Hamilton County, Tennessee

Hamilton County
Hamilton County
U.S. county
	Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
	Tennessee's location within the U.S.
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Country	United States ;
State	Template:Country data Tennessee
Founded	October 25, 1819
Named for	Alexander Hamilton
Seat	Chattanooga
Area
• Total	576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	542 sq mi (1,400 km2)
• Water	33 sq mi (90 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	366,207
• Density	675/sq mi (261/km2)
Website	[[1] www.hamiltontn.gov/%20www.hamiltontn.gov]]

Hamilton-county-courthouse-tn1

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Hamilton County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 366,207, making it the fourth-most populous county in Tennessee. The county seat is Chattanooga, which is the fourth-largest city in Tennessee.

History[edit | edit source]

Hamilton County was established on October 25, 1819, and was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. The area was originally inhabited by the Cherokee people before European-American settlement.

Geography[edit | edit source]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 542 square miles (1,400 km²) is land and 33 square miles (85 km²) (5.8%) is water. The county is part of the Appalachian Mountains and features a diverse landscape that includes mountains, valleys, and rivers.

Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2020 census, there were 366,207 people, 147,799 households, and 91,724 families residing in the county. The population density was 675 people per square mile (261/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.1% White, 20.2% Black or African American, 2.1% Asian, and 6.1% from other races.

Economy[edit | edit source]

Hamilton County's economy is diverse, with major sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and tourism. The county is home to several large employers, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Volkswagen.

Education[edit | edit source]

Hamilton County is served by the Hamilton County Schools district, which includes numerous elementary, middle, and high schools. Higher education institutions in the county include the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College.

Transportation[edit | edit source]

Hamilton County is a transportation hub with several major highways, including Interstate 24, Interstate 75, and Interstate 59. The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport provides air service to the region.

Government[edit | edit source]

Hamilton County is governed by a county mayor and a county commission. The county mayor is the chief executive officer, while the county commission serves as the legislative body.