Hardeman

Formed October 16, 1823 (56^th county)

Hardeman County (25,460), Bolivar (5,198)

The 1868 red brick structure was remodeled in 1955, 1978, 1990 and 1992.  It is on a square surrounded by Main, Jackson, Warren, and Market streets.  United States Highway 64 is Market Street.  The building architects are Willis, Sloan, and Trigg.  The building features a tower and veterans’ memorials are on the courthouse grounds.  A Justice Center was added in 2011.  There was an 1827 courthouse previously in Bolivar.  Hatchie Town was the first county seat until 1824 when Bolivar became the county seat.  Hardeman County was founded on October 16, 1823 from Hardin County as the 56^th county.  The county is named for War of 1812 hero Thomas J. Hardeman.  The county seat is named for South American hero Simon Bolivar. 

Hardeman County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 16 Commissioners.  Two Circuit Court Judges, Two Chancery Court Judges, and One General Court Judge serve Hardeman, Fayette, Lauderdale, McNairy, and Tipton counties.  The county is located on the southwest border with Mississippi.  Memphis, Tennessee is west and Nashville, Tennessee is northeast of the county.  The county center is 3.5 miles South of Bolivar.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Madison, Chester, and McNairy counties and Mississippi and Fayette and Haywood counties. 

The area of the county is 668 square miles.  It is 5 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 57 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 38.1 persons per square mile making it 81 out of 95 in the state.  Hardeman County has 45.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 64 crosses through the county from east to west from McNairy County to Fayette County.  Hardeman County is an overall rectangle.  Bolivar is located slightly north of center in the county.  Bolivar is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 20.4% of the county population.