Trousdale County is a county in Tennessee, United States, the state’s smallest county by land area, roughly 35 miles northeast of Nashville. It had a population of 11,615 at the 2020 census and covers 117 square miles (300 km2), of which 114 square miles are land and 2.5 square miles are water, centred near 36°23′N 86°10′W.
Hartsville is the county seat, and its postal code is 37074. Trousdale operates a consolidated city-county government — Hartsville is the only incorporated municipality, alongside a handful of unincorporated communities. The county has no civil townships. It observes Central time and sits within the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Trousdale County
Trousdale County’s single incorporated town shares one consolidated government with the county itself. The rest of the county is made up of small rural communities and crossroads, none separately incorporated (Unincorp.).
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsville | City · seat | — | 37074 |
| Beech Grove | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Cato | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Halltown | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Johntown | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Paynes Store | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Providence | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Rock House | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Templow | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Walnut Grove | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
| Willard | Unincorp. | — | 37074 |
Because Hartsville and Trousdale County share one government, older references sometimes list “Hartsville-Trousdale County” as a separate place — it is the same municipality as Hartsville, not a second town.
ZIP Codes
- 37074 — Hartsville (also serves the whole county; Trousdale County has no other ZIP-code-carrying post office)
All of the county’s unincorporated communities use the Hartsville ZIP code, since none has its own post office.
Geography
Trousdale County sits in the Nashville Basin along the Cumberland River, which forms much of its northern and eastern edge. The terrain is rolling farmland cut by creek valleys, with the Cumberland’s floodplain giving the county some of its most fertile bottomland. It borders Macon County to the north, Smith County to the east, Wilson County to the south, and Sumner County to the west.
Demographics
Trousdale County had 11,615 residents at the 2020 census, a figure inflated by the roughly 2,500 inmates housed at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center — more than a fifth of the county’s counted population. Hartsville is by far the largest community; the rest of the population is spread across small unincorporated places like Beech Grove and Shady Grove. Median household income in the county runs below the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting its small, largely rural tax base. Population density is roughly 100 people per square mile, among the lower figures in Middle Tennessee outside the correctional facility’s footprint.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, particularly tobacco and cattle farming, has long anchored the county’s economy, alongside employment tied to the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, one of the county’s largest single employers since it opened in 2016. Hartsville’s small downtown serves as the county’s commercial and civic center. Many residents commute toward Nashville and Gallatin for additional work.
History
Trousdale County was formed on September 5, 1870, from parts of Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Wilson counties, and named for William Trousdale (1790–1872), a brigadier general in the Mexican–American War and governor of Tennessee from 1849 to 1851. In 2016 the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center opened just outside Hartsville; during the COVID-19 pandemic the facility recorded one of the highest per-capita outbreak rates of any county in the United States, in May 2020.
Getting There
State Route 25 and State Route 141 are the county’s main roads, linking Hartsville to neighboring county seats.
- Gallatin — 15 miles west
- Lebanon — 20 miles south
- Carthage — 15 miles east
- Nashville — 35 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport (BNA), about 40 miles southwest of Hartsville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Trousdale County, Tennessee?
It is in Middle Tennessee, about 35 miles northeast of Nashville, along the Cumberland River.
What is the population of Trousdale County?
11,615 at the 2020 census, including inmates at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center.
How big is Trousdale County?
117 square miles (300 km2), making it Tennessee’s smallest county by land area.
What is the county seat of Trousdale County?
Hartsville, which shares a single consolidated government with the county.
How many towns are in Trousdale County?
One incorporated city, Hartsville, plus a dozen small unincorporated communities such as Beech Grove and Shady Grove.
What ZIP codes are in Trousdale County?
37074, covering Hartsville and the entire county.
Why is Trousdale County’s population figure unusual?
Because roughly 2,500 inmates at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center are counted as county residents, over a fifth of the total.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.