Discover Pickett County: Tennessee’s Least Populated Gem

Pickett County, Tennessee, is the least populated county in the state, with 5,153 residents. Its population has grown by 3.06% since 2020. In contrast, Shelby County is the most populated, with over 936,000 people.

The county seat, Byrdstown, was established in 1879. It is located near two popular lakes, Dale Hollow Lake mostly in Tennessee) and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. Known as the twin lakes, this area is a favorite vacation spot.

Pickett County was created in 1879 from parts of Overton and Fentress Counties. It was named after Howell Lester Pickett, a lawyer and member of the Tennessee General Assembly. Later, he moved to Arizona and became involved in mining and legal work related to it.

Byrdstown got its name from Colonel Robert K. Byrd, a state senator. The town was officially incorporated in 1917.

A notable figure from near Byrdstown is Cordell Hull 1871–1955, who served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933–1944. He played a key role in founding the United Nations and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.

Pickett County is in the Cumberland Plateau region of Upper Middle Tennessee. The Obey and Wolf Rivers flow through its western areas. Some farmland and population were lost when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Obey River to create Dale Hollow Reservoir.

The county is home to the Cordell Hull Birthplace and Museum, a historic park near Byrdstown. Both the museum and the Pickett County Courthouse built in 1935 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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