DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,080. Its county seat is Smithville. The county was created by the General Assembly of Tennessee on December 2, 1837, and was named for Revolutionary War hero Major General Johann de Kalb.

History

DeKalb County was formed in 1837. It was the site of several saltpeter mines, the main ingredient of gunpowder obtained by leaching the earth from several local caves. Overall Cave was named for Abraham Overall who moved from Luray, Virginia, and settled near the present site of Liberty in 1805. He reportedly had many slaves and owned a large plantation on which Overall Cave is located. Two saltpeter leaching vats in the cave may date from the War of 1812, although this area was mined again during the Civil War. Other caves in DeKalb County that were mined for saltpeter include Avant Cave, located near Dowelltown, Indian Grave Point Cave, located in the Dry Creek Valley, and Temperance Saltpeter Cave, located near Temperance Hall.

Unlike most of generally pro-Confederate Middle Tennessee, DeKalb County was seriously divided during the Civil War. In Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession referendum on June 8, 1861, DeKalb County voted to secede only by a margin of 833 to 642, which constituted the smallest margin by any county voting to secede. Earlier on February 9, 1861, DeKalb County voters had voted against holding a secession convention by a margin of 1,009 to 336.

Geography

There is a sizable northeastern portion of DeKalb County inaccessible by road without driving through neighboring Putnam County, commonly known as the Austin Bottom. This area includes the Williams Crossroads where Austin Lake Road and Sunny Point Road meet the main Austin Bottom Road. The Austin Bottom area is one big peninsula in Center Hill Lake separated from the rest of DeKalb County by the main channel along the Caney Fork along with the embayments of Mine Lick Creek and the Falling Water River.

right|thumb|210px|Center Hill Lake at [[Edgar Evins State Park]]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (7.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

  • Putnam County (northeast)
  • White County (east)
  • Warren County (south)
  • Cannon County (southwest)
  • Wilson County (west)
  • Smith County (northwest)

State protected areas

  • Edgar Evins State Park
  • Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

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See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in DeKalb County, Tennessee

References

  • Official site
  • Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce
  • DeKalb County Schools
  • DeKalb County, TNGenWeb &ndash; genealogy resources