About the Town

About Centerville, Tennessee 37033

Centerville is a town in Hickman County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,489 as of the 2020 Census. It is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Hickman County. It is a small town rich in history, set amid a landscape dominated by the Duck River and its tributaries.

Founded in 1830 as the county seat of Hickman County, the people living there have shaped the region's heritage through music, religion, and the hard work of farmers and the timber industry. It is also known as the hometown of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, also known as Minnie Pearl. Grinders Switch, Minnie's fictitious hometown, is a railroad switch just across the Duck River from town.

Centerville features a striking Greek Revival courthouse building on a town square. The area has a diverse economy rooted in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Outdoor enthusiasts, including hunters and fishers, love the lush forests and rolling hills, with attractions like the Centerville River Park for fishing, hiking, and picnicking, as well as festivals and other events.

Centerville is committed to education with quality public schools and accessible healthcare facilities, including a fully functional hospital. The city also honors its heritage through the Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which preserves its unique architectural charm.

Tennessee State Route 100 is the main road running the length of the town, a major route between Nashville and Memphis before the construction of Interstate 40. It runs northeast 55 miles to Nashville, the state capital, and southwest 28 miles to Linden.

Tennessee State Route 50 passes through the southern part of Centerville, leading northwest 17 miles to Interstate 40 (via exit 148) near Only and southeast 30 miles to Columbia.

The town limits extend north 5 miles from the town center along SR 100 to the formerly unincorporated community of Fairfield, where State Route 48 leads northwest 15 miles to Interstate 40 at Exit 163, otherwise, the highway continues northeast to the Lyles/Bon Aqua area, commonly called East Hickman, where it joins State Route 46, which leads to I-40 and Dickson. Hwy 7 runs from Bon Aqua/Lyles to Columbia.

Driving to Other Cities

This is a visual depiction of the relative driving times to regional cities. Knoxville requires the longest commute of 3 hours, 45 minutes. Memphis and Chattanooga require about 2 1/2 hours. Shelbville, Jackson, and Clarksville require about 1.5 hours. Nashville, depending on the destination, requires at least 75 minutes, slightly more time than to Huntsville, AL. Franklin and Spring Hill are about an hour away. Columbia, Dickson, and Wavely are 40-45 minutes away.

Nearby

24 minutes to Hohenwald, TN
25 minutes to Bon Aqua, TN
34 minutes to Linden, TN
39 minutes to Columbia, TN
43 minutes to Dickson, TN
44 minutes to Waverly, TN

Long Daily Commute

60 minutes to Franklin, TN
60 minutes to Spring Hill, TN
65 minutes to Huntsville, AL
65 minutes to Lawrenceburg, TN
70 minutes to Nashville, TN

Infrequent Commute

80 minutes to Murfreesboro, TN
90 minutes to Jackson, TN
90 minutes to Clarksville, TN
90 minutes to Shelbyville, TN

Business / Entertainment Travel

2 hrs, 40 minutes to Memphis, TN
2 hrs, 50 minutes to Chattanooga, TN
3 hrs, 45 minutes to Knoxville, TN

Approximate Driving Times

Recent Accomplishments

A $512,000 grant from the State of Tennessee funded a contract to make needed improvements to the main hangar at the Centerville Municipal Airport. The improvements include a new lobby and rest areas for pilots with restrooms and showers. Centerville's share of the cost is 2.5% of the total, or $12,800.

A public-private partnership with Byler's Quality Construction has created two new pickleball courts at Centerville's River Park. MLEC has installed lighting.

Representatives of the Town of Centerville, South Central Tennessee Development District, Hethcoat Davis Engineering, and Bobby Lutrell & Sons Construction have completed plans for phase 3 of the Defeated Creek Drainage Basin renovation. A CDBG grant and the Town will jointly fund this final portion. Phase 3 should complete the work that began in 2018 to rebuild and renovate the wastewater collection system that serves all of Centerville from Defeated Creek Road to the city limits in Fairfield.