DeKalb County, Tennessee

Founding: 1838
Parent counties: Cannon, Warren, and White

Namesake: Johann de Kalb, Continental Army general
Seat: Smithville (1838–)

Land area: 304 square miles

Population (2020): 20,080

Population (historic): 5,868 (1840); 10,573 (1860); 14,813 (1880); 16,460 (1900); 14,213 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1900; 1930s; 1960–2020

Subdivisions: One city; three towns

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 710 (7.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 17%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 30.2%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 21.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $448
Average outbuilding value (1930): $235
Average farmhouse size (1940): 4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,792
Average farm size (1920): 40.4 acres
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Smithville

Namesake: Samuel Smith, Tennessee politician

Founding: 1838 (platting); 1838 (post office); 1843 (incorporation); 1919 (reincorporation)

Population (2020): 5,004

Population (historic): 572 (1890); 687 (1920); 886 (1930)

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 81 (4.4%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Samuel Caplinger House (c. 1825). 201 Hickman Road. Razed.

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