It was organized as a county February 1, 1808. The County was formed from part of White County. Warren County was named for the American patriot, General Joseph Warren. McMinnville was named for Joseph McMinn, transplanted Pennsylvania Quaker, who was speaker of the Tennessee Senate at the time McMinnville was established. He later became governor of the state.
Warren County lies along the western foothills of the Cumberland Mountains.
McMinnville, the county seat, near the geographic center of the county, is approximately 72 miles southeast of Nashville. After the 1818 Chickasaw Cessions west of the Tennessee River, the term Middle was applied to the area where Warren County is located. Return to top of page Warren County Topography Warren County occupies a position nearly midway between the northern and southern boundaries of the State, and lies for the most part at the western base of the Cumberland table-land. Portions of the county have a high elevation, but most of it is from 900 to 1,000 feet above sea level. Ben Lomond, within about two miles of McMinnville, is the end of one of the spurs included within the county.