|
Hamilton County was created by an
act of the Thirteenth Tennessee General Assembly meeting at Murfreesboro
on October 25, 1819. The county then did not extend south of the Tennessee
River. The section south of the river, including the site of Cherokee
Chief John Ross’s Landing in present-day Chattanooga did not become a part
of Hamilton County until the disputed Treaty of 1835 that led to the Indian
Removal and the “Trail of Tears.”
The creation of the new county from the frontier of Southeast
Tennessee was brought on by a treaty with the Cherokees in 1817 known as
the Hiawassee Purchase. By its terms, the Indians yielded large sections
of Alabama and Georgia as well as the Sequatchie Valley and the area that
became Hamilton County.
The county was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who was
secretary of the treasury in George Washington’s administration.
At the time of the 1820 census, Hamilton County reported 821
residents.
Today, Hamilton County boasts an estimated 295,000 residents.
Rich in history of the American South, blessed with scenic
beauty that enhances every aesthetic experience, proud of its heritage and
excited about its future, Hamilton County offers a bounty of cultural and
recreational activities which enhances its reputation as a thriving business
center.
|