List of counties in Tennessee

Tennessee is a state in the United States that has 95 counties. A county is like a smaller part of a state that helps to organize places and people. As of 2025, Shelby County had the most people living in it, with over 910,000 residents, while Pickett County had the fewest, with just over 5,000 people. Trousdale County is the smallest county by size, covering about 114 square miles, and Shelby County is the largest, covering around 755 square miles.

The capital of Tennessee is Nashville, and it is located in Davidson County, which has almost 746,000 people. The oldest county in Tennessee is Washington County, founded way back in 1777, while the most recently formed county is Chester County, created in 1879.

Some of Tennessee’s counties were formed from lands that were once home to American Indians. Over time, these lands were settled by people from Europe, and the American Indian populations were moved to what is now the state of Oklahoma. Each county also has a special number called a FIPS code, which helps the government keep track of important information about the people living there.

Alphabetical list

Tennessee is a state in the United States that has 95 counties. As of 2025, Shelby County was the most populous county, with 910,226 residents, and also the largest in area, covering 755 square miles (1,955 square kilometers). The least populous county was Pickett County, with 5,219 residents, and the smallest in area was Trousdale County, covering 114 square miles (295 square kilometers).

Defunct counties

Tennessee once had two counties that no longer exist today.

James County, Tennessee existed from 1870 to 1919 and is now part of Hamilton County. Its main town was Ooltewah.

Tennessee County, Tennessee was created in 1788 and lasted until 1796. When Tennessee became a state, this county—which was originally in North Carolina—was split into Montgomery and Robertson Counties.

Consolidated counties

Three counties in Tennessee have combined their city and county governments into one. This means the city and the county work together as a single area. The combined areas are:

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