Rhea County, Tennessee

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Rhea County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,183. Its county seat is Dayton. The county was named for John Rhea, a Tennessee politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives.

History

Rhea County was established in 1807. It is historically significant for the Scopes Trial of 1925, which took place in Dayton. The trial, formally known as The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, was a landmark American legal case in which high school teacher John T. Scopes was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which had made it unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 336 square miles (870 km²), of which 316 square miles (820 km²) is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) (5.9%) is water. The county is part of the Cumberland Plateau and is bordered by the Tennessee River to the west.

Adjacent counties

• Roane County (northeast)
• Meigs County (north)
• McMinn County (east)
• Hamilton County (south)
• Bledsoe County (west)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 33,183 people, 12,000 households, and 8,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 105 people per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with small percentages of African American, Native American, Asian, and other races.

Economy

The economy of Rhea County is diverse, with significant contributions from agriculture, manufacturing, and retail. The county is known for its poultry and dairy farming. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) also plays a significant role in the local economy, particularly through the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

Education

Rhea County is served by the Rhea County School District, which includes several elementary schools, a middle school, and Rhea County High School. Higher education opportunities are available at nearby institutions such as Bryan College in Dayton.

Communities

Cities

• Dayton (county seat)
• Graysville
• Spring City

Unincorporated communities

• Evensville
• Grandview
• Frazier

Notable People

• John T. Scopes, teacher involved in the Scopes Trial
• William Jennings Bryan, prosecutor in the Scopes Trial

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Rhea County, Tennessee
• Tennessee counties

External links

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