Sumner County, Tennessee

Sumner County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the state’s central northern border about 25 miles northeast of Nashville. It had a population of 196,281 at the 2020 census and covers 543 square miles (1,406 km2) centred near 36°28′N 86°28′W.

Gallatin is the county seat, and its postal code is 37066. The county has eight incorporated cities and towns and dozens of unincorporated communities, is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metropolitan area, and sits in the Central time zone.

Towns & Villages in Sumner County

Eight places in Sumner County are incorporated municipalities with their own city government; the rest are unincorporated communities, historic crossroads, or residential subdivisions recognised as populated places. “CDP” marks a census-designated place with no city government of its own; “Unincorp.” marks a community with no incorporated status. Tennessee has no civil-township layer, so places are not grouped by township.

Goodlettsville straddles the Sumner–Davidson county line; most of its population lives on the Davidson side, so no reliable Sumner-only figure is published here. Mitchellville is a small incorporated city on the Robertson County line and shares services with neighbouring Portland. A handful of entries on the old list — duplicate “Rolling Acres” and stray typos — have been cleaned up; see notes.md.

ZIP Codes

• 37066 — Gallatin
• 37075 — Hendersonville (also serves Shackle Island)
• 37072 — Goodlettsville (also serves Millersville)
• 37148 — Portland
• 37188 — White House
• 37186 — Westmoreland
• 37119 — Mitchellville
• 37031 — Castalian Springs
• 37048 — Cottontown

Most of the smaller unincorporated communities and residential subdivisions listed above share a ZIP code with their nearest post-office town rather than carrying one of their own.

Geography

Sumner County sits on the Highland Rim along the Kentucky state line, with the Cumberland River forming its western and southern boundary before it turns toward Nashville. Old Hickory Lake, a reservoir on the Cumberland, covers much of the county’s southwestern edge and is a major recreation draw. Land makes up 529 of the county’s 543 square miles, with the remaining 14 square miles in water.

Sumner County borders Davidson County to the southwest, Wilson County to the south, Trousdale County to the southeast, Macon County to the east, and Robertson County to the west. Allen and Simpson counties, Kentucky, lie across the state line to the north.

Demographics

The 2020 census counted 196,281 residents, making Sumner one of Tennessee’s largest counties by population. Hendersonville, with 61,753 residents, is the largest city; Gallatin, the county seat, is second with 44,431. Population density works out to roughly 371 people per square mile of land. Sumner’s median household income runs above the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting its position as a commuter county for Nashville.

Economy & Local Life

Sumner County’s economy blends Nashville-commuter households with its own manufacturing, healthcare, and retail base. Volunteer State Community College, in Gallatin, is the county’s largest higher-education employer. Hendersonville and Gallatin both carry substantial retail and office corridors along Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and Nashville Pike. Old Hickory Lake supports a marina and lakefront-recreation economy on the county’s southwestern edge.

History

Sumner County was established in November 1786, while Tennessee was still part of North Carolina’s western territory, and was named for General Jethro Sumner, a Revolutionary War officer. Castalian Springs, one of the county’s oldest communities, grew around a mineral spring that drew visitors through the 19th century. Bledsoe’s Fort, near present-day Castalian Springs, was among the earliest European-American settlements in the Cumberland region, dating to the 1770s.

Getting There

Interstate 65 crosses the western part of the county through White House and Millersville, and US Routes 31E, 31W, 41, and 231 all pass through Sumner County, along with State Routes 25, 52, 76, 109, 174, and 258.

• Nashville — 25 miles southwest
• Lebanon — 25 miles south
• Bowling Green, Kentucky — 45 miles north
• Clarksville — 45 miles west

Nashville International Airport, about 25 miles southwest of Gallatin, is the nearest commercial airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sumner County, Tennessee?
It sits on Tennessee’s central northern border, about 25 miles northeast of Nashville, and borders Kentucky.

What is the population of Sumner County?
196,281 people, as of the 2020 census.

How big is Sumner County?
543 square miles (1,406 km2), of which 14 square miles is water.

What is the county seat of Sumner County?
Gallatin is the county seat.

How many towns are in Sumner County?
Eight incorporated cities and towns — Gallatin, Hendersonville, Goodlettsville, Portland, White House, Millersville, Westmoreland, and Mitchellville — plus dozens of unincorporated communities.

What ZIP codes are in Sumner County?
Major ZIPs include 37066 (Gallatin), 37075 (Hendersonville), 37072 (Goodlettsville/Millersville), 37148 (Portland), 37188 (White House), and 37186 (Westmoreland).

What is the largest city in Sumner County?
Hendersonville, with 61,753 residents at the 2020 census, is the county’s largest city; Gallatin is the county seat.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.