Pre-war homes—those built before 1939—are architectural gems. They are sturdy, charming, and often what people are referring to when they look at the prevalent colorless, linear designs of today and lament “they just don’t make them like they used to.”
In some ways, that’s a good thing. Pre-war homes often contained materials we know to be hazardous today, like asbestos and lead. But their signature characteristics, including hardwood floors, nickel accents, ornate crown molding, and high ceilings, are among the features many people look for in a dream home.
Preserving the history of these properties, many of which you’ll find on the National Register of Historic Places, is labor that often extends beyond the scope of an individual homeowner. Depending on where these homes are located, special permission by local historic commissions may be required before renovations can be done in an effort to preserve their historic architectural integrity.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Tennessee with the most pre-war homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of homes that were built before 1939 based on 2020 5-year estimates.
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Franklin County
– Homes built before 1939: 7.6%
– Homes built since 2000: 18.7%
– Median year built: 1983
– Total homes: 19,508
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Washington County
– Homes built before 1939: 7.7%
– Homes built since 2000: 24.5%
– Median year built: 1984
– Total homes: 60,778
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Roane County
– Homes built before 1939: 7.8%
– Homes built since 2000: 17.8%
– Median year built: 1978
– Total homes: 25,690
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Bedford County
– Homes built before 1939: 7.8%
– Homes built since 2000: 25.5%
– Median year built: 1987
– Total homes: 19,345
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Claiborne County
– Homes built before 1939: 7.8%
– Homes built since 2000: 24.4%
– Median year built: 1984
– Total homes: 15,539
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Dickson County
– Homes built before 1939: 7.8%
– Homes built since 2000: 22.2%
– Median year built: 1986
– Total homes: 22,097
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Gibson County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.0%
– Homes built since 2000: 19.8%
– Median year built: 1975
– Total homes: 22,662
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Marshall County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.1%
– Homes built since 2000: 23.6%
– Median year built: 1987
– Total homes: 13,775
Scott Basford // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Loudon County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.1%
– Homes built since 2000: 32.1%
– Median year built: 1991
– Total homes: 23,393
Christina Blust // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Humphreys County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.1%
– Homes built since 2000: 18.0%
– Median year built: 1979
– Total homes: 8,983
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Hamilton County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.2%
– Homes built since 2000: 21.9%
– Median year built: 1978
– Total homes: 163,605
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Morgan County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.3%
– Homes built since 2000: 24.5%
– Median year built: 1984
– Total homes: 9,055
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Overton County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.3%
– Homes built since 2000: 19.3%
– Median year built: 1980
– Total homes: 10,385
Flickr user chiacomo // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Lake County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.3%
– Homes built since 2000: 13.5%
– Median year built: 1976
– Total homes: 2,592
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Jackson County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.4%
– Homes built since 2000: 18.2%
– Median year built: 1985
– Total homes: 5,919
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Weakley County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.4%
– Homes built since 2000: 17.8%
– Median year built: 1978
– Total homes: 15,613
Canva
#14. Haywood County
– Homes built before 1939: 8.4%
– Homes built since 2000: 16.5%
– Median year built: 1977
– Total homes: 8,419
Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Obion County
– Homes built before 1939: 9.3%
– Homes built since 2000: 12.9%
– Median year built: 1974
– Total homes: 14,615
Cj4258 // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Henry County
– Homes built before 1939: 9.4%
– Homes built since 2000: 17.1%
– Median year built: 1982
– Total homes: 17,270
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Crockett County
– Homes built before 1939: 9.5%
– Homes built since 2000: 14.0%
– Median year built: 1976
– Total homes: 6,427
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#10. Grundy County
– Homes built before 1939: 9.6%
– Homes built since 2000: 21.0%
– Median year built: 1983
– Total homes: 6,467
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Houston County
– Homes built before 1939: 9.9%
– Homes built since 2000: 17.6%
– Median year built: 1980
– Total homes: 4,238
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Smith County
– Homes built before 1939: 9.9%
– Homes built since 2000: 17.0%
– Median year built: 1982
– Total homes: 8,838
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Clay County
– Homes built before 1939: 10.2%
– Homes built since 2000: 21.0%
– Median year built: 1985
– Total homes: 4,367
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Lincoln County
– Homes built before 1939: 10.6%
– Homes built since 2000: 21.7%
– Median year built: 1982
– Total homes: 15,624
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Carter County
– Homes built before 1939: 11.1%
– Homes built since 2000: 15.7%
– Median year built: 1978
– Total homes: 28,236
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Giles County
– Homes built before 1939: 11.2%
– Homes built since 2000: 18.9%
– Median year built: 1981
– Total homes: 14,156
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#3. Perry County
– Homes built before 1939: 11.7%
– Homes built since 2000: 20.2%
– Median year built: 1986
– Total homes: 4,681
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Hancock County
– Homes built before 1939: 12.1%
– Homes built since 2000: 19.6%
– Median year built: 1983
– Total homes: 3,609
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Unicoi County
– Homes built before 1939: 13.2%
– Homes built since 2000: 14.1%
– Median year built: 1976
– Total homes: 8,914
