Hardeman County is a county in Tennessee, United States, about 65 miles east of Memphis along the Mississippi state line. It had a population of 25,462 at the 2020 census and covers 670 square miles (1,700 km2) of land and water, centred near 35°12′N 89°00′W.
Bolivar is the county seat, and its postal code is 38008. The county has 6 towns, 1 city besides the seat, 2 census-designated places and several unincorporated communities. Hardeman County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Hardeman County
Hardeman County has one incorporated city (Bolivar, the county seat), one additional incorporated city, and six incorporated towns, plus two census-designated places (CDPs) and a scatter of unincorporated communities and crossroads. Tennessee has no civil townships, so this list is not grouped by township.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar | City · seat | 5,308 | 38008 |
| Grand Junction | City | 334 | 38039 |
| Middleton | Town | 602 | 38052 |
| Hickory Valley | Town | 103 | 38041 |
| Hornsby | Town | 417 | 38044 |
| Saulsbury | Town | 101 | 38067 |
| Silerton | Town | — | — |
| Toone | Town | 385 | 38381 |
| Whiteville | Town | 4,542 | 38075 |
| Essary Springs | CDP | — | — |
| Pocahontas | CDP | — | — |
| Cloverport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Van Buren | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vildo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hebron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lacy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lisbon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newcastle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Top | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Piney Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Porters Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rogers Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Serles | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shandy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sugar Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Teague | Unincorp. | — | — |
Grand Junction sits directly on the Hardeman–Fayette county line, and its small population is split between the two counties — the figure above is Hardeman’s share only.
ZIP Codes
- 38008 — Bolivar (also serves Van Buren and Vildo)
- 38039 — Grand Junction
- 38041 — Hickory Valley
- 38044 — Hornsby
- 38052 — Middleton
- 38067 — Saulsbury
- 38075 — Whiteville
- 38381 — Toone (also serves Cloverport)
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Center Point, Pine Top and Serles do not have their own post office and use the ZIP code of the nearest larger town.
Geography
Hardeman County sits in the Gulf Coastal Plain of West Tennessee, drained by the Hatchie River, which crosses the county roughly east to west and is bordered by one of the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forests in the state. The terrain is gently rolling, with sandy loam soils that historically supported cotton farming.
Hardeman County borders McNairy County to the east, Chester County to the northeast, Madison County to the north, Haywood County to the northwest, Fayette County to the west, and Benton, Tippah and Alcorn counties in Mississippi to the southwest, south and southeast.
Demographics
Hardeman County had a population of 25,462 at the 2020 census. Bolivar (5,308) and Whiteville (4,542) are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the Tennessee median of $67,631, consistent with its rural, agricultural economy. Population density is roughly 38 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Hardeman County’s economy, with cotton, soybeans and corn grown across the county’s flat bottomland farms. State government is a major employer through the Bolivar-based West Tennessee State Veterans Home and the county’s corrections facilities. Bolivar’s historic downtown square, built around the county courthouse, anchors local commerce.
History
The Tennessee General Assembly organized Hardeman County in 1823 from parts of Hardin County and land ceded by the Chickasaw. It is named for Thomas J. Hardeman (1788–1854), a War of 1812 and Creek War veteran who later served as a legislator for the Republic of Texas. During the Civil War, Grand Junction hosted one of the first Union “contraband camps,” where formerly enslaved people found refuge behind Union lines, and the county saw fighting at the Battle of Hatchie’s Bridge in October 1862.
Getting There
U.S. Route 64 crosses Hardeman County east–west through Bolivar, and State Route 18 runs north–south. Nearby cities:
- Jackson, Tennessee — 30 miles north
- Memphis, Tennessee — 65 miles west
- Corinth, Mississippi — 40 miles southeast
McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport in Jackson is the nearest commercial airport; Memphis International Airport offers wider connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hardeman County?
It is in southwestern Tennessee, on the Mississippi state line, about 65 miles east of Memphis.
What is the population of Hardeman County?
25,462 at the 2020 census.
How big is Hardeman County?
670 square miles (1,700 km2), of which about 2.6 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Hardeman County?
Bolivar, which is also the county’s largest town.
How many towns are in Hardeman County?
Two cities (Bolivar and Grand Junction), six incorporated towns, and two census-designated places, plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hardeman County?
The main ZIP codes are 38008 (Bolivar), 38039 (Grand Junction), 38041 (Hickory Valley), 38044 (Hornsby), 38052 (Middleton), 38067 (Saulsbury), 38075 (Whiteville) and 38381 (Toone).
What river runs through Hardeman County?
The Hatchie River, one of the last unchannelized major rivers in the state, crosses the county east to west.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.