History of Tennessee Counties

History of Tennessee Counties


Tennessee County Timeline

Timeline created by Karon M. Bosze, 1993 and revised 1996.

YEAR EVENT
1801 Anderson County, Tennessee formed from Knox and Grainger Counties.
1807 Bedford County, Tennessee formed from Rutherford County and Indian lands.
1835 Benton County, Tennessee formed from Henry and Humphreys Counties.
1807 Bledsoe County, Tennessee formed from Roane County and Indian lands.
1795 Blount County, Tennessee formed from Knox County .
1836 Bradley County, Tennessee formed from Indian lands.
1806 Campbell County, Tennessee formed from Anderson and Claiborne Counties.
1836 Cannon County, Tennessee formed from Coffee, Warren, and Wilson Counties [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Cannon County formed from Rutherford, Warren, and Smith Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1821 Carroll County, Tennessee formed from the Western District and from Indian lands.
1796 Carter County, Tennessee formed from Washington County. Name change from Carteret County.
1856 Cheatham County, Tennessee formed from Davidson, Dickson, and Montgomery Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Cheatham County formed from Dickson, Montgomery, Davidson, and Robertson Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1875 Chester County, Tennessee formed from Hardeman, Madison, Henderson, and McNairy Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah]
1879 Chester County, Tennessee organized from Hardeman, Madison, McNairy and Henderson Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD] See also entry for 1875.
1801 Claiborne County, Tennessee formed from Grainger and Hawkins Counties.
1870 Clay County, Tennessee formed from Jackson and Overton Counties.
1797 Cocke County, Tennessee formed from Jefferson County.
1836 Coffee County, Tennessee formed from Franklin, Warren, and Bedford Counties.
1845 Crockett County, Tennessee formed from Lauderdale, Dyer, Madison, Gibson, and Haywood Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] See also entry for 1871.
1871 Crockett County organized from Dyer, Madison, Gibson, and Haywood Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1855 Cumberland County, Tennesee organized from Bledsoe, Morgan, Roane, White, Putnam, Rhea, Van Buren, and Fentress Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD] See also entry for 1856.
1856 Cumberland County, Tennessee formed from Bledsoe, Morgan, Roane Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] See also entry for 1855.
1783 Davidson County, Tennessee formed from Washington County.
1845 Decatur County, Tennessee formed from Perry County.
1837 DeKalb County, Tennessee formed from Cannon, Warren, and White Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] DeKalb county organized from Cannon, Warren, White, Wilson, and Jackson Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1803 Dickson County, Tennessee formed from Montgomery and Robertson Counties.
1823 Dyer County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1824 Fayette County, Tennessee formed Shelby and Hardeman Counties.
1823 Fentress County, Tennessee formed from Morgan and Overton Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Fentress County organized from Overton, White, and Morgan Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1807 Franklin County, Tennessee formed from Bedford and Warren Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Franklin County organized from Rutherford County and Indian lands. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1823 Gibson County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1809 Giles County, Tennessee formed from Maury County.
1796 Grainger County, Tennessee formed from Hawkins and Knox Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Grainger County organized from Hawkins County. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1783 Greene County, Tennessee formed from Washington County.
1844 Grundy County, Tennessee formed from Coffee and Warren Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Grundy County organized from Franklin and Warren Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1870 Hamblen County, Tennessee formed from Grainger and Hawkins Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Hamblen County organized from Grainger, Hawkins, and Jefferson Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1819 Hamilton County, Tennessee formed from Rhea County and Indian lands.
1844 Hancock County, Tennessee formed from Claiborne and Hawkins Counties.
1823 Hardeman County, Tennessee formed from the Western District. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Hardeman County was organized from Hardin County and the Western District (Indian lands.) [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1819 Hardin County, Tennessee formed from the Western District. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Hardin County organized from the Western District (Indian lands), to run to the Mississippi, but eleven days later Shelby County was organized from Hardin County. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1786 Hawkins County, Tennessee formed from Sullivan County.
1823 Haywood County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1821 Henderson County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1821 Henry County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1807 Hickman County, Tennessee formed from Dickson County.
1871 Houston County, Tennessee formed from Dickson and Stewart Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Houston County was organized from Dickson, Montgomery, Stewart, and Humphreys Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1809 Humphreys County, Tennessee formed from Stewart and Smith Counties.
1801 Jackson County, Tennesee formed from Smith County and Indian lands.
1871 James County, Tennessee formed from Hamilton and Bradley Counties. Extinguished in January 1920 when annexed by Hamilton County. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1792 Jefferson County, Tennessee formed from Greene and Hawkins Counties.
1836 Johnson County, Tennessee formed from Carter County.
1792 Knox County formed from Greene and Hawkins Counties.
1870 Lake County, Tennessee formed from Obion County.
1835 Lauderdale County, Tennessee formed from Dyer and Tipton Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Lauderdale County was organized from Dyer, Tipton, and Haywood Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1817 Lawrence County, Tennessee formed from Hickman and Maury Counties.
1843 Lewis County, Tennessee formed from Hickman, Maury, Wayne, and Lawrence Counties.
1809 Lincoln County, Tennessee formed from Bedford County.
1870 Loudoun County, Tennessee formed from Blount, Monroe, Roane, and McMinn Counties.
1842 Macon County, Tennessee formed from Smith and Sumner Counties.
1821 Madison County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1817 Marion County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands.)
1836 Marshall County, Tennessee formed from Bedford, Lincoln, Giles, and Maury Counties.
1807 Maury County, Tennessee formed from Williamson County and Indian lands.
1819 McMinn County, Tennessee formed from Indian lands (Cherokee lands).
1823 McNairy County, Tennessee formed from Hardin County.
1836 Meigs County, Tennessee formed from Hamilton, McMinn, and Rhea Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Meigs County organized from Hamilton, McMinn, Rhea, and Roane Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1819 Monroe County, Tennessee formed from Roane County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Monroe County organized from Roane County (Hiwassee Purchase, Indian lands). [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1796 Montgomery County, Tennessee formed from Tennessee County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Montgomery County was organized by the division between Montgomery and Robertson Counties of Tennessee County, which had been organzied in 1788 from Davidson County and was then abolished, and whose records were deposited with Montgomery County. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1871 Moore County, Tennessee formed from Bedford and Franklin Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Moore County was organized from Beford, Franklin, Lincoln, and Coffee Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1817 Morgan County, Tennessee formed from Roane County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Morgan County was organized from Roane County, and in 1903 annexed part of Anderson County. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1823 Obion County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1806 Overton County, Tennessee formed from Jackson County.
1818 Perry County, Tennessee formed from Hickman County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] See also entry for 1819.
1819 Perry County, Tennessee organized from Hickman and Humphreys Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD] See also entry for 1818.
1870 Pickett County, Tennessee formed from Fentress and Overton Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] See also entry for 1879.
1879 Pickett County, Tennessee was organized from Fentress and Overton Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD] See also entry for 1870.
1839 Polk County, Tennessee formed from Bradley and McMinn Counties.
1842 Putnam County, Tennessee was organized from Smith, White, DeKalb, Overton, and Jackson Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD] See also entry for 1854.
1854 Putnam County, Tennessee formed from White, Jackson, Overton, and DeKalb Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] See also entry for 1842.
1807 Rhea County, Tennessee formed from Roane County.
1801 Roane County, Tennessee formed from Knox and Blount Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Roane County was organized from Knox County and Indian lands. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1796 Robertson County, Tennessee formed from Tennessee County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Robertson County was organized by the division between Montgomery and Robertson Counties of Tennessee County, which was organized in 1788 from Davidison County and was then abolished, and whose records were deposited with Montgomery County. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1803 Rutherford County, Tennessee formed from Davidson County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Rutherford County was organized from Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1849 Scott County, Tennessee formed from Fentress, Morgan, and Anderson Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Scott County was organized from Fentress, Morgan, Anderson, and Campbell Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1857 Sequatchie County, Tennessee was organized from Hamilton County (and previously from Bledsoe, Marion, and Grundy Counties). [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1858 Sequatchie County, Tennessee formed from Hamilton, Bledsoe, and Marion Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] See also entry for 1857.
1794 Sevier County, Tennessee formed from Jefferson County.
1819 Shelby County, Tennessee formed from Hardin County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Shelby County was organized from Hardin County, eleven days after its parent county was organized. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1799 Smith County, Tennessee formed from Sumner County and Indian lands.
1803 Smith County, Tennessee formed from Montgomery County.
1779 Sullivan County, Tennessee formed from Washington County.
1786 Sumner County, Tennessee formed from Davidson County, North Carolina, becoming part of the Territory South of the River Ohio (popularly called the Southwest Territory) from its creation in May 1790 until Tennessee became a state in 1796. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1788 Tennessee County was extinguished when Tennessee became a state in 1796.
1823 Tipton County, Tennessee formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1870 Trousdale County, Tennessee formed from Macon, Smith, and Wilson Counties.
1875 Unicoi County, Tennessee formed from Carter and Washington Counties.
1850 Union County, Tennessee formed from Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, and Knox Counties.
1840 Van Buren County, Tennessee formed from Bledsoe, Warren, and White Counties.
1807 Warren County, Tennessee formed from White County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Warren County organized from White, Jackson, and Smith Counties, and from Indian lands. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1777 Washington County, Tennessee covered most of present-day Tennessee. Formed from Washington County, North Carolina. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Washington County organized in 1777 by act of North Carolina. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1785 Wayne County, Tennessee was created under the State of Franklin and included parts of present-day Carter and Johnson Counties. Extinguished in 1788.
1817 Wayne County, Tennessee was formed from Hickman County. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] Wayne County was organized from Hickmand and Humphreys Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1823 Weakley County, Tennessee was formed from the Western District (Indian lands).
1806 White County, Tennessee was formed from Overton, Jackson, and Smith Counties. [The Handybook for Genealogists, 8th Edition, Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah] White County organized from Jackson and Smith Counties. [County Courthouse Book, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD]
1799 Williamson County, Tennessee was formed from Davidson County.
1799 Wilson County, Tennessee was formed from Sumner County.

Timeline created by Karon M. Bosze, 1993 and revised 1996.
E-mail: [email protected]
Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/karon_bosze

Date conventions used: due to current limitations in the date field, if a county was formed in the January to March timeframe (before 1752 when the old style dates were in effect in the British colonies), the earlier year is used. And often the date given is the legislative enactment date.

These files may be distributed via electronic media, IF AND ONLY IF, distributed free of charge.

Copyright © 1994-1996 by Karon M. Bosze. All rights reserved.


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Last Updated: November 12, 1999
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