Hickman County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the western edge of the Nashville Basin along the Duck River. It had a population of 24,925 at the 2020 census and covers 613 square miles (1,590 km2) centred near 35°48′N 87°28′W.
Centerville is the county seat, and its postal code is 37033. The county has one incorporated city, three census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities. Hickman County observes Central time and was once part of the Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metropolitan area before being removed from it in September 2018.
Towns & Villages in Hickman County
Hickman County has one incorporated city (Centerville), three census-designated places (Bon Aqua Junction, Lyles, and Wrigley), and a wide scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. CDP figures below are U.S. Census Bureau 2020 counts; unincorporated places have no separate census tally.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centerville | City · seat | — | 37033 |
| Bon Aqua Junction | CDP | — | 37025 |
| Lyles | CDP | — | 37098 |
| Wrigley | CDP | — | — |
| Aetna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beaverdam Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bon Aqua | Unincorp. | — | 37025 |
| Bond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bucksnort | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buffalo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center Star | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coble | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deans | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dogwood Flat | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duck River | Unincorp. | — | 38454 |
| Elkins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farmers Exchange | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Furnace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goodrich | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Graham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Graytown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hornertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Johnsons Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jones Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Rock Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Littlelot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Matlock Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mill Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nunnelly | Unincorp. | — | 37137 |
| Only | Unincorp. | — | 37140 |
| Pinewood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasantville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Primm Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rodemer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salt Lick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunrise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Swan Bluff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tidwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tottys Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Twomey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Upper Sinking | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vernon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Watson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitehouse | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodland Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wrigley | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two names on the list are easy to confuse: Bon Aqua is the older mineral-springs community along the historic stage road, while Bon Aqua Junction is the modern census-designated place that grew up around the rail junction and now carries the shared 37025 ZIP.
ZIP Codes
- 37033 — Centerville
- 37025 — Bon Aqua (also serves Bon Aqua Junction)
- 37098 — Lyles
- 37137 — Nunnelly
- 37140 — Only
- 38454 — Duck River
Most other communities on the list share one of these six post-office ZIPs; Hickman County has no additional standalone delivery ZIPs on record.
Geography
Hickman County sits on the western rim of the Nashville Basin, where the Highland Rim’s hardwood ridges and hollows dominate the terrain. The Duck River crosses the county roughly west to east, joined by the Piney River and a dense network of smaller creeks that carved the county’s iron-ore hollows in the 19th century. Of the county’s 613 square miles, about 612 are land and 0.1 are water.
Hickman County borders Dickson County to the north, Williamson County to the east, Maury County to the southeast, Lewis County to the south, Perry County to the west, and Humphreys County to the northwest. Live pages: Dickson County, Williamson County, Maury County, Lewis County, Perry County, and Humphreys County.
Demographics
Hickman County had 24,925 residents at the 2020 census, spread across a mostly rural county at roughly 41 people per square mile. Centerville is the largest community by a wide margin, followed by the Bon Aqua Junction and Lyles areas along Highway 100. Median household income in the county runs well below the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting a largely agricultural and manufacturing economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing, agriculture, and forestry anchor the county’s economy, alongside a growing commuter population working in the Nashville and Williamson County job markets to the east. Beef cattle, hay, and timber are the county’s main agricultural products. Centerville hosts the county’s government offices, schools, and small-business district around the courthouse square.
History
Hickman County was organized in 1807 and named for Edwin Hickman, a surveyor killed by a Native American war party at Defeated Creek in 1791. Its 19th-century economy was built on charcoal iron furnaces fed by local ore and timber, several of which left place names still on the map, including Furnace. The county is the birthplace of Grand Ole Opry comedian Minnie Pearl and songwriter Beth Slater Whitson, and it is the setting of Johnny Cash’s song “Saturday Night in Hickman County.”
Getting There
U.S. Route 100 and State Route 48 cross the county through Centerville, connecting it to Nashville to the east and the Tennessee River valley to the west.
- Nashville — 55 miles east
- Columbia — 25 miles southeast
- Dickson — 20 miles northeast
- Waverly — 25 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport (BNA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hickman County, Tennessee?
Hickman County sits on the western edge of the Nashville Basin in Middle Tennessee, about 55 miles west of Nashville.
What is the population of Hickman County?
Hickman County had a population of 24,925 at the 2020 census.
How big is Hickman County?
The county covers 613 square miles (1,590 km2), of which about 612 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Hickman County?
Centerville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hickman County?
The county has one incorporated city, three census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities, for more than 50 named places in all.
What ZIP codes are in Hickman County?
The main ZIP codes are 37033 (Centerville), 37025 (Bon Aqua), 37098 (Lyles), 37137 (Nunnelly), 37140 (Only), and 38454 (Duck River).
Is Hickman County part of the Nashville metro area?
It was included in the Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin Metropolitan Statistical Area until the federal government removed it in September 2018.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.