiator of the purchase of the western district from the Chickasaws. 7005927644000000000 ♠ 927,644 7002755000000000000 ♠ 755 sq mi ( 7003195500000000000 ♠ 1,955 km ) Smith County 159 Carthage 1799 Sumner County and Indian lands American Revolutionary War officer and U.S. Senator Daniel Smith ( 1748 -- 1818 ). 7004191660000000000 ♠ 19,166 7002314000000000000 ♠ 314 sq mi ( 7002813000000000000 ♠ 813 km ) Stewart County 161 Dover 1803 Montgomery County Duncan Stewart, Tennessee state legislator and lieutenant governor of Mississippi Territory. 7004133240000000000 ♠ 13,324 7002458000000000000 ♠ 458 sq mi ( 7003118600000000000 ♠ 1,186 km ) Sullivan County 163 Blountville 1779 Washington County Governor of New Hampshire John Sullivan ( 1740 -- 1795 ). 7005156823000000000 ♠ 156,823 7002413000000000000 ♠ 413 sq mi ( 7003107000000000000 ♠ 1,070 km ) Sumner County 165 Gallatin 1786 Davidson County Jethro Sumner ( 1733 -- 1785 ), an American colonist who defended North Carolina against the British in 1780. 7005160645000000000 ♠ 160,645 7002529000000000000 ♠ 529 sq mi ( 7003137000000000000 ♠ 1,370 km ) Tipton County 167 Covington 1823 Shelby County ( previously Chickasaw lands ) 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. 7004610810000000000 ♠ 61,081 7002459000000000000 ♠ 459 sq mi ( 7003118900000000000 ♠ 1,189 km ) Trousdale County 169 Hartsville 1870 Wilson, Macon, Smith and Sumner counties William Trousdale ( 1790 -- 1872 ), Creek and Mexican - American War soldier and officer, state senator and Governor of Tennessee. 7003787000000000000 ♠ 7,870 7002114000000000000 ♠ 114 sq mi ( 7002295000000000000 ♠ 295 km ) Unicoi County 171 Erwin 1875 Washington and Carter County Native American word for the southern Appalachian Mountains, probably meaning white or fog - draped 7004183130000000000 ♠ 18,313 7002186000000000000 ♠ 186 sq mi ( 7002482000000000000 ♠ 482 km ) Union County 173 Maynardville 1850 Grainger, Claiborne, Campbell, Anderson and Knox counties Either for its creation from parts of five counties or to memorialize East Tennessee 's support for preservation of the Union 7004191090000000000 ♠ 19,109 7002224000000000000 ♠ 224 sq mi ( 7002580000000000000 ♠ 580 km ) Van Buren County 175 Spencer 1840 Warren and White counties U.S. President Martin Van Buren ( 1782 -- 1862 ) 7003554800000000000 ♠ 5,548 7002247000000000000 ♠ 247 sq mi ( 7002640000000000000 ♠ 640 km ) Warren County 177 McMinnville 1807 White, Jackson, Smith counties and Indian lands American Revolutionary War officer Joseph Warren ( 1741 -- 1775 ), who sent Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride 7004398390000000000 ♠ 39,839 7002433000000000000 ♠ 433 sq mi ( 7003112100000000000 ♠ 1,121 km ) Washington County 179 Jonesborough 1777 Part of North Carolina U.S. President George Washington ( 1732 -- 1799 ) 7005122979000000000 ♠ 122,979 7002326000000000000 ♠ 326 sq mi ( 7002844000000000000 ♠ 844 km ) Wayne County 181 Waynesboro 1817 Hickman County American Revolutionary War General `` Mad '' Anthony Wayne ( 1745 -- 1796 ) 7004170210000000000 ♠ 17,021 7002734000000000000 ♠ 734 sq mi ( 7003190100000000000 ♠ 1,901 km ) Weakley County 183 Dresden 1823 Indian lands U.S. Representative Robert Weakley ( 1764 -- 1845 ). 7004350210000000000 ♠ 35,021 7002580000000000000 ♠ 580 sq mi ( 7003150200000000000 ♠ 1,502 km ) White County 185 Sparta 1806 Jackson and Smith counties John White, Revolutionary War soldier and the first European - American settler in the county 7004258410000000000 ♠ 25,841 7002377000000000000 ♠ 377 sq mi ( 7002976000000000000 ♠ 976 km ) Williamson County 187 Franklin 1799 Davidson County U.S. Representative Hugh Williamson ( 1735 -- 1819 ). 7005202686000000000 ♠ 202,686 7002582000000000000 ♠ 582 sq mi ( 7003150700000000000 ♠ 1,507 km ) Wilson County 189 Lebanon 1799 Sumner County David Wilson, a member of the legislatures of North Carolina and the Southwest Territory. 7005113993000000000 ♠ 113,993 7002571000000000000 ♠ 571 sq mi ( 7003147900000000000 ♠ 1,479 km ) 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 ^ Jump up to : National Association of Counties. `` NACo -- Find a county ''. Archived from the original on 2005 - 04 - 10. Retrieved 2007 - 07 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Tennessee QuickFacts ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2007 - 11 - 18. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 28. ( 2000 Census ) Jump up ^ State, County, and Municipal Data Tennessee Blue Book 2005 - 2006, pages 616 - 626 Jump up ^ `` Population centers of each U.S. state, 2000 ''. census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2001 - 12 - 12. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Geographic Center of Tennessee ''. rutherfordchamber.org. Rutherford County - Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2007 - 12 - 13. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Indian Lands ''. FindLaw.com. Archived from the original on 2007 - 12 - 30. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Treaties ''. Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. University of Tennessee Press. Archived from the original on 2011 - 08 - 30. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 20. ^ Jump up to : `` EPA County FIPS Code Listing ''. EPA. Archived from the original on 2004 - 09 - 28. Retrieved 2007 - 04 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Origins Of Tennessee County Names Archived 2010 - 08 - 21 at the Wayback Machine., Tennessee Blue Book 2005 - 2006, pages 508 - 513 Jump up ^ Keen, Judy. `` 2010 Census Shows Population and Diversity Trends ''. USA Today. Archived from the original on 2011 - 03 - 09. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 02 - 22. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 06. `` Landon Carter '' ^ Jump up to : Angela Wallace Finley, `` Tipton County '', Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, University of Tennessee Press, archived from the original on 2013 - 05 - 31 External links Tennessee Counties at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) Tennessee Counties official websites at County State Info County Technical Assistance Service at the University of Tennessee Tennessee County Landforms hide State of Tennessee Nashville ( capital ) Topics History Geography Tennesseans African Americans Media Newspapers Radio TV Constitution Elections Governors Lieutenant Governors General Assembly Supreme Court Tennessee National Guard Law Enforcement Tourist attractions Seal of Tennessee Grand Divisions East Tennessee Middle Tennessee West Tennessee Regions Blue Ridge Mountains Cumberland Mountains Cumberland Plateau Highland Rim Mississippi Plain Nashville Basin Ridge - and - Valley Appalachians Tennessee Valley Tri-Cities Largest cities Bartlett Bristol Chattanooga Clarksville Cleveland Franklin Hendersonville Jackson Johnson City Kingsport Knoxville Memphis Murfreesboro Nashville Counties Anderson Bedford Benton Bledsoe Blount Bradley Campbell Cannon Carroll Carter Cheatham Chester Claiborne Clay Cocke Coffee Crockett Cumberland Davidson Decatur DeKalb Dickson Dyer Fayette Fentress Franklin Gibson Giles Grainger Greene Grundy Hamblen Hamilton Hancock Hardeman Hardin Hawkins Haywood Henderson Henry Hickman Houston Humphreys Jackson Jefferson Johnson Knox Lake Lauderdale Lawrence Lewis Lincoln Loudon Macon Madison Marion Marshall Maury McMinn McNairy Meigs Monroe Montgomery Moore Morgan Obion Overton Perry Pickett Polk Putnam Rhea Roane Robertson Rutherford Scott Sequatchie Sevier Shelby Smith Stewart Sullivan Sumner Tipton Trousdale Unicoi Union Van Buren Warren Washington Wayne Weakley White Williamson Wilson hide List of United States counties and county equivalents States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Federal district Washington, D.C. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_counties_in_Tennessee&oldid=838891599 '' Categories : Lists of counties of the United States by state Tennessee counties Tennessee geography - related lists U.S. county name etymologies Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Pages using deprecated image syntax Articles with Curlie links Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Boarisch Čeština Deutsch Español Français Gaeilge Italiano עברית Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Shqip Simple English Svenska Українська اردو 中文 12 more Edit links This page was last edited on 29 April 2018, at 23 : 20. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the largest county in population in tennessee
Answer: Shelby County