Gibson

Formed October 21, 1823 (59^th county)

Gibson County (50,409), Trenton (4,238), Humboldt (7,879)

The outstanding Romanesque Revival courthouse was constructed in 1899.  The courthouse is on a square at the intersection of College and Eaton streets.  United States Highway 45 West is College Street in this part of town.  Walter Chamberlain & Company provided the red and tan brick designs.  A Justice Center has been added.  There were 1824, 1829, and 1839 courthouses previously in Trenton, the only county seat.  A working clock is in the center dome and each corner has a tower.  Veterans’ memorials are on the grounds.  The county was established on October 21, 1823 as the 59^th county.  Gibson County is named for War of 1812 Colonel John H. Gibson.  The county seat is named for Trenton, New Jersey. 

The area of the county is 603 square miles.  It is 13 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 32 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 83.6 persons per square mile making it 41 out of 95 in the state.  Gibson County has 61.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 45 East travels north to south in the county from Weakley County to Madison County.  United States Highway 45 West also goes north to south from Obion County to Madison County.  United States Highway 79 cuts the southeast corner from Carroll County, east, to Crockett County, south.  The county is shaped like a two-headed arrow.  Trenton is located near the center of the county.  Humboldt is on the southern border of the county and extends into Madison County.  Trenton is the county seat and Humboldt is the largest city.  Trenton is 8.4% of the county population while Humboldt is 15.6% of the county population. 

Gibson County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 25 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge, One Chancery Court Judge, Three General Court Judges, and One Juvenile Court Judge serve Gibson, Crockett, and Haywood counties.  The county is in the northwest.  Nashville, Tennessee is east and Memphis, Tennessee is southwest of the county.  The county center is 5.4 miles East-Northeast of Trenton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Weakley, Carroll, Madison, Crockett, Dyer, and Obion counties.  This county is in the Humboldt Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Kenton