Giles

Formed November 14, 1809 (36^th county)

Giles County (30,344), Pulaski (8,398)

The excellent tan brick and masonry Neo-Classical courthouse was erected in 1909.  There were 1809, 1811, 1815, 1850, 1859 courthouses earlier.  The current structure is on the square at Madison, 1^st, Jefferson, and 2^nd streets.  United States Highway 31 is 1^st Street.  The building has a clock tower and a county map on the grounds.  Brown- Harwood are the architects.  The county was founded on November 14, 1809 as the 36^th county.  Richland Creek was the first county seat until 1811 when Pulaski took the position.  The county is named for Virginia Governor William B. Giles.  Pulaski was named for American Revolutionary War hero Kazimierz Pulaski.  Giles County was the birthplace of 2 Tennessee Governors, Neill S. Brown and John C. Brown. 

Giles County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 21 Commissioners.  Four Circuit Court Judges and One General Court Judge serve Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne counties.  The county is situated on the southern border with Alabama.  Nashville, Tennessee is north and Chattanooga, Tennessee is east of the county.  The county center is in Pulaski 2.1 miles East of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Maury, Marshall, and Lincoln counties and Alabama and Lawrence County. 

The area of the county is 611 square miles.  It is 12 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 50 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 49.7 persons per square mile making it 69 out of 95 in the state.  Giles County has 35.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 65 crosses through the county from north to south from Marshall County to Alabama.  United States Highway 31 enters from Maury County, north, and joins Interstate Highway 65 into Alabama, south.  United States Highway 31 Alternate comes from Marshall County, northeast, and terminates.  United States Highway 64 passes east to west from Lincoln County to Lawrence County.  The county resembles a tall bowl of popcorn.  Pulaski is located near the center of the county.  Pulaski is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 27.7% of the county population.  The county is pronounced JIELS.