Editing Hamilton County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county      = Hamilton County
 | state             = Tennessee
 | flag                 = Flag of Hamilton County, Tennessee.svg
 | seal                 = Hamilton County tn seal.png
 | leader_title         = County Mayor
 | leader_name          = [[Weston Wamp]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])<ref>{{Cite web |last=WDEFAdmin |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Weston Wamp narrowly wins Republican nod for Hamilton County Mayor |url=https://www.wdef.com/weston-wamp-narrowly-wins-republican-nod-for-hamilton-county-mayor/ |access-date=January 17, 2024 |website=WDEF |language=en-US}}</ref> 
 | founded year         = 1819
 | founded date     = October 25
 | named for            = [[Alexander Hamilton]]<ref name=tehc>John Wilson, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=590 Hamilton County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: October 16, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl         = Chattanooga
 | largest city wl = Chattanooga
 | coordinates          = {{Coord|35.18|-85.17|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990|display=title,inline}}
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 576
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 542
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 33
 | area percentage      = 5.8%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 366207
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 379864 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web      = www.hamiltontn.gov
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | ex image             = Hamilton-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Hamilton County Courthouse in Chattanooga
 | district             = 3rd }}

'''Hamilton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]]. It is located in the southern part of [[East Tennessee]] on the border with [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 366,207,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47065.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 2, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607142114/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47065.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> making it the fourth-most populous county in Tennessee. Its [[county seat]] is [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], located along the Tennessee River.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named for [[Alexander Hamilton]], the first [[Secretary of the Treasury|secretary of the treasury]]. Hamilton County is one of [[List of Tennessee counties|95 counties]] within Tennessee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/tdot/about/county-outline-map.html|title=County Outline Map|website=www.tn.gov|language=en|access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref> Hamilton County is part of the [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], TN-[[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]] [[Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The county was created on October 25, 1819.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/community/|title=Hamilton County Community Information|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref> Hamilton County expanded to meet the state line with [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] after absorbing parts of three different counties including [[Bledsoe County, Tennessee|Bledsoe]], [[Marion County, Tennessee|Marion]], and [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea]]. Part of the traditional [[Cherokee]] homeland, the county was created after the Cherokee signed a treaty in 1817 with the United States and ceded land north of the [[Hiwassee River]]. In the 21st century, Hamilton County is the eighth-highest income Tennessee location by per capita income ($26,588).

==History==
For thousands of years, indigenous cultures occupied this region, especially along the rivers and creeks. The area was long occupied by the historic [[Cherokee Nation]]. In the early 19th century, it was being led by [[John Ross (Cherokee chief)|John Ross]]. The city that is now known as [[Chattanooga]] developed at Ross's Landing, a busy trading post recognized as the center of the Cherokee Nation. Over a series of treaties with the United States between 1819 and 1835, the Cherokee had been mostly moved out of the area.

If any Cherokee wished to stay in the area, the head of the family would have to leave the tribe and become an [[United States citizenship|American citizen]]. Once a citizen, they would be entitled to {{convert|640|acre}} of land. At the time of death, the person's heirs would be entitled to the land. Of the 107 reservations reported to Congress in 1819, only 39 were listed as [[fee simple]]. The other 68 reservations were allowed to continue as long as the family stayed on the land. Once the family moved, the land could be sold. This provision made it easier to remove the Cherokee from the area. The 1835 [[Treaty of New Echota]] provided the U.S. government a legal basis for the forced removal of the Cherokee, opening their former lands for settlement.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/community/|title=Hamilton County Community Information|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/treaties/|title=Treaties|last=Randal Rust|website=Tennessee Encyclopedia|language=en-US|access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> Some Cherokee leaders had agreed to this, in the belief that removal was inevitable and they could negotiate decent conditions for their people. The majority of the Cherokee opposed removal.

Hamilton County was formed on October 25, 1819, from portions of [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea County]] and [[Cherokee Nation|Cherokee]] land that was ceded to the U.S. It was named after [[Alexander Hamilton]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n146 147]}}</ref> an officer in the [[American Revolutionary War]], member of the [[Continental Congress]], the first U.S. [[Secretary of Treasury|secretary of treasury]], and one of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Fathers]] of the United States.

At the time of the 1820 census, the county counted 821 residents, including 16 blacks, 39 slaves, and about 100 Cherokee living on six reservations. The original legislature ruled that John Gamble, William Lauderdale, and John Patterson, the three men who were responsible for founding the county, would conduct all county business in the county seat. The original county seat was in the home of Hasten Poe, who owned a popular tavern located near those three men's farms. In 1822 the County Court was moved to the farm of Ashael Rawlings in [[Dallas, Tennessee]]; he was the newly appointed county clerk. After the county seat was moved to [[Harrison, Tennessee|Harrison]], the Dallas settlement declined.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} The county seat was finally moved to [[Chattanooga]] in 1835.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

During the Civil War, Hamilton County was the site of an important [[Potassium nitrate|saltpeter]] mine. This material is the main ingredient of gunpowder and was obtained by leaching the earth from caves. Lookout Mountain Cave was a major source of saltpeter during the Civil War. The mine was operated by [[Robert Cravens]], who owned the surrounding property. In May 1861, Cravens contracted with the Tennessee Military and Financial Board to deliver {{convert|20,000|lb}} of saltpeter. On May 24, he reported that he had ten hoppers already set up in his cave. Cravens was also mining Nickajack Cave in nearby Marion County. In 1862 he quit mining at Lookout Mountain Cave and rented the cave to the Confederate [[Nitre and Mining Bureau]], which mined the cave from June 1862 through July 1863. This mining ceased when Chattanooga was occupied by federal forces in 1863.<ref>Larry E. Matthews, ''Caves of Chattanooga'', 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-879961-27-2}}</ref> They stayed through the end of the war.

After the war, Tennessee rejoined the Union, and the state started to recover from the war. The long occupation had caused a breakdown in civil society. [[James County, Tennessee|James County]] was established by the [[Tennessee General Assembly]] in January 1871 and was named after Jesse J. James.<ref name="hctgs.org"/> In early 1919 James County went bankrupt; it became a part of Hamilton County in April.<ref name="hctgs.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hctgs.org/james_county_main.htm|title=Tennessee's Lost County - James County|website=www.hctgs.org}}</ref>

As of the 2017 census, Hamilton County is the fourth-most populated county in the state, with a population of 361,613. The growth rate is 1% per year over the last five years. Hamilton County has census records dating to the 1830s. The average income of Hamilton County is $26,560.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hamiltoncountytennessee/PST045217|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hamilton County, Tennessee|website=www.census.gov|language=en|access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|576|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|542|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|33|sqmi}} (5.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_47.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 5, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> Hamilton County is one of the few counties in the United States to border 10 other counties.<ref>[http://www.city-data.com/county/Hamilton_County-TN.html Hamilton County, Tennessee], City-Data.com. Retrieved: October 31, 2013.</ref>

===Natural areas of interest===
[[Raccoon Mountain Caverns]] is a show cave located 8 miles northwest of downtown Chattanooga. It was originally explored in 1929 by Leo Lambert who developed trails and installed lights and opened the cave to the public on June 28, 1931. The cave was opened under the name Tennessee Caverns. The operators of the cave claim that its explored length is over {{convert|5.5|mi}}.

The Crystal Caverns Cave Spider, ''Nesticus furtivus'', is only known from this one cave. Cave guides will occasionally spot one of these rare spiders and point it out to tourists.<ref>Larry E. Matthews, ''Caves of Chattanooga'', published by the National Speleological Society, 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-879961-27-2}}, Chapter 4 – Raccoon Mountain Caverns, pages 65–84.</ref>

[[Ruby Falls|Ruby Falls Cave]] is a show cave located on the side of [[Lookout Mountain]] south of downtown Chattanooga. It was discovered by accident on December 28, 1928, when it was intersected by an elevator shaft that was being drilled to develop Lookout Mountain Cave as a commercial cave. Ruby Falls Cave was intersected at a depth of 260 feet from the surface and Lookout Mountain Cave was reached later at a depth of 420 feet below the surface. The entire project was the work of cave developer Leo Lambert. He named the new cave's waterfall after his wife Ruby. The lower cave, Lookout Mountain Cave, opened to the public on December 30, 1929. Ruby Falls opened to the public on June 16, 1930. Ruby Falls Cave, with its spectacular waterfall proved the more popular of the two caves and it is the only cave open to the public at the present time.<ref>Larry E. Matthews, ''Caves of Chattanooga'', Chapter 1 – Lookout Mountain Cave, pages 13–30 and Chapter 3 – Ruby Falls Cave, pages 49–64.</ref>

Areas such as [[Lookout Mountain]] including the famous Point Park, and Sunset Rock. Point Park is a national military park that is a tribute to the battle of Lookout mountain that took place during the American Civil War. [[Lookout Mountain]] was the area in which the last battle of the [[Cherokee Indians]] took place. It also as battlegrounds during the [[American Civil War]] and served as a base for [[General Ulysses S. Grant]] troops during the [[American Civil War]]. There are many other important areas to note on [[Lookout Mountain]].

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
*[[Bledsoe County, Tennessee]] – north/CST Border
*[[Rhea County, Tennessee]] – northeast
*[[Meigs County, Tennessee]] – northeast
*[[Bradley County, Tennessee]] – east
*[[Whitfield County, Georgia]] – southeast
*[[Catoosa County, Georgia]] – south
*[[Walker County, Georgia]] – south
*[[Dade County, Georgia]] – southwest
*[[Marion County, Tennessee]] – west/CST Border
*[[Sequatchie County, Tennessee]] – northwest/CST Border
{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park]] (part)

===State protected areas===
* [[Booker T. Washington State Park (Tennessee)|Booker T. Washington State Park]]
* Chickamauga Wildlife Management Area (part)
* [[Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park]] (part)
* Falling Water Falls State Natural Area
* [[Harrison Bay State Park]]
* [[North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park]] (part)

===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=TN|I|24}}
*{{jct|state=TN|I|75}}
*{{jct|state=TN|I|124}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|11}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|27}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|41}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|64}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|72}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|74}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|76}}
*{{jct|state=TN|US|127}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|2}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|8}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|17}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|27}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|58}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|60}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|111}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|153}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|312}}
*{{jct|state=TN|TN|317}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|318}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|319}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|320}}
*{{jct|state=TN|Sec|321}}

==Government==
Hamilton County has a county mayor and nine districts, each of which elect a commissioner to serve on the county's county commission.

=== Executive branch ===

==== County mayor ====
The citizens of Hamilton County elect the mayor every four years. The current mayor is [[Weston Wamp]], who has served since September 2022. The fourth mayor of Hamilton County, Mayor Wamp is the youngest person to ever hold the office.

The mayor serves as the head of the county's executive branch and as the county's chief fiscal officer. The mayor oversees the budget preparation process and administers the budget and financial reports and oversees the day-to-day operations of county government, including implementation of all laws and policies. The mayor also gives the county commission recommendations and keeps them up to date about the county's financial condition.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/mayor/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Mayor - Jim Coppinger|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

===== Chief of Staff =====
The current chief of staff is Claire McVay.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/mayor/chiefofstaff/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Chief of Staff - Michael Compton|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The chief of staff is appointed by the mayor and is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all areas of county general government, and coordinating specific initiatives. The chief of staff also serves as a point of contact for the county commission and other elected officials. The office's main purpose is to assist the county mayor carry out his initiatives in an efficient and effective manner.<ref name=":3" />

==== Other elected officials ====
The '''assessor of property''' is elected to find and list the value of all property in Hamilton County. Property is reappraised every four years. The current assessor of property is Marty Haynes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/assessor/Default.aspx|title=Assessor of Property Marty Haynes|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The '''county clerk''' is elected to issue vehicle tags, marriage and business licenses, and other documents. The current county clerk is William (Bill) Knowles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.countyclerkanytime.com/|title=Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles|website=www.countyclerkanytime.com|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The '''register of deeds''' is elected to record deeds and other legal documents, including [[Power of attorney|powers of attorney]], mortgages, marriages, and military discharges. The register's office also collects and accounts for all fees and taxes. The current register of deeds is Marc Gravitt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/register/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Register of Deeds - Marc Gravitt|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The '''county trustee''' is elected to act as the county government's treasurer, collect county property taxes, account for money regularly, and invest temporarily idle county funds. The current county trustee is Bill Hullander.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/trustee/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The '''county sheriff''' is elected to serve process, writs, keep the jail and prisoners so confined, conduct sheriff sales and secure the courthouse.  The sheriff is also the principal conservator of peace and has a duty to enforce the law and ferret out crimes. The current sheriff is Austin Garrett.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcsheriff.gov/gen_info/about_sheriff.asp|title=Hamilton County Sheriff's Office-General Info-About the Sheriff|website=www.hcsheriff.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

=== County board of commissioners ===
Hamilton County has nine elected county commissioners to make up the legislative body of the county. The citizens of Hamilton County elect commissioners for four year terms to represent their districts. The commission chooses from among its members commissioners to serve as the chairman and chairman pro tempore, the presiding officers for the commission. They each serve one year terms.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/commission/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Commissioners|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The incumbent county commissioners are:

* District 1: Gene-O Shipley
* District 2: D.C. (Chip) Baker
* District 3: Ken Smith 
* District 4: Warren Mackey
* District 5: Greg Beck
* District 6: David Sharpe
* District 7: Lee Helton
* District 8: Mike Chauncey
* District 9: Steve Highlander
* District 10: Jeff Eversole
* District 11: Joe Graham<ref name=":4" />

=== County judicial system ===
All court clerks are elected by the citizens of Hamilton County.

==== District Attorney ====
The district attorney serves to prosecute all individuals who violate the criminal law in Hamilton County, which is made up of the 11th Judicial District of Tennessee. The office also prosecutes all felony, state misdemeanor, and juvenile delinquency cases brought before the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. It represents crime victims in victim compensation hearings and maintains and supervises the Victim Witness Assistance Program.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County, TN Courts System|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The current district attorney is Coty Wamp, having been elected to an 8-year term in 2022. Previously serving as the general counsel for the Hamilton County sheriff's office, Wamp is the first female to ever hold the office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanoogada.com/office.html|title=Office|website=HCDA|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

==== Chancery Court ====
The Chancery Court hears cases involving civil matters, including domestic relations, [[Workers' compensation|worker's compensation]], estates, trusts, contracts, review of administrative action of governmental agencies and boards, collection of delinquent taxes, [[Legal guardian|guardianships]], and [[conservatorship]]s, dissolution of partnerships and corporations, enforcement of [[lien]]s, boundary lines, breach of contract, fraud, election contests, and other matters of a civil nature.<ref name=":5" /> The current chancellors are Pamela Fleenor and Jeffrey Atherton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/Chancery/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Chancery Court|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The clerk and master handles fees and paperwork associated with the court and sometimes serves as a chancellor.<ref name=":5" />

==== Circuit Court ====
The circuit court hears both criminal and civil cases, including [[Adoption in the United States|adoption]] and [[Divorce in the United States|divorce]] matters, contract disputes, [[name change]]s, as well as hearing appeals from lower courts.<ref name=":5" /> The current circuit court judges are J.B. Bennett, Michael Dumitru, Marie Williams, and Kyle Hedrick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/Circuit/default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Circuit Court Judges|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The circuit court clerk handles the paperwork and fees associated with this court.<ref name=":5" /> The current circuit court clerk is Larry Henry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/CircuitClerk/default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk - Larry L. Henry|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

==== Criminal Court ====
The criminal court handles both felony and misdemeanor cases. Cases are brought to the criminal court after a [[grand jury]] issues an [[indictment]], or after an appeal is granted from a lower court. Trials in this court are typically have [[Juries in the United States|juries]], however, a judge may hear a case without a jury.<ref name=":5" /> The current criminal court judges are Barry Steelman, Tom Greenholtz, and Don Poole.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/Criminal/default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Criminal Court Judges|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The criminal court clerk is responsible for maintaining the records of the court. The court clerk's office is divided into three divisions: criminal division of the general sessions courts, the delinquent collection division, and the criminal courts. The current court clerk is Vince Dean.

==== General Sessions Court ====
The general sessions court is composed of two divisions: civil and criminal. The civil division has [[limited jurisdiction]] with no jury trials. A person may represent her/himself without an attorney. The criminal division only issues judgments for misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic offenses. It only has jurisdiction for felony cases on a preliminary hearing basis to determine if there is sufficient cause for the case to be bound over to the grand jury. There are generally no juries in this division, either.<ref name=":5" />

The current judges are Christie Mahn Sell, Alexander McVeagh, Clarence Shattuck, Lila Statom, and Gary Starnes. The court shares clerks with the criminal court and circuit court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/Sessions/Default.aspx|title=Hamilton County, Tennessee General Sessions Court|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

==== Juvenile Court ====
The juvenile court handles all cases which involve a minor. Children are referred to the juvenile court for reasons of delinquency, [[status offense]]s, and dependency and neglect issues.<ref name=":5" /> The current juvenile court judge is Robert Philyaw. He is supported in his work by magistrates that serve in the court. They are Cynthia LeCroy-Schemel, Troy McDougal, and Chris Gott in the juvenile court and Kathy Clark, Chris Albright, and Marsha Smith in the child support division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/Juvenile/juv_judges.aspx|title=Juvenile Court Judges|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

The juvenile court clerk is elected for a four-year term by the citizens. The clerk maintains and files all paperwork and fees for this court. They also act as a collection agent for the state to process child support. The current juvenile court clerk is Gary Behler.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamiltontn.gov/courts/JuvenileClerk/default.aspx|title=Hamilton County Juvenile Court Clerk - Gary Behler|website=www.hamiltontn.gov|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

Hamilton County has an elected sheriff. Recent past sheriffs:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcsheriff.gov/gen_info/past_sheriffs.asp|title=HCSO - Past Sheriffs|website=www.hcsheriff.gov|language=en|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>

* Jerry Pitts 1976–78
* H.Q. Evatt 1978–94
* John Cupp 1994–2006
* Billy Long 2006–08 (guilty of extortion, money laundering, drug and gun charges)
* Jim Hammond 2008–2022
* Austin Garrett 2022–present

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1820 = 821
| 1830 = 2276
| 1840 = 8175
| 1850 = 10075
| 1860 = 13258
| 1870 = 17241
| 1880 = 23642
| 1890 = 53482
| 1900 = 61695
| 1910 = 89267
| 1920 = 115954
| 1930 = 159497
| 1940 = 180478
| 1950 = 208255
| 1960 = 237905
| 1970 = 254236
| 1980 = 287740
| 1990 = 285536
| 2000 = 307896
| 2010 = 336463
| 2020 = 366207
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 379864
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop.xlsx| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Hamilton County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Hamilton County<ref>Based on 2000 [[census]] data</ref>]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Hamilton County, Tennessee – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br /><small>{{nobold|''Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hamilton County, Tennessee|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US47065|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, Tennessee|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US47065&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, Tennessee|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US47065&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|232,475
|242,154
|style='background: #ffffe6; |249,939
|75.50%
|71.97%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |68.25%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|61,750
|67,483
|style='background: #ffffe6; |63,979
|20.06%
|20.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.47%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|817
|817
|style='background: #ffffe6; |770
|0.27%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|3,905
|5,855
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,139
|1.27%
|1.74%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.22%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|108
|150
|style='background: #ffffe6; |131
|0.04%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|276
|396
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,269
|0.09%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|3,084
|4,615
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14,905
|1.00%
|1.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.07%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|5,481
|14,993
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27,075
|1.78%
|4.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.39%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''307,896'''
|'''336,463'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''366,207'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 366,207 people, 148,157 households, and 91,469 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=September 19, 2019|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 336,463 people, 136,682 households, and 88,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 620.78 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 74.75% [[White Americans|White]], 20.21% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.35% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.86% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.09% [[Pacific Islander]], and 1.46% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 4.46% of the population.

Out of all of the households, 25.49% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 46.34% were married couples living together, 13.86% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.29% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.51% were non-families. 29.35% of households were made up of individuals, and 10.34% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.58% under the age of 18, 63.73% ages 18 to 64, and 14.69% aged 65 and older. The media age was 39.3 years. 51.88% of the population were females, and 48.12% were males.

The median household income in the county was $46,544, and the median family income was $60,184. Males had a median income of $45,835 versus $34,342 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $27,052. About 12.1% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 and over.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 307,896 people, 124,444 households, and 83,750 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|568|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 134,692 housing units at an average density of {{convert|248|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 76.32% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 20.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.29% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.77% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 124,444 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,930, and the median income for a family was $48,037. Males had a median income of $35,413 versus $24,505 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $21,593. About 9.20% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Hamilton County, Tennessee|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|97,195|74,437|2,806|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|92,108|75,522|3,483|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|78,733|55,316|8,359|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|79,933|58,836|2,972|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|81,702|64,246|2,086|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|78,547|57,302|1,087|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|66,605|51,708|2,066|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|55,205|48,008|7,618|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|53,476|46,770|14,839|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|68,111|40,990|608|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|69,626|41,449|547|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|57,575|41,913|2,604|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|47,969|45,348|1,104|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|58,469|20,657|3,668|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|29,302|23,441|32,080|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|40,200|38,546|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|39,703|30,482|1,092|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|34,429|28,287|2,114|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|29,681|23,832|317|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|10,434|16,968|2,787|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|10,379|17,527|267|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|9,771|17,083|68|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,917|16,568|104|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|7,090|11,469|378|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|13,244|7,190|103|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|8,421|7,511|848|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|10,793|9,910|334|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|4,697|5,828|234|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,493|4,394|2,735|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|4,250|4,564|299|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,849|3,287|357|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,943|3,188|357|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,468|3,729|217|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|3,196|3,762|382|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|6,264|3,906|161|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|3,827|2,439|53|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|2,460|1,595|117|Tennessee}}

Politically, Hamilton County is conservative. Along with the rest of [[East Tennessee]], it has been supportive of the Republican party since the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], even as the rest of the [[Solid South]] voted staunchly Democratic.<ref name="SwitzerlandAmerica">{{cite news | url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/the-switzerland-of-america/?_r=0 | title=The Switzerland of America | work=New York Times | date=June 7, 2011 | access-date=September 4, 2015 | author=Astor, Aaron}}</ref> However, unlike most counties in East Tennessee, Hamilton County is a strong two party county, with the Democratic candidate usually receiving at least 40% of the popular vote in presidential elections, and the city of Chattanooga tending to lean Democratic. In 2004, Republican [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] defeated Democrat [[John Kerry]] 57% to 41%.<ref>[http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2004&fips=47065&off=0&elect=0&f=0 Hamilton County – 2004], ''David Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections''. Retrieved: October 31, 2013.</ref> The last Democrat to win the county was [[Harry S. Truman]] in 1948, although [[George Wallace]] did win a plurality in 1968.<ref>The Political Graveyard; [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/TN/HA-votes.html Hamilton County, Tennessee]</ref>

In 2008, Republican [[John McCain]] defeated Democrat [[Barack Obama]] by a slightly smaller margin of 55% to 43%.<ref>[http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2008&fips=47065&off=0&elect=0&f=0 Hamilton County – 2008], ''David Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections''. Retrieved: October 31, 2013.</ref> In 2012, Republican [[Mitt Romney]] defeated incumbent Obama by a margin of 56% to 42%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamilton County – 2012|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2012&fips=47065&off=0&elect=0&f=0|publisher=Dave Leip's Atlas of Presidential Elections|access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> Four years later in 2016, in businessman [[Donald Trump]]'s sweep of Appalachia, Hamilton County furnished the GOP with a mildly increased margin of 55.3% to 38.8% for Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2016&fips=47065&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=2016 Presidential General Election Results - Hamilton County, TN|website=David Leip|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref> In 2020, [[Joe Biden]] received the highest percentage of the popular vote of any Democratic presidential candidate since [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election in Tennessee|1976]]. In 2024, the county backed Trump with 55.7% of the vote to 42.7% for [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Kamala Harris]].

=== Recent local elections ===

* [[2018 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election]]
* [[2022 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election]]
* [[Mayoral elections in Chattanooga, Tennessee]]

==Education==

===Colleges and universities===
*[[Chattanooga State Community College]] – [http://www.chattanoogastate.edu website]
*[[Southern Adventist University]] – [http://www.southern.edu website]
*[[University of Tennessee at Chattanooga]] – [http://www.utc.edu website]
*[[Richmont Graduate University]] – [http://www.richmont.edu website]

===Public schools===
Public schools in Hamilton County are operated by [[Hamilton County Schools]].

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]] (county seat)
*[[Collegedale, Tennessee|Collegedale]]
*[[East Ridge, Tennessee|East Ridge]]
*[[Lakesite, Tennessee|Lakesite]]
*[[Red Bank, Tennessee|Red Bank]]
*[[Ridgeside, Tennessee|Ridgeside]]
*[[Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee|Soddy-Daisy]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
*[[Lookout Mountain, Tennessee|Lookout Mountain]]
*[[Signal Mountain, Tennessee|Signal Mountain]]
*[[Walden, Tennessee|Walden]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
*[[Apison, Tennessee|Apison]]
*[[Fairmount, Tennessee|Fairmount]]
*[[Falling Water, Tennessee|Falling Water]]
*[[Flat Top Mountain, Tennessee|Flat Top Mountain]]
*[[Harrison, Tennessee|Harrison]]
*[[Middle Valley, Tennessee|Middle Valley]]
*[[Mowbray Mountain, Tennessee|Mowbray Mountain]]
*[[Ooltewah, Tennessee|Ooltewah]]
*[[Sale Creek, Tennessee|Sale Creek]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bakewell, Tennessee|Bakewell]]
* [[Balmoral, Tennessee|Balmoral]]
* [[Birchwood, Tennessee|Birchwood]] (partial)
* [[East Brainerd, Tennessee|East Brainerd]]
* [[Georgetown, Tennessee|Georgetown]] (partial)
* [[Shady Grove, Hamilton County, Tennessee|Shady Grove]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hamilton County, Tennessee]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Armstrong, Zella. ''The History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee''. Savannah: Overmountain Press (1993). {{ISBN|0-932807-99-2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.hamiltontn.gov/ Official site]
* [http://www.tngenweb.org/hamilton Hamilton County, TNGenWeb] – free genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Hamilton County, Tennessee
|North     = [[Bledsoe County, Tennessee|Bledsoe County]]
|Northeast = [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea County]] and [[Meigs County, Tennessee|Meigs County]]
|East      = [[Bradley County, Tennessee|Bradley County]]
|Southeast = [[Whitfield County, Georgia]]
|South     = [[Walker County, Georgia]] and [[Catoosa County, Georgia]]
|Southwest = [[Dade County, Georgia]]
|West      = [[Marion County, Tennessee|Marion County]]
|Northwest = [[Sequatchie County, Tennessee|Sequatchie County]]
}}
{{Hamilton County, Tennessee}}
{{Tennessee}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hamilton County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:1819 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Chattanooga metropolitan area counties]]
[[Category:East Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1819]]