Tennessee

Chester

17,341
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Chester

Chester, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 9,069. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,341.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Purdy, Tennessee, Skirmish at Monterey, Tennessee, Skirmish at Hurricane Creek (West Tennessee), and 3 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,341
201017,131
200015,540
199012,819
198012,727
19709,927
19609,569
195011,149
194011,124
193010,603
19209,669
19109,090
19009,896
18909,069
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Chester

Military engagements that took place in Chester, Tennessee.

Skirmish at Purdy, Tennessee
1862
Skirmish at Monterey, Tennessee
1862
Skirmish at Hurricane Creek (West Tennessee)
1862
Battle of Thompson's Station (approach)
1863

Historic places in Chester

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester, Tennessee.

Chester County Courthouse
Henderson
National Teacher's Normal and Business College Administration Building
Henderson
Hamlett-Smith House
Jacks Creek

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Chester County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Chester County, Tennessee. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Chester

When does Chester first appear in the US census?
Chester, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 9,069.
What is the population of Chester?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chester had a recorded population of 17,341.
Were any battles fought in Chester?
4 documented military engagements took place in Chester, including Skirmish at Purdy, Tennessee, Skirmish at Monterey, Tennessee, Skirmish at Hurricane Creek (West Tennessee).
How many historic places are in Chester?
3 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chester, Tennessee.
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