County History

ROBERTSON COUNTY HISTORY

Robertson County was created in 1796 from Tennessee and Sumner counties; named in honor of James Robertson (1742-1814), pioneer, surveyor, soldier, founder of the Watauga Settlements and of Nashville, and state senator, known as “Father of Tennessee.”

Robertson County is a growing and progressive Tennessee county. It combines a unique blend of past, present, city, country, agriculture, and industry, to provide an excellent quality of life for its citizens.

The first settlement in Robertson County was made by Thomas Kilgore on the Red River in 1779, near the site of present-day Cross Plains. A stockade fort was erected on the site and became a landmark in the overland migration to what would later become the state of Tennessee. After surviving attacks from Indian allies of the British during the Revolutionary War, the pioneers settled in. As the area grew and prospered, other settlements became established.

The entire state of Tennessee was a territory of North Carolina until after the revolutionary War. Davidson County (including Nashville) was divided in 1788 and formed its own unit. All of the land that lay west of it, including present-day Robertson County, was called Tennessee County. Davidson, Sumner and Tennessee counties comprised the Mero District of North Carolina. On ratification of the Constitution of the United States, these lands were ceded to the Federal Government as the "Western Territory."

A census was taken in 1795. At that time it was determined that the Western Territory qualified for statehood. On Jan. 11, 1796 the members of the state convention met at Knoxville to form the new state government. Shortly before the session ended on March 28, 1796, Tennessee County ceased to exist and was divided into two new counties, Montgomery and Robertson. Robertson County was named in honor of Gen. James Robertson, the founder of the Cumberland Settlements. Present-day Robertson County was part of Tennessee County. It is believed that Gen. Andrew Jackson suggested the name of Tennessee for the state as a whole. The members from the county of Tennessee were in agreement.

Robertson County and the State of Tennessee celebrated their 200^th birthdays during 1996. Robertson County is one of the six Tennessee counties that celebrates its birth along with the state. Robertson County is bordered by Kentucky to the north, Sumner and Davidson Counties to the south, Cheatham County to the southwest and Montgomery County to the west.

Already with a population of over 54,000, Robertson County is projected to continue growing. The growth is evident when comparing population figures to those of 1980 when 37,000 people called Robertson County home. Population growth is expected to continue. The Metropolitan Nashville area has been estimated to be home to one million residents by the year 2000.

Agriculture continues to maintain its dominance in county life. From the 476 square miles of land in Robertson County, there are 304,640 acres. Much of the country is still rolling farmland, but more and more of the land is being developed for housing units to meet a growing population. Dark-fired and Burley tobacco, soybeans, corn, wheat, and livestock make up the major agricultural commodities produced on Robertson County's farm land.

While much of the county is still dedicated to agriculture, business and industry are finding county resources increasingly attractive. Robertson Counties enjoy all the pleasures of a small hometown atmosphere and are not far from big city conveniences. It is about a 30-minute drive from the county to downtown Nashville. Many of Robertson County’s residents live and work inside the county boundaries, but there are others who commute to neighboring counties for jobs. The county’s citizens are professionals, blue-collar workers, and farmers. They all agree that it’s a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Population as of 2000: 54,433

Households: 20,995

Government: County Commission is the Legislative body. It is made up of 24 commissioners elected from 12 voting districts. It meets on the third Monday night of each month in the main courtroom of the County Courthouse.

Numbers To Know:

County Executive: 384-2476
County Clerk: 384-5895
Sheriff’s Office: 384-7971
Emergency: 911
Property Tax Rate: $2.63 per $100 of assessed value
Sales Tax Rate: 9.25 %

Robertson County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace

This page was last updated on 04/01/2011
Robertson County Sheriff's Office