Smith

Formed October 26, 1799 (16^th county)

Smith County (19,166), Carthage (2,306)                

The red/brown brick Second Empire facility was built in 1879 on a square at Main Street, 2^nd Avenue, Water Street, and 3^rd Avenue.  Tennessee State Highway 25 is Main Street in this part of the town.  E. P. Turner is the building designer.  The building was renovated in 2012.  The structure has a tower and the grounds have veterans’ memorials.  An augmenting building supports the courthouse.  The county was founded on October 26, 1799 from Sumner County as the 16^th county.  There was also a 1799 courthouse in Dixona.  The county is named for Senator Daniel Smith.  Carthage is named for Carthage, Africa. 

Smith County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 24 Commissioners.  Two Circuit Court Judges, One Chancery Court Judge, and One General Court Judge serve Smith, Jackson, Macon, Trousdale, and Wilson counties.  Smith County is located in the northern part of the state.  Nashville, Tennessee is west and Chattanooga, Tennessee is southeast of the county.  The county center is in Carthage 1.1 miles Southeast of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Macon, Jackson, Putnam, De Kalb, Wilson, and Trousdale counties. 

The area of the county is 325 square miles.  It is 71 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 65 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 58.97 persons per square mile making it 54 out of 95 in the state.  Smith County has 25.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 40 passes east to west in the county from Putnam County to Wilson County.  United States Highway 70 North parallels Interstate Highway 40 from Putnam to Wilson counties.  The county is shaped like a Japanese lantern.  Carthage is located near the center of the county.  Carthage is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 12.0% of the county population.  This county is in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin Metropolitan Statistical Area.