Rhea County, Tennessee History & Genealogy
When was Rhea County, TN Created?
Rhea County was founded on December 3, 1807 from Roane County. This county was named in honor of U.S. Representative John Rhea (1753–1832). You can read a summary narrative history of the county in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
What is the County Seat of Rhea County, TN?
The County Seat of government is located in Dayton also, the county government website is www.rheacountyetc.com/.
What counties are adjacent to Rhea County, TN?
Bordering counties are Cumberland County (north), Roane County (northeast), Meigs County (east), Hamilton County (south) and Bledsoe County (west).
What cities and towns are in Rhea County, TN?
Cities and towns located in the county include Dayton, Graysville, Spring City.
What historical and genealogical records can I find in the Rhea County Courthouse?
Rhea County Courthouse
The following information and facts indicates whatever birth, death, marriage, land, wills, and courtroom records will be in Rhea County or in the Tennessee State Library & Archives. The dates indicated below could be the first widely known documents for this county. There were fires at the Rhea County courthouse in 1869 and 1927.
Please get in touch with the clerk's office to affirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of in some cases changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records are accessible to interested parties, barring confidential issues. A lot of workers will guide individuals in obtaining the resources, however it's up to the individual to complete the basic research. If you need historical or genealogical research, click HERE.
- Rhea County Clerk maintains Marriage & Divorce records. It also has jurisdiction over probate cases. Wills, administrations, and all other records pertaining to probate are recorded in the respective county clerk's office. If the will or administration was contested, the records of these actions may be filed in the circuit court or chancery court.
- Address: 375 Church St., Suite 101, Dayton, TN 37321
- Phone: (423) 775-7808
- Marriage Records: 1808
- Probate Records: 1825
- Rhea County Register of Deeds has land records beginning with county organization, land records are available from the register of deeds at the Sevier county courthouse. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
- Address: 375 Church Street Suite 106, Dayton, TN 37321
- Phone: (423) 775-7841
- Land & Deed Records: 1808
- Rhea County Clerk of Circuit Court has jurisdiction over property disputes, and circuit courts oversee criminal cases, divorces, and adoptions. Early courts included courts of common pleas and quarter sessions.
- Address: 1475 Market Street, Suite 104, Dayton, TN 37321
- Phone: 423-775-7805
- Chancery Court Minutes: 1823
- Circuit Court Minutes: 1815
- County Court Minutes: 1823
- Rhea County Property Assessor is responsible for the evaluation of all real property, the cadastral mapping of the county, valuation of all business personal property and maintaining ownership records. The property assessor prepares the tax rolls for the trustee and all the municipalities. Tax lists can be used to locate families, document historic properties and study community history. Early tax lists generally include all white males over 21 and indicate whether they owned land or slaves.
- Address: 375 Church Street, Suite 100, Dayton, TN 37321
- Phone: (423) 775-7840
- Tax Records: 1808, 1819, 1825, 1826, 1833, 1837, 1875, 1895-1898 (located at the Tennessee State Library and Archives)
- Rhea County Health Department, P. O. Box 440, 344 Eagle Lane, Evensville, TN 37332; (423) 775-7819 , issues birth certificates and death certificates (deaths which occurred in that county within the past three years, and a few county health departments keep death records for longer periods of time).
Where can I find Rhea County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Rhea County vital records can be found at the Tennessee Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees. There is a fee for each copy requested, and privacy restrictions may apply for more recent records unless you are next of kin, or have authorization from an interested party or a court. Generally speaking, death certificates in Tennessee are public fifty years after the date of death, and birth certificates one hundred years after birth date. The earliest statewide birth and death records in Tennessee date from 1908, and systematic statewide vital records date from 1914.
Marriage license records are available from the county clerk who issued the marriage license. Court divorce orders may be obtained from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce.
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Rhea County, TN?
- Rhea County Historical & Genealogical Society, 4211 Wolf Creek Road, Po Box 31 , Dayton, Tennessee 37321-0031
- Audrey Pack Memorial Library, 169 W. Rhea Ave., PO Box 382, Spring City, TN 37381 423-365-9757
- Bryan College, Library, 585 Bryan Drive, PO Box 7000, Dayton, TN 37321 423-775-7196
- Clyde W. Roddy Public Library, 371 First Ave., Dayton, TN 37321 423-755-8406
- W.G. Rhea Public Library, 400 West Washington Street, Paris, TN 38242 731-642-1702
Where can I find someone to do historical or genealogical research in Rhea County, TN?
Generally the staff of public offices and local libraries and historical and genealogical societies cannot undertake extensive or detailed research for individuals beyond limited index lookups, etc. Each office can advise as to their policy. Scott Searches/Historycatcher is a professional research service that offers historical and genealogical research in Bradley County. Projects can range from searching records & obtaining photocopies or digital scans of documents to more complex topical research and analysis, depending on need. Other services include an on-site photography service if you need photographs of cemetery markers, or other historically significant locations, and interviews with cooperative and knowledgable local persons, including high quality digital audio recordings, verbatim transcripts, or interview summaries.
Scott Searches/Historycatcher can also assist attorneys, estate administrators, professional genealogists, amateur family historians, reunion organizers, and individuals locate living relatives or descendants through specialized forensic genealogical services, and missing persons investigations.