Anderson

Formed November 6, 1801 (21^st county)

Anderson County (75,129), Clinton (9,841), Oak Ridge (29,330)

The red brick Modern courthouse was built in 1967 and sits on a square at Main, Broad, Bowling, and Leinart streets.  United States Highway 25 West is Main Street in the town.  Martin J. Lide is the architect.  The building has columns and the grounds have veterans’ memorials.  Anderson County was created on November 6, 1801 as the 21^st county.  There was an 1889 courthouse previously in Clinton, the only county seat.  The county was taken from Grainger and Knox counties.  The county was named for Senator Joseph Anderson.  The county seat was named for New York Governor George Clinton. 

Anderson County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 16 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge, One Chancery Court Judge, Two General Court Judges, and One Juvenile Court Judge serve Anderson County.  Anderson County is in eastern Tennessee.  Knoxville, Tennessee is directly southeast and Nashville, Tennessee is west of the county.  The county center is 7.7 miles West-Northwest of Clinton nearer Marlow.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Campbell, Union, Knox, Roane, Morgan, and Scott counties. 

The area of the county is 345 square miles.  It is 65 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 17 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 217.77 persons per square mile making it 13 out of 95 in the state.  Anderson County has 55.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 75 enters the county from the north, Campbell County, and exits to the southeast, Knox County.  United States Highway 25 West parallels Interstate Highway 75 from Campbell to Knox counties.  United States Highway 441 originates and heads southeast into Knox County.  The county is shaped like a flower blossom.  Clinton is located in the southeast quarter of the county.  Oak Ridge is in the southwest quarter of the county and extends into Roane County.  Clinton is the county seat and Oak Ridge is the largest city.  Clinton is 13.1% of the county population while Oak Ridge is 35.0% of the county population.  This county is in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area.