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County · code 47089

Jefferson CountyTennessee

Jefferson County is in Tennessee and has its county seat in Dandridge. The county was created on June 15, 1792, by the Southwest Territory from Greene and Hawkins Counties and named after Thomas Jefferson.

  • Founded1792
  • County seatDandridge
  • Named forThomas Jefferson
  • Land area275 sq mi + 39 sq mi water
  • Population54,683 2020 Census
  • Parcels mapped32,371 checked 16 October 2026
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Updated

GraingerHamblenSevierCockeKnox Dandridge Census outline · seat marked

Where it is

Jefferson on the map of Tennessee

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

Anderson CountyBedford CountyBenton CountyBledsoe CountyBlount CountyBradley CountyCampbell CountyCannon CountyCarroll CountyCarter CountyCheatham CountyChester CountyClaiborne CountyClay CountyCocke CountyCoffee CountyCrockett CountyCumberland CountyDavidson CountyDecatur CountyDeKalb CountyDickson CountyDyer CountyFayette CountyFentress CountyFranklin CountyGibson CountyGiles CountyGrainger CountyGreene CountyGrundy CountyHamblen CountyHamilton CountyHancock CountyHardeman CountyHardin CountyHawkins CountyHaywood CountyHenderson CountyHenry CountyHickman CountyHouston CountyHumphreys CountyJackson CountyJohnson CountyKnox CountyLake CountyLauderdale CountyLawrence CountyLewis CountyLincoln CountyLoudon CountyMcMinn CountyMcNairy CountyMacon CountyMadison CountyMarion CountyMarshall CountyMaury CountyMeigs CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMoore CountyMorgan CountyObion CountyOverton CountyPerry CountyPickett CountyPolk CountyPutnam CountyRhea CountyRoane CountyRobertson CountyRutherford CountyScott CountySequatchie CountySevier CountyShelby CountySmith CountyStewart CountySullivan CountySumner CountyTipton CountyTrousdale CountyUnicoi CountyUnion CountyVan Buren CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWeakley CountyWhite CountyWilliamson CountyWilson CountyJefferson County Jefferson
Counties of Tennessee · Jefferson highlighted

History

Formed in 1792 from Greene County and Hawkins County

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

Jefferson was established when Tennessee became a state in 1796. Over its first decades, the county exchanged land with neighboring counties, including Greene, Cocke, and Sevier, and lost territory when Sevier and Cocke were created.

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

  1. c. 1785
    Jefferson County created The First General Assembly of the State of Franklin convened in Jonesborough, Tenn., and recognized the three existing North Carolina counties located in eastern Tennessee and created four new counties; the text of the acts is not extant and the precise boundaries of the counties are unknown. North Carolina did not recognize the legitimacy of these counties and sought to regain control of the area. Caswell (State of Franklin) created from Greene (Tennessee) in the vicinity of present Jefferson (Tennessee) and Hamblen (Tennessee).
    from Caswellfrom Greene (Tenn.)from Hamblen (Tenn.)
    · Jordan, "Evolution . . . Hawkins and Sumner," 4-5, 8; Ramsey, 293-295; Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 55-58
  2. 1792
    Jefferson County created Jefferson created by the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio (Southwest Territory) from Greene, Hawkins, and Non-County Area 1 (Cherokee Reserve).
    from Greenefrom Hawkins
    · Terr. Papers U.S., 4:448-449
  3. 1793
    Exchanged territory Jefferson exchanged with Greene.
    with Greene
    · Terr. Papers U.S., 4:455-456
  4. 1794
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to creation of Sevier, and lost to Non-County Area 1 (Cherokee Reserve)
    to Sevier
    · Terr. South of R. Ohio Acts 1794, ch. 11/p. 38
  5. 1796
    Became part of Tennessee Jefferson became a county in the newly-established state of Tennessee. · U.S. Stat., vol. 1, ch. 47[1796], pp. 491-492; Folmsbee, Corlew, and Mitchell 110
Show all 42 changes (37 more, mostly small adjustments)
  1. c. 1785
    Jefferson County created The First General Assembly of the State of Franklin convened in Jonesborough, Tenn., and recognized the three existing North Carolina counties located in eastern Tennessee and created four new counties; the text of the acts is not extant and the precise boundaries of the counties are unknown. North Carolina did not recognize the legitimacy of these counties and sought to regain control of the area. Caswell (State of Franklin) created from Greene (Tennessee) in the vicinity of present Jefferson (Tennessee) and Hamblen (Tennessee).
    from Caswellfrom Greene (Tenn.)from Hamblen (Tenn.)
    · Jordan, "Evolution . . . Hawkins and Sumner," 4-5, 8; Ramsey, 293-295; Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 55-58
  2. 1792
    Jefferson County created Jefferson created by the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio (Southwest Territory) from Greene, Hawkins, and Non-County Area 1 (Cherokee Reserve).
    from Greenefrom Hawkins
    · Terr. Papers U.S., 4:448-449
  3. 1793
    Exchanged territory Jefferson exchanged with Greene.
    with Greene
    · Terr. Papers U.S., 4:455-456
  4. 1794
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to creation of Sevier, and lost to Non-County Area 1 (Cherokee Reserve)
    to Sevier
    · Terr. South of R. Ohio Acts 1794, ch. 11/p. 38
  5. 1795
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Sevier.
    from Sevier
    · Terr. South of R. Ohio Acts 1795, ch. 14/p. 68
  6. 1796
    Became part of Tennessee Jefferson became a county in the newly-established state of Tennessee. · U.S. Stat., vol. 1, ch. 47[1796], pp. 491-492; Folmsbee, Corlew, and Mitchell 110
  7. 1797
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to creation of Cocke; part of Jefferson south of Cocke was left separate from the rest of the county by this creation.
    to Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1797, 2d assy., 1st sess., ch. 8, sec. 1/p. 124
  8. 1811
    Gained territory Jefferson gained small area from Cocke.
    from Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1811, 9th assy., 1st sess., ch. 41/p. 49
  9. 1811
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Cocke that area south of Cocke separated from the rest of the county after the creation of Cocke in 1797.
    to Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1811, 9th assy., 1st sess., ch. 110/p. 128
  10. 1815
    Changed Boundary between Jefferson and Hawkins adjusted to accommodate local resident.
    Hawkins
    · Tenn. Acts 1815, 11th assy., ch. 13/p. 14
  11. 1817
    Exchanged territory Jefferson exchanged with Cocke to accommodate local residents.
    with Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1817, 12th assy., ch. 23/p. 26
  12. 1817
    Boundary clarified Boundary between Jefferson and Grainger clarified (no change).
    with Graingerno change
    · Tenn. Acts 1817, 12th assy., ch. 148 [158]/p. 194
  13. 1827
    Lost territory Jefferson lost small area to Cocke.
    to Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1827, 17th assy., priv., ch. 176/p. 151
  14. 1846
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Grainger to accommodate local resident.
    from Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1845, 26th assy., ch. 47/p. 101
  15. 1846
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Sevier to accommodate local resident.
    from Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1845, 26th assy., ch. 174/p. 259
  16. 1847
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Grainger to accommodate local resident.
    to Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1847, 27th assy., ch. 51/p. 85
  17. 1848
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Grainger to accommodate local resident.
    from Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1847, 27th assy., ch. 197/p. 332
  18. 1849
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Grainger to accommodate local resident.
    to Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1849, 28th assy., ch. 69/p. 223
  19. 1852
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Hawkins (later repealed).
    to Hawkins
    · Tenn. Acts 1851, 29th assy., ch. 299/p. 570
  20. 1852
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Sevier to accommodate local resident.
    from Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1851, 29th assy., ch. 189/p. 271
  21. 1854
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Hawkins (later repealed).
    from Hawkins
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 130/p. 204
  22. 1856
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Grainger to accommodate local resident.
    from Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 161/p. 244
  23. 1856
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Knox to accommodate local resident.
    from Knox
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 248/p. 503
  24. 1858
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Grainger to accommodate local residents.
    from Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., pub., ch. 47, secs. 1-11/pp. 57-59 and ch. 83, sec. 3/p. 91
  25. 1860
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Grainger to accommodate local resident.
    to Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 135, secs. 1-13/pp. 438-440
  26. 1870
    Exchanged territory Jefferson exchanged with Grainger to accommodate local residents.
    with Grainger
    · Tenn. Acts 1869, 36th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 48/p. 62
  27. 1870
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to creation of Hamblen.
    to Hamblen
    · Tenn. Acts 1870, 36th assy., 2d sess., ch. 6, secs. 1-2, 5, 17/pp. 15, 17, 22; Historic Hamblen, 18
  28. 1875
    Lost territory Jefferson lost small area to Hamblen (later repealed).
    to Hamblen
    · Tenn. Acts 1875, 39th assy., ch. 140, secs. 1-5/pp. 228-230
  29. 1877
    Gained territory Jefferson gained small area from Hamblen (later repealed).
    from Hamblen
    · Tenn. Acts 1877, 40th assy., 1st sess., ch. 44, secs. 1, 7/pp. 59, 62
  30. 1879
    Boundary clarified Boundary between Jefferson and Hamblen redefined (no change).
    with Hamblenno change
    · Tenn. Acts 1879, 41st assy., 1st sess., ch. 18/p. 34
  31. 1879
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Grainger to accommodate local resident; Jefferson lost to Cocke to accommodate local resident.
    from Graingerfrom Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1879, 41st assy., 1st sess., ch. 56/p. 76; ch. 55/p. 75
  32. 1881
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Sevier to accommodate local resident.
    to Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1881, 42d assy., 1st sess., ch. 54/p. 68
  33. 1883
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Sevier to accommodate local residents.
    to Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 38/p. 44
  34. 1883
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Sevier to accommodate local residents.
    from Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 54/p. 56
  35. 1883
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Cocke to accommodate local resident.
    to Cocke
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 139/p. 188
  36. 1889
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Sevier to accommodate local residents.
    to Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 106/p. 212
  37. 1889
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Hamblen to accommodate local residents.
    to Hamblen
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 189/p. 372
  38. 1899
    Exchanged territory Jefferson exchanged with Hamblen to accommodate local residents.
    with Hamblen
    · Tenn. Acts 1899, 51st assy., ch. 385/p. 893
  39. 1901
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Sevier to accommodate local residents.
    from Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1901, 52d assy., ch. 260/p. 572
  40. 1901
    Gained territory Jefferson gained from Sevier to accommodate local residents.
    from Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1901, 52d assy., ch. 283/p. 649
  41. 1935
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Sevier to accommodate local resident.
    to Sevierto Jefferson-Sevier
    · Tenn. Acts 1935, 69th assy., priv., ch. 672/p. 1802
  42. 1937
    Lost territory Jefferson lost to Hamblen to accommodate local residents.
    to Hamblento Jefferson-Hamblen
    · Tenn. Acts 1937, 70th assy., priv., ch. 471/p. 1526

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Jefferson

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

Jefferson by the Census

Population
54,683 2020 Census count
Housing units
24,828 2020 Census count
Land area
275 square miles
Water area
39 square miles
People per sq mi
199 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

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Questions

Common questions about Jefferson County

When was Jefferson County founded?
Jefferson County was founded in 1792, formed from Greene County and Hawkins County, and named after Thomas Jefferson.
What is the county seat of Jefferson County?
The county seat of Jefferson County is Dandridge.
Is there an online parcel map for Jefferson County?
Yes. Jefferson County publishes a parcel map of 32,371 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Jefferson County's boundary or name changed?
Jefferson County was created in 1785 from Greene County and Hawkins County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 39 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Sevier County, Grainger County and Cocke County.
Is my lot in a flood zone?
We do not have flood maps for Jefferson 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