Smith County is a county in Tennessee, United States, part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metropolitan area on the eastern edge of the Nashville Basin. It had a population of 19,904 at the 2020 census and covers 325 square miles (840 km2) centred near 36°15′N 85°58′W.
Carthage is the county seat; its postal code is 37030. The county has three incorporated towns (Carthage, Gordonsville and South Carthage), one census-designated place (Hickman) and more than two dozen unincorporated communities. Smith County observes Central Time.
Towns & Villages in Smith County
Smith County’s settlements range from the courthouse town of Carthage on the Cumberland River to farm crossroads such as Difficult and Defeated. The table below lists the incorporated towns, the one census-designated place, and the unincorporated communities carried over from county records. “CDP” marks a census-designated place with no town government; “Unincorp.” marks a rural community with no municipal boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | City · seat | — | 37030 |
| Gordonsville | Town | — | 38563 |
| South Carthage | Town | — | 37030 |
| Hickman | CDP | — | 37030 |
| Bluff Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brush Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carthage Junction | Unincorp. | — | 37030 |
| Cartwright | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chestnut Mound | Unincorp. | — | 38552 |
| Club Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Defeated | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Difficult | Unincorp. | — | 38542 |
| Dixon Springs | Unincorp. | — | 37057 |
| Donoho | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edgefield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elmwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flat Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grant | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Graveltown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kempville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lancaster | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lancaster Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Macey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McClures Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Monoville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Middleton | Unincorp. | — | 38566 |
| Old Middleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Shade | Unincorp. | — | 37145 |
| Riddleton | Unincorp. | — | 37151 |
| Rock City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rome | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sebowisha | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shaver Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stonewall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sykes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tanglewood | Unincorp. | — | — |
Carthage and South Carthage sit on opposite banks of the Cumberland River and share the 37030 ZIP code; they are separate towns with separate governments, not one place under two names.
ZIP Codes
- 37030 — Carthage (also serves South Carthage and Hickman)
- 38563 — Gordonsville
- 38552 — Chestnut Mound
- 38542 — Difficult
- 37057 — Dixon Springs
- 38566 — New Middleton
- 37145 — Pleasant Shade
- 37151 — Riddleton
Smaller communities such as Defeated, Bluff Creek, Rock City and Stonewall have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP code.
Geography
Smith County sits at the transition between the rugged Highland Rim to the east and the flatter Nashville Basin to the west. The Cumberland River and its Caney Fork tributary cross the county, and Cordell Hull Dam impounds the river just downstream of Carthage, forming Cordell Hull Lake along the county’s northern edge.
Smith County borders Macon County to the north, Jackson County to the northeast, Putnam County to the east, DeKalb County to the south, Wilson County to the southwest, and Trousdale County to the west.
Demographics
Smith County had 19,904 residents at the 2020 census. Carthage and South Carthage, the two largest communities, sit side by side on the Cumberland River. Smith County’s median household income runs below the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting its rural, farm- and small-industry-based economy. Population density is about 61 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Smith County’s economy — cattle, hay and tobacco are the traditional mainstays — alongside light manufacturing and jobs commuting into the Nashville metro area. Cordell Hull Lake and the Cumberland River draw recreational boating and fishing traffic, and Carthage’s historic courthouse square anchors the county’s civic life.
History
Smith County was established in 1799 from part of Sumner County and named for Daniel Smith, a Revolutionary War veteran, surveyor and later United States senator who helped draft Tennessee’s first detailed map. Carthage, laid out on a bluff above the Cumberland River, has served as county seat since the county’s founding. The 1970s construction of Cordell Hull Dam reshaped the county’s northern river landscape, creating the lake that now borders several of its communities.
Getting There
- Nashville — 55 miles southwest
- Lebanon — 25 miles southwest
- Cookeville — 35 miles east
- Gallatin — 30 miles west
State Route 25 and State Route 141 cross through Carthage, connecting to Interstate 40 to the south. The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Smith County, Tennessee?
It is in Middle Tennessee, about 55 miles northeast of Nashville, along the Cumberland River.
What is the population of Smith County?
19,904 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Smith County?
325 square miles (840 km2), of which about 11 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Smith County?
Carthage is the county seat.
How many towns are in Smith County?
Three incorporated towns — Carthage, Gordonsville and South Carthage — plus the census-designated place Hickman and more than two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Smith County?
Carthage and South Carthage share 37030; Gordonsville is 38563, with Chestnut Mound, Difficult, Dixon Springs, New Middleton, Pleasant Shade and Riddleton each holding their own ZIP.
Why do Carthage and South Carthage share a ZIP code?
The two towns sit on opposite banks of the Cumberland River, close enough that the postal service treats them as one delivery area even though they are separately incorporated.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.