About

Rhea County, located in southeastern Tennessee, is comprised of three major cities: Dayton, Spring City, and Graysville, alongside unincorporated communities such as Evensville, Frazier, Grandview, and Old Washington.

Government

Rhea County operates under a county commission form of local government, with Jim Vincent currently serving as the County Executive. The county commission consists of nine seats, each representing a distinct geographical area within the county. Both the commission members and the county mayor are elected to four-year terms.

Education

The Rhea County School District administers public education for most students in the area, operating three elementary schools, two middle schools, two K-8 schools, one high school, and one alternative school. Additionally, Dayton City School serves as a public elementary institution. Private education options include Rhea County Academy and Laurelbrook Academy, offering K4 through 12th-grade programs.

History

Rhea County is named after Revolutionary War veteran and Tennessee politician John Rhea. The county played a significant role in several key historical events, including the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, during which a portion of the trail passed through the region.

During the Civil War, Rhea County was a stronghold of Confederate support in East Tennessee, notably refusing to send a delegate to the East Tennessee Convention of 1861. The county raised seven Confederate companies, compared to just one Union company. Unique to Rhea County was the formation of the “Rhea County Spartans,” an all-female cavalry unit, who supported the Confederate forces through care packages and possibly spying activities during the war.

Rhea County also gained international recognition as the site of the infamous 1925 Scopes Trial, which challenged the legality of teaching evolution in public schools under the Butler Act. The trial, dubbed the “Trial of the Century,” saw the participation of prominent figures such as William Jennings Bryan, who served as a prosecutor. A statue of Bryan now stands at the Rhea County Courthouse. The legal landscape surrounding education in the county continued to evolve, with the 1954 law permitting the teaching of evolution alongside Bible studies, and a 2004 federal appeals ruling prohibiting Bible instruction in public schools to uphold the separation of church and state.

Rhea County’s rich history and legacy continue to be a significant part of its identity today.