Maury County is a county in Tennessee, United States, in the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metropolitan area. It had a population of 100,974 at the 2020 census and covers 616 square miles (1,600 km2) centred near 35°37′N 87°05′W.
Columbia is the county seat, and its postal code is 38401. The county has 3 incorporated cities and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities and rural neighborhoods; it observes Central time and has no civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Maury County
Maury County has three incorporated cities — Columbia, Mount Pleasant, and part of Spring Hill — plus a scattering of unincorporated communities, historic mill villages, and rural neighborhoods. The table below marks incorporated places as City, and everything else as Unincorp.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | City · seat | 41,690 | 38401 |
| Spring Hill | City | — | 37174 |
| Mount Pleasant | City | 5,048 | 38474 |
| Culleoka | Unincorp. | — | 38451 |
| Santa Fe | Unincorp. | — | 38482 |
| Hampshire | Unincorp. | — | 38461 |
| Williamsport | Unincorp. | — | 38487 |
| Bigbyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carters Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chapel Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Water Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ashwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kedron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Isom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Theta | Unincorp. | — | — |
Spring Hill straddles the Maury–Williamson county line, with the bulk of its housing growth in recent years on the Williamson side. Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Culleoka, Santa Fe, Hampshire, and Williamsport are the county’s recognized post office towns; the remaining names on this list are rural crossroads, mill-village remnants, or neighborhoods with no independent municipal government.
ZIP Codes
- 38401 — Columbia (post office town for the county seat)
- 38402 — Columbia (PO Box only)
- 37174 — Spring Hill (shared with Williamson County)
- 38474 — Mount Pleasant
- 38451 — Culleoka
- 38482 — Santa Fe
- 38461 — Hampshire
- 38487 — Williamsport
Smaller communities such as Bigbyville, Ashwood, and Bethel are served by the Columbia or Mount Pleasant post offices rather than having their own ZIP code.
Geography
Maury County sits in the Highland Rim and Central Basin transition zone of Middle Tennessee, with rolling farmland, phosphate-bearing ridges near Mount Pleasant, and the Duck River running east to west through the county. Only 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) of the county’s area is water.
Maury County borders Williamson County to the north, Marshall County to the east, Giles County to the south, Lawrence County to the southwest, Lewis County to the west, and Hickman County to the northwest.
Demographics
Maury County had 100,974 residents at the 2020 census, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in Middle Tennessee. Columbia and Spring Hill are the two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs close to the Tennessee median of $67,631, though Spring Hill’s newer subdivisions push local averages higher than Columbia’s. Population density is about 164 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Maury County has long led Tennessee in beef cattle production, and agriculture remains part of the local economy alongside phosphate mining history around Mount Pleasant. General Motors’ Spring Hill assembly plant, which builds the Cadillac XT5 and other models, is one of the region’s largest employers and has driven much of the county’s recent residential growth. Columbia hosts Columbia State Community College and an annual Mule Day festival each spring, a tradition tracing back to the county’s history as a mule-trading center.
History
Maury County was formed in 1807 from Williamson County and named for Abram Maury Sr., a Tennessee state senator. Columbia grew as a market town on the Duck River and later as the boyhood home of President James K. Polk. In 1946, the Columbia Race Riot — sparked after Black World War II veterans defended their right to vote and shop downtown — became one of the first major postwar racial confrontations in the country and drew national civil-rights attention.
Getting There
U.S. Route 31 and State Routes 7, 50, and 99 cross the county; Interstate 65 runs along its eastern edge through the Spring Hill area.
- Nashville — 45 miles north
- Franklin — 20 miles north
- Lawrenceburg — 30 miles south
- Pulaski — 25 miles southeast
Nashville International Airport, about 45 miles north, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maury County, Tennessee?
It lies in Middle Tennessee, about 45 miles south of Nashville, along the Duck River.
What is the population of Maury County?
100,974 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Maury County?
616 square miles (1,600 km2), including 2.4 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Maury County?
Columbia is the county seat.
How many towns are in Maury County?
Three incorporated cities — Columbia, Mount Pleasant, and part of Spring Hill — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Maury County?
38401 and 38402 (Columbia), 37174 (Spring Hill), 38474 (Mount Pleasant), 38451 (Culleoka), 38482 (Santa Fe), 38461 (Hampshire), and 38487 (Williamsport).
Why is Columbia known as the “Mule Capital of the World”?
Columbia was historically a major mule-trading center for Middle Tennessee farmers, a heritage the city still celebrates each April at Mule Day.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.