Tennessee

Rhea

32,870
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Rhea

Rhea, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 2,504. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 32,870.

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

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Kelly Rockshelter — Tennessee Archaic, Cherokee Removal — Blythe Ferry Crossing (1838), and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202032,870
201031,809
200028,400
199024,344
198024,235
197017,202
196015,863
195016,041
194016,353
193013,871
192013,812
191015,410
190014,318
189012,647
18807,073
18705,538
18604,991
18504,415
18403,985
18308,186
18204,215
18102,504
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Rhea

Military engagements that took place in Rhea, Tennessee.

Kelly Rockshelter — Tennessee Archaic
1200
Cherokee Removal — Blythe Ferry Crossing (1838)
1838

Historic places in Rhea

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rhea, Tennessee.

Rhea County Courthouse
Dayton
Browse all Tennesseehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Rhea County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Rhea 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 Rhea

When does Rhea first appear in the US census?
Rhea, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 2,504.
What is the population of Rhea?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rhea had a recorded population of 32,870.
Were any battles fought in Rhea?
2 documented military engagements took place in Rhea, including Kelly Rockshelter — Tennessee Archaic, Cherokee Removal — Blythe Ferry Crossing (1838).
How many historic places are in Rhea?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhea, Tennessee.
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