Formed January 31, 1836 (68th county)
Meigs County (12,755), Decatur (1,565)
The brown brick Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1905. The courthouse is on a square at Memorial, South Main, Abel streets, and Tennessee State Highway 58. W. R. Harper provided the courthouse designs. The building was renovated in 1964 and 1993 and enlarged in 2003. The courthouse has a working clock tower and veterans’ memorials and service flags. There were 1837, 1882 and 1902 courthouses previously in Decatur, the only county seat. Meigs County was formed on January 31, 1836 from Rhea County as the 68th county. It is named for Ohio Governor Jonathan Meigs. The county seat is named for Revolutionary War hero Stephan Decatur. He is also the namesake for Decatur County and its county seat.
Meigs County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 11 Commissioners. One Circuit Court Judge, One Chancery Court Judge, and One General Court Judge serve Meigs, Loudon, Morgan, and Roane counties. The county is in the southeast part of Tennessee. The Tennessee River forms its western border. Chattanooga, Tennessee is southwest and Knoxville, Tennessee is northeast of the county. The county center is in Decatur .6 miles Northwest of the city center. The county is surrounded clockwise by Roane, McMinn, Bradley, Hamilton, and Rhea counties.
The area of the county is 195 square miles. It is 89 out of 95 in the state. It ranks 83 out of 95 in population in the state. It has a density of 65.4 persons per square mile making it 52 out of 95 in the state. Meigs County has 12.3% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The county looks like a hair comb. Decatur is located near the eastern border of the county. Decatur is the county seat and the largest city since it is the only incorporated city. It is 12.3% of the county population. The county is pronounced MAEGS.
Decatur
