Fentress

Formed October 16, 1823 (55^th county)

Fentress County (17,959), Jamestown (1,959)

The tan stone Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1908 and enlarged in 1974.  The courthouse is on a square at Main Street, Livingston Avenue, Smith Street, and Central Avenue.  Tennessee State Highway 52 is Central Avenue in the town.  Walter Chamberlin and Company are the architects.  The structure features a dome and the grounds have veterans’ memorials.  The county was created on October 16, 1823 from parts of Morgan, Overton, and White counties as the 55^th county with Jamestown as the only county seat.  It is named for Legislator James Fentress.  Jamestown is also named for James Fentress. 

Fentress County government consists of a sheriff, a County Executive, and 10 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge, One Chancery Court Judge, and One General Court Judge serve Fentress, Campbell, Claiborne, Scott, and Union counties.  Fentress County is in the northeast part of Tennessee.  Knoxville, Tennessee is southeast and Chattanooga, Tennessee is south of the county.  The county center is 5.4 miles Southeast of Jamestown nearer Allardt.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Pickett, Scott, Morgan, Cumberland, Overton, and Putnam counties. 

The area of the county is 499 square miles.  It is 41 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 72 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 35.99 persons per square mile making it 84 out of 95 in the state.  Fentress County has 14.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 127 crosses through the county from north to south from Pickett County to Cumberland County.  The county is shaped like a hot air balloon.  Jamestown is located in the northern third of the county.  Jamestown is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 10.9% of the county population.