Obion

Formed October 16, 1823 (58^th county)

Obion County (31,807), Union City (10,895)

The Art Deco masonry building was built in 1939.  It is on a square where Washington Avenue meets 3^rd Street.  United States Highway 51 is seven blocks to the northwest of the site.  Joseph Holman and Thomas Marr provided the designs.  The courthouse grounds have a Flame of Freedom and veterans’ memorials.  An 1890 structure preceded this one in Union City.  Troy was the first county seat until 1890 when Union City assumed the role.  The county was organized on October 16, 1823 as the 58^th county.  It was named for the Obion River.  Union City is named for its location at the junction of two railroads. 

Obion County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 20 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge, One Chancery Court Judge, One General Court Judge, and One Juvenile Court Judge serve Obion and Weakley counties.  The county is located on the northwest border with Kentucky.  Memphis, Tennessee is southwest and Nashville, Tennessee is southeast of the county.  The county center is 9.6 miles Southwest of Union City nearer Troy.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Kentucky and Weakley, Gibson, Dyer, and Lake counties. 

The area of the county is 555 square miles.  It is 28 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 48 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 57.31 persons per square mile making it 56 out of 95 in the state.  Obion County has 55.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 45 West enters the county from the northeast, Kentucky, and exits to the southeast, Gibson County.  United States Highway 51 is joined with United States Highway 45 West from Kentucky, splits and continues southwest into Dyer County.  The county resembles a small letter r.  Union City is located in the northeast quarter of the county.  Union City is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 34.3% of the county population.  The county is pronounced OE-BIE-ON.  This county is in the Union City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

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