About

Sequatchie County

Sequatchie County, the youngest and smallest of the three counties in Sequatchie Valley, was established on December 9, 1857, from portions of Hamilton, Bledsoe, and Marion Counties. Covering 250 square miles, the county is centrally located within the valley and shares borders with Bledsoe, Hamilton, Marion, Grundy, and Van Buren Counties. The county’s name originates from the valley itself, which was named after Cherokee Chief Sequachee. While the exact meaning of the name is debated among historians, it is commonly interpreted as “opossum, he grins or runs.”

Dunlap

Dunlap, the county seat of Sequatchie County, was originally established on land owned by William Rankin at Coops Creek. Initially known as Coops Creek, the town was renamed Dunlap on June 12, 1858, in honor of William Dunlap of Knox County, a key supporter of the county’s creation in the state legislature. Dunlap was incorporated as a town before later becoming the City of Dunlap in 1941. It remains the only incorporated area in Sequatchie County and operates under a mayor-commissioner form of government.