Houston County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the western bank of the Cumberland River in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 8,283 at the 2020 census and covers 207 square miles (536 km2), of which 200 square miles (520 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) is water, centred near 36°17′N 87°43′W.
Erin is the county seat, and its postal code is 37061. The county has one city (Erin), one town (Tennessee Ridge, which also extends into neighboring Stewart County), and a handful of unincorporated communities. Houston County observes Central time and has no civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Houston County
Houston County is mostly rural, with just two incorporated places and a small number of unincorporated communities along its state routes. City · seat marks the county seat; Unincorp. marks a named place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erin | City · seat | 1,224 | 37061 |
| Tennessee Ridge | Town | 1,332 | 37178 |
| McKinnon | Unincorp. | — | 37061 |
| Stewart | Unincorp. | — | 37175 |
Tennessee Ridge straddles the Houston–Stewart county line; its population figure above is the town total across both counties. The unincorporated community of Stewart shares a name with neighboring Stewart County but lies inside Houston County, on the Stewart County line.
ZIP Codes
- 37061 — Erin (also serves McKinnon)
- 37178 — Tennessee Ridge
- 37175 — Stewart
Every incorporated place and named community in the county falls under one of these three ZIP codes.
Geography
Houston County sits on the western bank of the Cumberland River, with rolling, forested terrain typical of the western Highland Rim. The Cumberland forms part of the county’s eastern and northern edge, and Land Between the Lakes lies just across the river to the northwest. Roughly 3 percent of the county’s area is water.
Houston County is bounded on almost every side by other Cumberland River-basin counties. It borders Stewart County to the north, Montgomery County to the northeast, Dickson County to the east, Humphreys County to the south, and Benton County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census recorded 8,283 residents. Erin, the county seat, is the largest community at 1,224 people, followed by Tennessee Ridge at 1,332 (counting its Stewart County portion). Houston County’s median household income runs below the Tennessee median of $67,631, consistent with its rural, thinly populated economy. With 8,283 people spread over 200 square miles of land, the county’s density is about 41 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry, and small manufacturing anchor the local economy, alongside county and town government jobs based in Erin. Cattle farming and timber remain steady employers on the county’s rural land, while a few small plants in and around Erin and Tennessee Ridge supply light manufacturing jobs. The Cumberland River and nearby Land Between the Lakes draw fishing, hunting, and boating to the area, supporting a modest tourism trade in the summer months. Many residents commute northeast to Clarksville or east to Dickson for larger employers and shopping.
History
Houston County was organized in 1871, carved from parts of Dickson, Humphreys, and Montgomery Counties. It is named for Sam Houston, the Tennessee governor and later president of the Republic of Texas, who never lived in the county himself. Erin was established as the county seat around the same time. Like much of rural Middle Tennessee, the county’s population has stayed roughly flat for decades, with agriculture giving way gradually to commuting and light industry. Politically, the county was historically Democratic-leaning but has voted strongly Republican in presidential elections since 2012.
Getting There
State Routes 13, 46, 49, 147, 149, 231, and 232 cross the county, with SR 13 running north–south through Erin as the main corridor.
- Dickson — 25 miles east
- Clarksville — 30 miles northeast
- Waverly — 15 miles south
- Camden — 25 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport, about 70 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Houston County, Tennessee?
It is in north-central Tennessee, on the western bank of the Cumberland River, roughly 70 miles west of Nashville.
What is the population of Houston County?
8,283 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Houston County?
207 square miles (536 km2) in total, of which 200 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Houston County?
Erin is the county seat.
How many towns are in Houston County?
The county has one city, Erin, and one town, Tennessee Ridge, plus a few unincorporated communities such as McKinnon and Stewart.
What ZIP codes are in Houston County?
37061 (Erin), 37178 (Tennessee Ridge), and 37175 (Stewart).
What river runs through Houston County?
The Cumberland River forms part of the county’s eastern and northern boundary.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.