Pickett County, County in northern Tennessee, United States
Pickett County is an administrative division in northern Tennessee that borders Kentucky. It covers portions of the Cumberland Plateau and Highland Rim, with Byrdstown serving as the administrative center where the county courthouse still stands.
The county was created in 1879 after legislative efforts by Lem Wright and Howell L. Pickett in 1878 separated it from neighboring Overton and Fentress Counties. This new status allowed the region to develop as its own administrative area.
The county is named after Howell L. Pickett, a local figure who played a key role in its creation, and this heritage shapes how residents relate to the land today. The Dale Hollow Lake area has become central to how people spend their leisure time and gather together.
Visitors can access the area easily via main roads near Byrdstown, where basic services are available at the administrative center. The best time to explore is during warmer months when outdoor activities around the lake area are most active.
Dale Hollow Dam was completed in 1943 and created a large reservoir that completely transformed the region's landscape. This project brought recreation opportunities but also permanently altered farming patterns and how people lived across the area.
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