Weakley County is a county in Tennessee, United States, tucked into the northwest corner of the state against the Kentucky line. It had a population of 32,902 at the 2020 census and covers 582 square miles (1,510 km2), centred near 36°17′N 88°43′W.
Dresden is the county seat; Martin is the largest city and its postal code is 38237 (the University of Tennessee at Martin campus uses 38238). The county has four incorporated cities, two incorporated towns and two census-designated places, all in the Central time zone. Weakley County’s FIPS code is 47183.
Towns & Villages in Weakley County
Martin anchors the county’s population and its university; Dresden runs county government from the courthouse square. The remaining cities, towns and CDPs are spread across the farmland between them.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin | City | 10,825 | 38237 |
| Dresden | City · seat | 3,019 | 38225 |
| McKenzie | City | 5,529* | 38201 |
| Greenfield | City | — | — |
| Gleason | Town | — | — |
| Sharon | Town | — | — |
| Dukedom | CDP | — | — |
| Palmersville | CDP | — | — |
*McKenzie sits at the tripoint of Carroll, Henry and Weakley counties; the figure above is the city’s total 2020 population across all three counties, not the Weakley-only share.
ZIP Codes
- 38237 — Martin (general delivery)
- 38238 — Martin (University of Tennessee at Martin)
- 38225 — Dresden
- 38201 — McKenzie
Smaller communities such as Greenfield, Gleason, Sharon, Dukedom and Palmersville share ZIP codes with a neighboring post office town rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Weakley County sits on the gently rolling farmland of the Gulf Coastal Plain, drained by the north and middle forks of the Obion River. Row crops and pasture cover most of the county outside its small towns. Weakley County borders:
- Graves County, Kentucky (north)
- Hickman County, Kentucky (northwest)
- Henry County, Tennessee (east)
- Carroll County, Tennessee (southeast)
- Gibson County, Tennessee (south/southwest)
- Obion County, Tennessee (west)
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 32,902 residents, about two-thirds of them in rural areas outside Martin and Dresden. Martin, home to UT Martin, and Dresden, the seat of county government, are the two largest communities, followed by McKenzie and Greenfield. The 2020 count skewed 85.4% white and 7.9% Black, with smaller Asian, Native American and mixed-race populations. Weakley County’s median household income runs below the Tennessee figure of $67,631, reflecting its farm-dependent economy and its lack of a large industrial employer outside Martin. Population density is roughly 57 people per square mile, low even by west Tennessee standards.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Weakley County’s economy: the county was Tennessee’s largest corn producer through much of the 19th century, and soybeans overtook corn as the dominant row crop by the late 20th century, alongside wheat and cattle. UT Martin is the county’s largest single employer, drawing students and staff into the Martin area and supporting a cluster of restaurants, apartments and retail along University Street. Dresden’s courthouse square anchors county government and a handful of small businesses. Manufacturing and healthcare round out the job base, with Weakley County providing workers to plants and hospitals in neighboring Obion and Henry counties as well as at home. The Weakley County Fair, held each summer in Martin, is the county’s biggest annual gathering, drawing exhibitors from across the region.
History
The Tennessee General Assembly organized Weakley County on October 21, 1823, carving it from land the state acquired from the Chickasaw Nation the previous year. The county takes its name from U.S. Congressman Robert Weakley (1764–1845), who helped negotiate that cession rather than from any local settler. Dresden was laid out soon after as the county seat and remains the smaller of the county’s two principal towns. Martin grew up around a Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway junction in the late 19th century and took on its present character as a college town after the University of Tennessee at Martin was established there in the 20th century, growing from an agricultural school into a full four-year campus.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 45E and 45W run north-south through the county, linking Martin and Dresden toward Union City and the Kentucky line. Tennessee State Route 22 crosses the county east-west.
- Union City — 20 miles northwest
- Paris — 25 miles east
- Jackson — 45 miles south
- Paducah, Kentucky — 45 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport in Jackson; Nashville International Airport offers wider connections about 140 miles southeast. No Amtrak service reaches Weakley County.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dresden postcode?
38225.
What is the Martin postcode?
38237 (38238 for the UT Martin campus).
What is the population of Weakley County?
32,902 at the 2020 census.
What is the largest city in Weakley County?
Martin, with 10,825 residents at the 2020 census.
Is Martin the county seat?
No. Dresden is the county seat; Martin is the county’s largest city.
What university is in Weakley County?
The University of Tennessee at Martin, in the city of Martin.
Which counties border Weakley County?
Graves and Hickman counties in Kentucky, and Henry, Carroll, Gibson and Obion counties in Tennessee.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.