Smithville, Tennessee
Small lake town living in the heart of Middle Tennessee
Smithville sits at the heart of the Center Hill Lake region, where a historic downtown, local shops, and small-town charm meet some of Middle Tennessee’s best lake recreation and outdoor spaces.
explore the area
Smithville sits at the center of DeKalb County with a city population of approximately 5,000 and a county population around 22,000. The surrounding countryside is classic Tennessee — gently rolling, agricultural, and deeply peaceful. It is an easy drive from several major metros while remaining comfortably removed from their traffic and congestion.
- Nashville: ~75 miles West (approx. 1 hour 10 min)
- Knoxville: ~100 miles East (approx. 1 hour 40 min)
- Chattanooga: ~90 miles South (approx. 1 hour 30 min)
- Cookeville: ~30 miles North (approx. 35 min)
Smithville combines a historic downtown square and community traditions with easy access to Center Hill Lake. For full-time residents, weekend visitors, and those drawn to lake homes and second-home living, it offers a lifestyle that extends from the town square to the water.
Key Lifestyle Features:
- Center Hill Lake: One of Tennessee's most scenic reservoirs. With over 415 miles of shoreline, emerald green water, and consistent recreational access, Center Hill Lake is exceptional for boating, fishing, swimming, and kayaking.
- Fishing: Center Hill Lake is widely regarded as one of the top smallmouth bass fisheries in the eastern United States, and also produces excellent bass and walleye fishing.
- Small Town Square: Smithville has an active downtown with local shops. Smithville also hosts the Fiddlers' Jamboree — one of the oldest and most celebrated folk and bluegrass festivals in the South.
Smithville and DeKalb County offer an attractive and often real estate market — in-town residential living with easy access to the lake, farmland or hillside views of the water.
- Property Options: In-town homes near the square, rural acreage and farmland, and lake-view communities within easy reach of Center Hill Lake boat ramps and marinas.
