Rhea County, Tennessee

Rhea County
County
The Rhea County Courthouse, site of the Scopes Trial
The Rhea County Courthouse, site of the Scopes Trial
Map of Tennessee highlighting Rhea County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°37′N 84°55′W / 35.61°N 84.92°W / 35.61; -84.92
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1807
Named forJohn Rhea[1]
SeatDayton
Largest cityDayton
Area
 • Total
336 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Land315 sq mi (820 km2)
 • Water21 sq mi (50 km2)  6.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
32,870 Increase
 • Density101/sq mi (39/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code423
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.rheacountytn.com

Rhea County (/reɪ/ RAY[2]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, its population was 32,870.[3] Its county seat is Dayton.[4] Rhea County comprises the Dayton, TN micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL combined statistical area.

  1. ^ Bettye Broyles, "Rhea County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 20, 2013.
  2. ^ Holt, Alfred H. (1969). American Place Names. Detroit: Gale Research Company. p. 159. ISBN 9780810332355. Retrieved November 7, 2022. The same 'ray' in Rea, Mo., Rhea, Ark. and Okla., and Rhea County, Tenn.
  3. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.