Rutherford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located in Middle Tennessee. As of a 2025 estimate, the population was 386,352, making it the fifth-most populous county in Tennessee. A study conducted by the University of Tennessee projects Rutherford County to become the third largest county in Tennessee by population by 2050. Its county seat is Murfreesboro, which is also the geographic center of Tennessee. As of 2010, it was the center of population of Tennessee. Rutherford County is included in the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History Early history Rutherford County was formed in 1803 from parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties, and named in honor of Griffith Rutherford (1721–1805). Rutherford was a North Carolina colonial legislator and an American Revolutionary War general, who settled in Middle Tennessee after the Revolution. He was appointed President of the Council of the Southwest Territory (the upper chamber of the territorial legislature) in 1794.
Civil War Rutherford County strongly supported the Confederacy during the Civil War, having voted 2,392 to 73 in favor of Tennessee's Ordinance of Secession on June 8, 1861.
Rutherford County's central location and proximity to Nashville during the Civil War made it a contested area. The county was home to one of the bloodiest battles of the war, the Battle of Stones River, which was fought between December 31, 1862, and January 2, 1863.
On July 13, 1862, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest conducted a series of cavalry operations known locally as Forrest's Raid. The raid successfully led to the surrender of all Union forces occupying the area. Soon after his departure, Union troops returned to the area and held it until the end of the war.
Reconstruction and latter 19th century
In August 1869, rampaging white men drove close to 100 African American farmers from their homes, and out of the county, to Nashville."TENNESSEE.; Lawless Proceedings in Rutherford County—Negroes Driven from their Homes—Proclamation by Governor Senter," August 31, 1869, New York Times archive, retrieved October 15, 2021
In 1884, Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro became Rutherford County's first accredited high school for African Americans. The co-educational school was operated by the Murfreesboro City Schools system. Bradley Academy was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Modern history In the early 2000s, Muslim immigrants settled in the county, particularly in and around Murfreesboro. Their efforts to develop a mosque, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (and its subsequent replacement) became the focus of intense local controversy and opposition from non-Muslims,"Tennessee mosque gets go-ahead after legal fight," July 19, 2012, BBC, United Kingdom, retrieved October 15, 2021Hall, Kristin M. (Associated Press): "Feds file legal brief in support of Tenn. mosque," October 19, 2010, Taiwan News, retrieved October 15, 2021Reuters News Service: "US judge halts construction of Tennessee mosque: Judge ruled that local government had failed to follow proper procedures before granting building permit," May 30, 2012, The Express Tribune, Pakistan, retrieved October 16, 2021Associated Press: "Tennessee mosque vandals apologize for ‘dumb, foolish’ actions," March 10, 2018, Global News, Canada, retrieved October 15, 2021 and were stymied by political and legal battles,Associated Press: "Embattled Tennessee mosque opens," August 10, 2012, updated December 1, 2015, Fox News, retrieved October 16, 2021Ohlheiser, Abby: "A Fight Over a Tennessee Mosque Has Cost One County $343,276 (so Far)," February 13, 2014, The Atlantic, retrieved October 15, 2021 arson, bomb threats and vandalism.Markoe, Lauren: "Faith leaders urge Americans to combat attacks on religious minorities," August 10, 2012, Washington Post, retrieved October 15, 2021Associated Press: "Arson Caused Fire at Tennessee Mosque Site, Police Say," September 4, 2012, updated November 30, 2015, Fox News, retrieved October 22, 2021Severson, Kim: "Judge Allows Muslims to Use Tennessee Mosque," July 18, 2012, New York Times, retrieved October 15, 2021 A federal court forced the local authorities to allow the mosque, and opposition subsided, but sporadic incidents continued.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.
Adjacent counties Wilson County (north) Cannon County (east) Coffee County (southeast) Bedford County (south) Marshall County (southwest) Williamson County (west) Davidson County (northwest)
National protected area Stones River National Battlefield
State protected areas Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area Gattinger's Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area (part) Long Hunter State Park (part) Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area Overbridge State Natural Area Percy Priest Wildlife Management Area (part) Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area Sunnybell Cedar Glade State Natural Area Stones River Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Rutherford County, Tennessee – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)74,302105,139153,762198,483219,19488.39%88.67%84.47%75.58%64.19%Black or African American alone (NH)8,51310,60217,19732,53453,27010.13%8.94%9.45%12.39%15.60%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)922134706717890.11%0.18%0.26%0.26%0.23%Asian alone (NH)1851,6413,4437,90112,3940.22%1.38%1.89%3.01%3.63%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)xincluded in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusxincluded in the Asian category in the 1990 Census68116219xx0.04%0.04%0.06%Other race alone (NH)445491473361,6420.53%0.04%0.08%0.13%0.48%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)xnot an option in the 1980 Censusxnot an option in the 1990 Census1,8715,06315,661xx1.03%1.93%4.59%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5219265,06517,50038,3170.62%0.78%2.78%6.66%11.22%Total84,058118,570182,023262,604341,486 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 United States census, there were 341,486 people, 124,465 households, and 78,348 families residing in the county. The median age was 34.4 years; 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 66.2% White, 15.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.8% from some other race, and 7.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.2% of the population.
84.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 16.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 124,465 households in the county, of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.4% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 131,216 housing units, of which 5.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.6% were owner-occupied and 37.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 262,604 people, 96,232 households, and 66,810 families living in the county. The population density was , and the housing unit density was . The racial makeup of the county was 80.67% White, 12.65% Black or African American, 3.08% Asian, 0.36% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 2.04% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origins were 6.67% of the population.
Of the 96,232 households, 35.19% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 51.61% were married couples living together, 5.04% had a male householder with no wife present, 12.77% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.59% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.38% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.
Of the 262,604 residents, 26.17% were under the age of 18, 65.62% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 8.21% were 65 years of age and older. The median age was 33.1 years. 50.60% of all residents were female and 49.40% were male.
The median household income in the county was $53,770 and the median family income was $63,483. Males had a median income of $43,306 versus $35,437 for females. The per capita income was $24,390. About 8.8% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 and over.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 182,023 people, 66,443 households, and 47,440 families living in the county. The population density was , and there were 70,616 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 85.73% White, 9.51% Black or African American, 1.90% Asian, 0.29% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 66,443 households, out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 13.20% from 18 to 24, 33.50% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,312, and the median income for a family was $53,553. Males had a median income of $36,788 versus $26,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,938. About 5.80% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Schools Rutherford County Schools serves the entire county except K-6 students in the city of Murfreesboro.
Countywide elected officials Source: OfficeNameDistrict 16 Attorney GeneralJennings Jones (R)County MayorJoe Carr (R)SheriffMike Fitzhugh (R)TrusteeTeb Batey (R)Assessor of PropertyRob Mitchell (R)Highway SuperintendentGreg Brooks (R)County ClerkLisa Duke Crowell (R)Register of DeedsHeather Dawbarn (R)Circuit Court ClerkMelissa Harrell (R)
State elected offices Rutherford County is represented in the Tennessee General Assembly by two Republicans in the Tennessee Senate and five Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives. OfficeNameState Senator, District 13Dawn White (R)State Senator, District 14Shane Reeves (R) OfficeNameState Representative, District 13Robert Stevens (R)State Representative, District 34Tim Rudd (R)State Representative, District 37Charlie Baum (R)State Representative, District 48Bryan Terry (R)State Representative, District 49Mike Sparks (R)
County Mayor The county mayor is the chief executive officer and is elected from the county at-large.
County Commission