Sequatchie County is a county in Tennessee, United States, set in the Sequatchie Valley along the Cumberland Plateau. It had a population of 15,826 at the 2020 census and covers 266 square miles (690 km2) centred near 35°22′N 85°25′W.
Dunlap is the county seat, and its postal code is 37327. The county has one incorporated city, one census-designated place and several unincorporated communities. It observes Central time and carries FIPS code 47153.
Towns & Villages in Sequatchie County
Sequatchie County has one incorporated city (Dunlap, the seat), one census-designated place (Lone Oak) and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities across the valley floor and up onto Walden Ridge. Tennessee has no civil townships, so the county is not subdivided that way.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlap | City · seat | — | 37327 |
| Lone Oak | CDP | — | — |
| Brush Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bryant | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cagle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cartwright | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Daus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elm Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fredonia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lewis Chapel Mountain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Liberty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Airy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 37327 — Dunlap (also serves Lone Oak and most of the county)
The unincorporated crossroads communities scattered across the valley and up on Walden Ridge share the Dunlap ZIP; none has a distinct ZIP of its own.
Geography
Sequatchie County sits inside the Sequatchie Valley, a long trough carved between two arms of the Cumberland Plateau. The county is flanked on the east by Walden Ridge, the plateau’s steep escarpment, while the valley floor carries most of the farmland and settlement. Bordering counties are Van Buren County to the north, Bledsoe County to the northeast, Hamilton County to the southeast, Marion County to the southwest, Grundy County to the west and Warren County to the northwest.
Demographics
Sequatchie County counted 15,826 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of roughly 59 people per square mile. Dunlap and the Lone Oak CDP just outside it hold the largest concentrations of population; the rest of the county is rural. Median household income runs well below the Tennessee median of $67,631, consistent with the county’s rural, agricultural economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle, hay and row crops on the valley floor — and light manufacturing anchor the local economy, alongside commuting to jobs in the Chattanooga metropolitan area. Dunlap and the ridge above it are known regionally for hang gliding: consistent updrafts off Walden Ridge’s escarpment near Henson Gap have made the county a long-standing launch site for pilots, and it hosts regular fly-ins through the flying season.
History
Sequatchie County was created on December 9, 1857, from parts of Marion and Bledsoe counties. It takes its name from the Sequatchie Valley, itself named for a Cherokee chief; the Cherokee word “sequachee” is generally translated as “opossum” or “he grins.”
Getting There
U.S. Route 127 and Tennessee State Route 111 intersect in Dunlap, giving the county its main road connections north to the Upper Cumberland and south toward Chattanooga.
- Chattanooga — 30 miles southeast
- McMinnville — 25 miles northwest
- Jasper (Marion County) — 20 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), about 30 miles southeast of Dunlap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sequatchie County, Tennessee?
It lies in the Sequatchie Valley on the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Tennessee, part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area.
What is the population of Sequatchie County?
15,826 at the 2020 census.
How big is Sequatchie County?
266 square miles (690 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Sequatchie County?
Dunlap.
How many towns are in Sequatchie County?
One incorporated city (Dunlap), one census-designated place (Lone Oak), and several unincorporated communities across the valley and ridge.
What ZIP codes are in Sequatchie County?
37327, centred on Dunlap, covers nearly the whole county.
Why is Dunlap known for hang gliding?
Steady updrafts off the Walden Ridge escarpment near Henson Gap make it one of the Southeast’s most reliable hang gliding launch sites.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.