Giles County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the Alabama state line in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 30,346 at the 2020 census and covers 611 square miles (1,580 km2) of land, centred near 35°12′N 87°02′W.
Pulaski is the county seat and its postal code is 38478. The county has four incorporated cities and towns, two census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities and crossroads. Giles County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Giles County
Giles County’s settled places range from the county-seat city of Pulaski down to farm crossroads with a store and a church. The table below covers the incorporated cities and towns, the two census-designated places, and the larger named unincorporated communities carried over from the county’s historical settlement list. Type key: City · seat = the county seat; City/Town = incorporated; CDP = census-designated place (unincorporated but census-tracked); Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski | City · seat | 7,870 | 38478 |
| Ardmore | City (partial) | 1,240 | 38449 |
| Elkton | City | 562 | 38455 |
| Minor Hill | City | 473 | 38473 |
| Lynnville | Town | 329 | 38472 |
| Prospect | CDP | — | 38477 |
| Frankewing | CDP | — | — |
| Goodspring | Unincorp. | — | 38460 |
| Bodenham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunker Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Campbellsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diana | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elkmont Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Five Points | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kedron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Liberty Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Malone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pisgah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waco | Unincorp. | — | — |
Ardmore straddles the Tennessee–Alabama line: the Tennessee side is in Giles County and the Alabama side is a separate incorporated town in Limestone County, Alabama, though both share the same ZIP code and school system on the Tennessee side.
ZIP Codes
- 38478 — Pulaski (also serves most of central Giles County)
- 38449 — Ardmore (also serves the Tennessee side of the state-line community)
- 38472 — Lynnville
- 38455 — Elkton (PO Box delivery)
- 38473 — Minor Hill
- 38477 — Prospect
- 38460 — Goodspring
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Bodenham, Kedron and Pisgah use the ZIP code of the nearest post-office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Giles County lies in the rolling farmland of the Highland Rim, drained by the Elk River and its tributaries, which cross the county on their way toward the Tennessee River. The terrain is mostly pasture and cropland, with wooded ridges along the county’s eastern edge. The county borders Maury County to the north, Marshall County to the northeast, Lincoln County to the east, Limestone County, Alabama to the south, Lauderdale County, Alabama to the southwest, and Lawrence County to the west.
Demographics
Giles County had 30,346 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 50 people per square mile. Pulaski is by far the largest community, followed by Ardmore’s Tennessee side. Median household income in the county runs below the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting the county’s largely agricultural and light-industrial economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle, hay and row crops — remains central to Giles County’s economy, alongside light manufacturing and distribution facilities around Pulaski. Pulaski’s historic downtown square, anchored by the 1909 courthouse, is the county’s commercial and civic center. The county is part of the Jack Daniel Trail region promoted across south-central Tennessee, and Pulaski hosts an annual Christmas parade and courthouse-square events that draw visitors from neighboring counties.
History
Giles County was organized on November 14, 1809, and named for William Branch Giles, a Virginia senator who had backed Tennessee’s admission to the Union. The county courthouse in Pulaski has burned and been rebuilt four times; the current building dates to 1909. Pulaski was the birthplace of three Tennessee governors — Aaron V. Brown, Neill S. Brown and John C. Brown — and of aircraft manufacturer Walter Beech. In more recent history, Lynnville was the site of the 1995 Richland High School shooting.
Getting There
U.S. Route 31 runs north–south through Pulaski, connecting the county to Columbia and Nashville to the north and to Alabama to the south; State Route 6 and State Route 64 cross the county east–west.
- Columbia — 30 miles north
- Nashville — 75 miles north
- Huntsville, Alabama — 45 miles south
- Lawrenceburg — 25 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Huntsville International Airport in Alabama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Giles County, Tennessee?
It is in south-central Tennessee, on the Alabama state line south of Columbia and Pulaski, its county seat.
What is the population of Giles County?
30,346 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Giles County?
611 square miles (1,580 km2) of land area.
What is the county seat of Giles County?
Pulaski is the county seat.
How many towns are in Giles County?
Four incorporated cities and towns — Pulaski, Ardmore, Elkton and Minor Hill — plus the town of Lynnville and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Giles County?
38478 (Pulaski), 38449 (Ardmore), 38472 (Lynnville), 38455 (Elkton), 38473 (Minor Hill), 38477 (Prospect) and 38460 (Goodspring).
Does Giles County share a town with Alabama?
Yes — Ardmore straddles the Tennessee–Alabama line, with separate incorporated towns on each side sharing one community identity.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.