Office of the Mayor

Hello, I’m Mayor Jim Bates and I would like to welcome you to Hickman County, Tennessee!

I was elected to the office in 2022 without making big promises to the people of our county. The only promise I made was that I would work hard for the citizens of our county and do my very best to serve the interests of the people.

My goal for the next four years is to work towards Hickman County becoming more self-reliant and self-sufficient, cultivating independence while bringing new ideas and industry to the area, providing more local jobs for our citizens.

Hickman County is a short drive to neighboring cities such as Dickson, Columbia, Hohenwald, Fairview, and, of course, Nashville, which makes us part of the “Big Backyard.”

Hickman County was named for Edwin Hickman, an explorer and surveyor who was killed in an Indian attack at Defeated Creek in 1791. The county was formally established in 1807 and originally extended all the way to the southern border of the state before being divided into the five separate counties of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Lewis, and Hickman.

In the 1800s, the county’s industry revolved around iron furnaces, thanks to large amounts of high-quality iron ore available in the county. The early furnaces near Aetna were destroyed during the Civil War.

Hickman County is also home to some famous folks, from native songwriter Beth Slater Whitson to Grand Ole Opry personality Minnie pearl. The county is the subject of the Johnny Cash song, “Saturday Nigh in Hickman County”, and receives a nod in the Charlie Daniels Band song, “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” which mentions Grinder’s Switch, home of Minnie Pearl.

Our county has a total of 613 square miles and a population of 24,925 residents. We have exceptional waterways here; The Duck River and the Piney River and many creeks, both small and large, run through Hickman County.

So, you’re invited to come see what Hickman County is all about---whether you just want to relax and take a stroll around Centerville and enjoy the local food, or you want to hunt and fish, or enjoy wine tasting at our two wineries, or just enjoy the scenic views of our great county. You’re always welcome!

Whether you were born and raised here or have just come for a visit, or want to put down some roots, I hope you will be blessed by all this county has to offer. From sprawling acres to forest land to rivers and streams to thriving communities, we hope you will experience Hickman County as a place to build and belong to.

Yes, we know it as Hickman County, but we like to call it “home”.

Mayor Jim Bates