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County · code 47041

DeKalb CountyTennessee

DeKalb County is a county in Tennessee with its seat in Smithville, formed on January 13, 1838.

  • Founded1838
  • County seatSmithville
  • Named forJohann de Kalb
  • Land area304 sq mi + 25 sq mi water
  • Population20,080 2020 Census
  • Parcels mapped18,325 checked 14 October 2026
Open the free map Click any parcel in DeKalb County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated

CannonSmithWarrenPutnamWhiteWilson Smithville Census outline · seat marked

Where it is

DeKalb on the map of Tennessee

Tennessee has 95 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.

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Counties of Tennessee · DeKalb highlighted

History

Formed in 1838 from Cannon County, Warren County, White County and Jackson County

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

DeKalb County was created from Cannon, Warren, and White counties, though legislation mentioned including part of Jackson County without that being included in the boundary description. The county was named after Johann de Kalb.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; the 5 that matter most are shown first.

  1. 1838
    DeKalb County created Dekalb created from Cannon, Warren, and White; legislation also mentioned including part of Jackson in Dekalb, but boundary description does not appear to include any portion of Jackson.
    from Cannonfrom Warrenfrom Whitefrom Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1839, 23d assy., ch. 2, secs. 1-2, 18/pp. 7-8, 11 and Tenn. Acts 1837, 22d assy., ch. 199, sec. 3/p. 291
  2. 1844
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1843, 25th assy., ch. 57/p. 58
  3. 1854
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local residents; Dekalb lost to re-creation of Putnam.
    from Smithfrom Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 320, secs. 1-2, 10, 21, 24-25/pp. 744-754
  4. 1858
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., priv., ch. 129/p. 324
  5. 1860
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 135, secs. 1-13/pp. 438-440
Show all 68 changes (63 more, mostly small adjustments)
  1. 1838
    DeKalb County created Dekalb created from Cannon, Warren, and White; legislation also mentioned including part of Jackson in Dekalb, but boundary description does not appear to include any portion of Jackson.
    from Cannonfrom Warrenfrom Whitefrom Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1839, 23d assy., ch. 2, secs. 1-2, 18/pp. 7-8, 11 and Tenn. Acts 1837, 22d assy., ch. 199, sec. 3/p. 291
  2. 1844
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1843, 25th assy., ch. 57/p. 58
  3. 1848
    Gained territory Dekalb gained two small areas from Smith to accommodate local residents.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1847, 27th assy., ch. 99/p. 149
  4. 1850
    Gained territory Dekalb gained small area from Smith.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1849, 28th assy., ch. 139/p. 341
  5. 1852
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local residents.
    from Smithfrom Warren
    · Tenn. Acts 1851, 29th assy., ch. 262/p. 429
  6. 1852
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    from Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1851, 29th assy., ch. 304/p. 588
  7. 1854
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local residents; Dekalb lost to re-creation of Putnam.
    from Smithfrom Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 320, secs. 1-2, 10, 21, 24-25/pp. 744-754
  8. 1854
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 152/p. 224
  9. 1854
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local residents.
    from Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 118/p. 192
  10. 1854
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to White to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 181/p. 250
  11. 1855
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local resident (later repealed); Dekalb gained from Putnam.
    from Cannonfrom Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 27/p. 29
  12. 1856
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local residents.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 165/p. 256
  13. 1856
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Warren to accommodate local resident.
    from Warren
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 122, secs. 23, 25/pp. 157-158
  14. 1858
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., pub., ch. 36/p. 44
  15. 1858
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local residents.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., pub., ch. 47, secs. 1-11/pp. 57-59 and ch. 83, sec. 3/p. 91
  16. 1858
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., priv., ch. 129/p. 324
  17. 1858
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local residents; Dekalb gained from Wilson to accommodate local residents.
    from Smithfrom Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., pub., ch. 83, secs. 1-4, 8-9/pp. 91-93
  18. 1860
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Wilson to accommodate local resident; Dekalb gained land of Jonathan Pickett; Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    from Wilsonfrom Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 100, secs. 1-14/pp. 368-370
  19. 1860
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 135, secs. 1-13/pp. 438-440
  20. 1860
    Gained territory Dekalb gained small area from Cannon (later repealed).
    from Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 196, secs. 1-11/pp. 575-577
  21. 1860
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from White to accommodate local resident (later repealed); Dekalb gained from Wilson to accommodate local residents.
    from Whitefrom Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 211/p. 596; ch. 210/p. 596
  22. 1867
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon and White to accommodate local residents (later repealed).
    to Cannonto White
    · Tenn. Acts 1867, 35th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 12/p. 9
  23. 1867
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Wilson to accommodate local residents.
    from Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1867, 35th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 23/p. 24
  24. 1868
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident; Dekalb lost to Smith to accommodate local resident; Dekalb lost to White (later repealed).
    from Putnamfrom Smithfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1867, 35th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 82/p. 108
  25. 1868
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local residents (later repealed); Dekalb gained from White (later repealed).
    from Cannonfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1868, 35th assy., 2d sess., pub., ch. 5/p. 5
  26. 1869
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Wilson to accommodate local resident.
    from Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1868, 35th assy., 2d sess., pub., ch. 39, secs. 1-3, 5, 15/pp. 53-54, 56; McBride, 8
  27. 1869
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to White to accommodate local resident.
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1868, 35th assy., 2d sess., pub., ch. 43/p. 64
  28. 1870
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to White to accommodate local residents.
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1869, 36th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 48/p. 62
  29. 1870
    Lost territory Dekalb lost small area to Cannon (later repealed).
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1870, 36th assy., 2d sess., ch. 118/p. 181
  30. 1871
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local resident.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1871, 37th assy., 1st sess., ch. 12/p. 10
  31. 1879
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Wilson to accommodate local resident.
    to Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1879, 41st assy., 1st sess., ch. 61/p. 79
  32. 1881
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith and White to accommodate local residents.
    from Smithfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1881, 42d assy., 1st sess., ch. 164/p. 220; ch. 165/p. 221
  33. 1883
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Warren to accommodate local resident.
    to Warren
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 66/p. 64
  34. 1887
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local resident.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1887, 45th assy., ch. 53/p. 123
  35. 1887
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1887, 45th assy., ch. 192/p. 324
  36. 1887
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon and White to accommodate local residents.
    to Cannonto White
    · Tenn. Acts 1887, 45th assy., ch. 228/p. 389; ch. 193/p. 325
  37. 1889
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    from Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 111/p. 216
  38. 1889
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Putnam to accommodate local residents.
    to Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 141/p. 279
  39. 1889
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from White to accommodate local residents.
    from White
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 264/p. 490
  40. 1893
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local resident.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1893, 48th assy., ch. 20/p. 30; repeated in sec. 2, ch. 73/p. 91
  41. 1893
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Smith to accommodate local resident.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1893, 48th assy., ch. 73/p. 91
  42. 1897
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Warren to accommodate local resident.
    from Warrenfrom Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1897, 50th assy., ch. 136/p. 322; ch. 263/p. 578
  43. 1899
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Smith to accommodate local resident.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1899, 51st assy., ch. 143/p. 253
  44. 1899
    Gained territory Dekalb gained small area from Smith to accommodate local resident.
    from Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1899, 51st assy., ch. 179/p. 354
  45. 1899
    Exchanged territory Dekalb exchanged with Warren to accommodate local residents.
    with Warren
    · Tenn. Acts 1899, 51st assy., ch. 342/p. 787 ; ch. 344/p. 789
  46. 1901
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Smith to accommodate local resident.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1901, 52d assy., ch. 288/p. 653
  47. 1903
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Smith to accommodate local resident; Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local residents.
    from Smithfrom Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 221/p. 491; ch. 387/p. 1127
  48. 1903
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    from Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 582/p. 1546
  49. 1905
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    to Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 36/p. 82
  50. 1905
    Exchanged territory Dekalb exchanged with Smith to accommodate local residents.
    with Smithwith Dekalb-Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 95/p. 206; ch. 88/p. 199
  51. 1905
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 156/p. 345
  52. 1907
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1907, 55th assy., ch. 503/p. 1686
  53. 1911
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Wilson to accommodate local resident.
    to Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1911, 57th assy., priv., ch. 415/p. 1156
  54. 1915
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Wilson to accommodate local residents.
    to Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1915, 59th assy., priv., ch. 260/p. 967
  55. 1915
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident; Dekalb exchanged with both Cannon and Wilson to accommodate local residents; Dekalb lost to White along the Caney Fork River.
    from Putnamfrom Cannonfrom Wilsonfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1915, 59th assy., priv., ch. 541/p. 1735; ch. 556/p. 1794; ch. 558/p. 1796; ch. 662/p. 2146; ch. 528/p. 1698; ch. 542/p. 1736; ch. 656/p. 2137
  56. 1925
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Warren to accommodate local resident.
    to Warrento Dekalb-Warren
    · Tenn. Acts 1925, 64th assy., priv., ch. 530/p. 2061
  57. 1927
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to White to accommodate local resident.
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1927, 65th assy., priv., ch. 82/p. 185; repeated in ch. 147/p. 321
  58. 1927
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Wilson to accommodate local resident.
    to Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1927, 65th assy., priv., ch. 785/p. 2573
  59. 1929
    Lost territory Dekalb lost small area to Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    to Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1929, 66th assy., priv., ch. 412/p. 1074
  60. 1933
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Wilson to accommodate local residents.
    to Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1933, 68th assy., priv., ch. 227/p. 548
  61. 1933
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1933, 68th assy., priv., ch. 270/p. 649
  62. 1935
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Wilson to accommodate local resident.
    to Wilsonto Dekalb-Wilson
    · Tenn. Acts 1935, 69th assy., priv., ch. 93/p. 208
  63. 1939
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1939, 71st assy., priv., ch. 524/p. 1678
  64. 1941
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Putnam to accommodate local resident; Dekalb lost to Putnam to accommodate local resident.
    from Putnam
    · Tenn. Acts 1941, 72d assy., priv., ch. 426/p. 1487; ch. 434/p. 1502
  65. 1971
    Gained territory Dekalb gained from Cannon to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    from Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1971, 87th assy., 1st reg. sess., priv., ch. 65/p. 238
  66. 1972
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1972, 87th assy., 2d reg. sess., pub., ch. 548/p. 297
  67. 1976
    Lost territory Dekalb lost to Cannon to accommodate local resident.
    to Cannonto Dekalb-Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1976, 89th assy., 2d reg. sess., pub., ch. 487/p. 239
  68. 1981
    Lost territory Dekalb lost small area to Cannon.
    to Cannon
    · Tenn. Acts 1981, 92d assy., 1st reg. sess., pub., ch. 81/p. 86

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in DeKalb

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Official
from the office that keeps the record
Good enough
a reliable statewide or national copy
Fallback
a guide only; check the official record
Missing
nothing public found yet

People and land

DeKalb by the Census

Population
20,080 2020 Census count
Housing units
9,867 2020 Census count
Land area
304 square miles
Water area
25 square miles
People per sq mi
66 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Who to ask before you build, dig or sell

Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.

Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.

Zoning and code

County government

See your own lot on these maps

Open DeKalb County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.

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Questions

Common questions about DeKalb County

When was DeKalb County founded?
DeKalb County was founded in 1838, formed from Cannon County, Warren County, White County and Jackson County, and named after Johann de Kalb.
What is the county seat of DeKalb County?
The county seat of DeKalb County is Smithville.
Is there an online parcel map for DeKalb County?
Yes. Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessments (published by the Office of Information Resources) publishes a parcel map of 18,325 parcels, rated official here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has DeKalb County's boundary or name changed?
DeKalb County was created in 1838 from Cannon County, Warren County, White County and Jackson County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 67 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Cannon County, Smith County and Putnam County.
Is my lot in a flood zone?
We do not have flood maps for DeKalb County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby

Counties next door