Boundaries - Historical Notes

The following is a summary of acts which authorized boundary changes for Hamilton County.

1. Public Acts of 1833, Chapter 16, extended the laws and jurisdiction of Tennessee to its southern limits.  The act affected several counties, including Hamilton.  Hamilton County’s boundary was extended to the Georgia state line as well as to the Tennessee River, just opposite of Rhea County.
2. Acts of 1841-42, Chapter 179, Section 4, stated that the dividing line between Hamilton and Marion counties on the south side of the Tennessee River, as run and marked by the surveyor general of the Hiwassee District pursuant to the authority conferred in Private Acts of 1833, Chapter 16, shall be and remain the dividing line between the two counties.
3. Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 82, Section 3, changed the lines between Hamilton and Rhea counties so as to include all the lands of John Gray and Robert Quarls in Rhea County.
4. Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 23, changed the county lines between Hamilton and Rhea counties so as to include the farm of Mrs. Ann Russell, the farm of the heirs of John Gray, the farm of Mrs. Nancy McGill, the farm of Alexander Hickman and the farm of F.M. Bowers in Rhea County.
5. Public Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 66, created James County out of fractions of Hamilton and Bradley counties.  This act, and with it the termination of James County, was repealed by Private Acts of 1890 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 18.
6. Public Acts of 1879, Chapter 137, altered the boundary line between Hamilton and Rhea counties by transferring the lands of James A. Kelly to Rhea County.
7. Private Acts of 1879, Chapter 137, detached the farms of R.E. Bell, Tim Gutherie, and Anderson Cooper from Hamilton County and attached them to James County.
8. Public Acts of 1883, Chapter 82, transferred all the lands of L.B. Jones from Hamilton to Sequatchie County provided Jones would have a survey and map made at his own expense.
9. Public Acts of 1889, Chapter 140, changed the boundary lines with Rhea County so that all the lands of Theodora Flora and Peter B. Clouse about 30 acres, would be included in Rhea County.
10. Private Acts of 1893, Chapter 47 was purported to change the boundary line between James and Hamilton County, however James County was abolished by Public Acts of 1890 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 18.  Public Acts of 1901, Chapter 488, amended Public Acts of 1893, Chapter 47.
11. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 366, changed the boundary lines between Marion and Hamilton counties so as to include the Suck Creek Pike in Hamilton County.
12. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 477, altered the boundary lines between Hamilton and Marion  counties from the corner between Marion, Hamilton, and Sequatchie counties to the Tennessee and Georgia boundary line.  The act also stated that all taxes within the area given to Hamilton County, shall for the years of 1916 to 1917 be due and payable to Marion County.  Furthermore, no tax in said area shall be levied or collected by Hamilton County during those years.
13. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 44, repealed Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 366 and 477 and restored the boundaries between Hamilton and Marion counties to the state they were in before the 1917 acts were enacted.
14. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 607, amended Private Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 66, by  detaching from James County and attaching to Bradley County all the territory in James County which laid east of the wet brow of the west range of White Oak Mountains.
15. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 695, provided for the abolishment of James County and for the transfer to Hamilton County the territory embraced in James County.  All records, papers and files in the chancery, circuit and county court of James County was turned over to the respective courts in Hamilton County.  This act also repealed Private Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 66.
16. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 16, changed the county lines between Hamilton and Bradley counties so as to detach from Bradley County and to attach to Hamilton County all the territory formerly a part of James County which was attached to Bradley County by Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 607.