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Fayetteville Tennessee squareFayetteville, #1 on this list · Photo: Ichabod · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tennessee rankings · History

Most historic towns in Tennessee

Fayetteville ranks first on history among Tennessee’s 177 towns of 2,500+; 25 of the 177 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

Fayetteville

Lincoln County · 7,068 people
A

History grade, better than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 175 in TN

#2

Paris

Henry County · 10,468 people
A

History grade, better than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 175 in TN

#3

Rogersville

Hawkins County · 4,690 people
A

History grade, better than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 175 in TN

All 177 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 2 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

177 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1FayettevilleLincoln County · 7,068 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 175
2ParisHenry County · 10,468 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 175
3RogersvilleHawkins County · 4,690 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 175
4CovingtonTipton County · 8,585 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #155 of 175
5KnoxvilleKnox County · 202,021 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 175
6DyersburgDyer County · 15,906 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #166 of 175
7ChattanoogaHamilton County · 194,144 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 175
8TrentonGibson County · 4,137 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 175
9Mount PleasantMaury County · 5,103 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 175
10DandridgeJefferson County · 3,947 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #83 of 175
11MemphisShelby County · 609,647 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #170 of 175
12BrownsvilleHaywood County · 9,301 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #173 of 175
13JonesboroughWashington County · 6,990 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #33 of 175
14ElizabethtonCarter County · 14,350 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 175
15JacksonMadison County · 69,339 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #172 of 175
16LoudonLoudon County · 6,963 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #35 of 175
17ColumbiaMaury County · 50,072 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 175
18Lenoir CityLoudon County · 12,530 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #101 of 175
19PulaskiGiles County · 8,394 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 175
20MaryvilleBlount County · 32,442 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 175
21LynchburgMoore County · 6,920 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 175
22WinchesterFranklin County · 10,438 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #154 of 175
23ClevelandBradley County · 51,172 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #150 of 175
24GreenevilleGreene County · 16,141 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #102 of 175
25South PittsburgMarion County · 2,927 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #81 of 175
26SpringfieldRobertson County · 20,090 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 175
27NewportCocke County · 7,049 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 175
28Blountvilleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,309 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 175
29Nashville745,904 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
30CamdenBenton County · 3,690 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 175
31WoodburyCannon County · 2,828 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 175
32ShelbyvilleBedford County · 26,146 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #167 of 175
33KingsportSullivan County · 57,530 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 175
34McMinnvilleWarren County · 13,943 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 175
35SpartaWhite County · 5,038 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 175
36CrossvilleCumberland County · 13,113 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 175
37BristolSullivan County · 28,107 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 175
38LawrenceburgLawrence County · 12,236 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #156 of 175
39MorristownHamblen County · 33,517 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 175
40FranklinWilliamson County · 90,226 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 175
41SeviervilleSevier County · 19,010 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 175
42HarrimanRoane County · 6,192 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 175
43WaverlyHumphreys County · 4,430 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 175
44RockwoodRoane County · 5,607 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 175
45Sewanee College campusunincorporated, Franklin County · 2,936 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C+
46DresdenWeakley County · 2,911 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #60 of 175
47CentervilleHickman County · 3,589 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 175
48HuntingdonCarroll County · 4,462 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #61 of 175
49LivingstonOverton County · 4,147 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 175
50SweetwaterMonroe County · 6,706 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 175
51RipleyLauderdale County · 7,499 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #175 of 175
52AthensMcMinn County · 15,263 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 175
53MurfreesboroRutherford County · 171,178 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 175
54SavannahHardin County · 7,689 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #169 of 175
55SomervilleFayette County · 3,622 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 175
56GallatinSumner County · 54,590 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #47 of 175
57BolivarHardeman County · 5,043 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #174 of 175
58Johnson CityWashington County · 74,943 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 175
59Union CityObion County · 10,814 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #158 of 175
60LouisvilleBlount County · 4,562 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #43 of 175
61EtowahMcMinn County · 3,786 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 175
62DaytonRhea County · 7,819 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 175
63Belle MeadeDavidson County · 2,621 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #39 of 175
64ClarksvilleMontgomery County · 188,829 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 175
65Oak HillDavidson County · 4,581 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 175
66ColliervilleShelby County · 51,909 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 175
67WhitevilleHardeman County · 4,482 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #151 of 175
68Oliver SpringsAnderson County · 3,433 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 175
69MadisonvilleMonroe County · 5,428 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 175
70ErwinUnicoi County · 6,019 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #41 of 175
71ClintonAnderson County · 10,466 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #65 of 175
72LexingtonHenderson County · 8,130 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 175
73Hartsville/Trousdale CountyTrousdale County · 12,623 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #52 of 175
74Spring HillWilliamson County · 61,336 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #6 of 175
75White HouseSumner County · 17,872 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #26 of 175
76Forest HillsDavidson County · 4,473 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 175
77ManchesterCoffee County · 13,776 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 175
78LewisburgMarshall County · 13,517 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 175
79MartinWeakley County · 11,060 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 175
80Shackle Islandunincorporated, Sumner County · 4,404 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 175
81LebanonWilson County · 53,412 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 175
82JasperMarion County · 3,636 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 175
83KingstonRoane County · 6,299 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #34 of 175
84GermantownShelby County · 40,001 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #20 of 175
85NolensvilleWilliamson County · 15,789 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 175
86HendersonvilleSumner County · 64,266 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #27 of 175
87SmithvilleDeKalb County · 5,620 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #157 of 175
88HendersonChester County · 6,590 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #29 of 175
89Sale Creekunincorporated, Hamilton County · 2,955 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #78 of 175
90HumboldtGibson County · 7,841 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #160 of 175
91TusculumGreene County · 3,421 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #7 of 175
92NewbernDyer County · 3,222 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 175
93BartlettShelby County · 56,416 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #40 of 175
94McKenzieCarroll County · 5,632 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 175
95DunlapSequatchie County · 6,089 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 175
96ArlingtonShelby County · 15,703 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 175
97Mount JulietWilson County · 45,172 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #9 of 175
98Signal MountainHamilton County · 8,824 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 175
99TiptonvilleLake County · 3,333 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #171 of 175
100GatlinburgSevier County · 3,715 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 175
101Kingston SpringsCheatham County · 2,758 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 175
102Thompson's StationWilliamson County · 9,469 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #13 of 175
103Pigeon ForgeSevier County · 6,598 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #159 of 175
104FarragutKnox County · 25,121 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #12 of 175
105HarrogateClaiborne County · 4,454 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 175
106TullahomaCoffee County · 21,279 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 175
107WestmorelandSumner County · 2,879 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #23 of 175
108DicksonDickson County · 17,051 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 175
109Strawberry Plainsunincorporated, Jefferson County · 2,669 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #25 of 175
110OneidaScott County · 3,899 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #165 of 175
111MilanGibson County · 8,367 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 175
112La FolletteCampbell County · 7,176 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #152 of 175
113Spurgeonunincorporated, Sullivan County · 4,071 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #53 of 175
114White BluffDickson County · 4,516 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #45 of 175
115LafayetteMacon County · 6,020 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 175
116New TazewellClaiborne County · 2,846 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 175
117White PineJefferson County · 2,619 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #63 of 175
118Green Hillunincorporated, Wilson County · 6,866 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #8 of 175
119Oak RidgeAnderson County · 35,395 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 175
120Bloomingdaleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 9,292 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 175
121OaklandFayette County · 10,835 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 175
122BrentwoodWilliamson County · 45,313 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 175
123GreenbrierRobertson County · 7,170 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #54 of 175
124Mascotunincorporated, Knox County · 3,277 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #49 of 175
125MosheimGreene County · 2,547 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 175
126CoopertownRobertson County · 4,843 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 175
127CookevillePutnam County · 38,212 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 175
128MedinaGibson County · 5,813 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 175
129AtokaTipton County · 10,645 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #48 of 175
130Red BankHamilton County · 12,405 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 175
131AlcoaBlount County · 13,689 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 175
132PortlandSumner County · 13,658 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #46 of 175
133Jefferson CityJefferson County · 9,103 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 175
134HohenwaldLewis County · 4,151 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 175
135MaynardvilleUnion County · 2,723 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #153 of 175
136Oak Groveunincorporated, Washington County · 4,626 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #62 of 175
137GoodlettsvilleDavidson County · 17,506 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 175
138AlgoodPutnam County · 4,165 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 175
139Estill SpringsFranklin County · 2,692 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 175
140Tellico Villageunincorporated, Loudon County · 7,414 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #30 of 175
141Church HillHawkins County · 7,297 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #51 of 175
142Pleasant ViewCheatham County · 5,797 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 175
143Ashland CityCheatham County · 5,650 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 175
144SmyrnaRutherford County · 63,321 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 175
145UnicoiUnicoi County · 3,861 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 175
146Apisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 4,271 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 175
147Eagleton Villageunincorporated, Blount County · 5,598 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #50 of 175
148PipertonFayette County · 2,889 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 175
149SelmerMcNairy County · 4,575 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 175
150MontereyPutnam County · 2,827 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 175
151MillingtonShelby County · 12,953 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #168 of 175
152MunfordTipton County · 6,996 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #84 of 175
153FairviewWilliamson County · 10,877 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #10 of 175
154Park Cityunincorporated, Lincoln County · 2,813 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 175
155Coalfieldunincorporated, Morgan County · 2,754 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #77 of 175
156BrightonTipton County · 2,892 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 175
157La VergneRutherford County · 42,146 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #82 of 175
158Colonial Heightsunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,258 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #36 of 175
159Karnsunincorporated, Knox County · 4,115 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #37 of 175
160Hopewellunincorporated, Bradley County · 2,634 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #44 of 175
161South Clevelandunincorporated, Bradley County · 7,452 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #42 of 175
162Bean StationGrainger County · 3,190 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #85 of 175
163Christianaunincorporated, Rutherford County · 4,777 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 175
164Harrisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 8,011 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 175
165East RidgeHamilton County · 21,921 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 175
166MillersvilleSumner County · 6,438 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 175
167Powellunincorporated, Knox County · 13,739 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 175
168Fairfield Gladeunincorporated, Cumberland County · 9,487 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 175
169Middle Valleyunincorporated, Hamilton County · 12,187 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #38 of 175
170Wildwood Lakeunincorporated, Bradley County · 3,495 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #79 of 175
171Soddy-DaisyHamilton County · 13,474 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #66 of 175
172Mount CarmelHawkins County · 5,540 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #64 of 175
173LakelandShelby County · 14,422 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #11 of 175
174Hallsunincorporated, Knox County · 10,272 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #28 of 175
T175CollegedaleHamilton County · 11,499 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #31 of 175
T175Seymourunincorporated, Blount County · 16,216 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 175
177Lake Tansiunincorporated, Cumberland County · 4,437 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #125 of 175
Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Tennessee?

Fayetteville (Lincoln County) ranks first on history among 177 towns, with an A; Paris and Rogersville follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (177 in Tennessee). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Tennessee page.

Go deeper

More Tennessee lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Tennessee rankings →
Best places to live175 towns · #1 NolensvilleBest small towns107 towns · #1 Signal MountainMost affordable towns177 towns · #1 Strawberry PlainsSafest towns129 towns · #1 NolensvilleTowns with the best schools176 towns · #1 LakelandHealthiest towns176 towns · #1 Oak HillBest towns for jobs & income177 towns · #1 Belle MeadeMost walkable towns177 towns · #1 KnoxvilleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk177 towns · #1 TusculumBest towns for the outdoors177 towns · #1 Oak RidgeTowns with the most civic life150 towns · #1 TullahomaTowns with the least snow170 towns · #1 HendersonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns170 towns · #1 MontereyDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters184 towns · #1 MemphisDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers184 towns · #1 Bartlett and 3 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers184 towns · #1 Mountain CityDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes177 towns · #1 Belle Meade and Forest HillsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes176 towns · #1 MosheimDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns146 towns · #1 LebanonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries19 towns · #1 GatlinburgDescribed, no letters
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