Hamblen County was established in 1870 and was named in honor of Hezekiah Hamblen of Hawkins County. Hawkins County was established in 1786 and was named in honor of Benjamin Hawkins, a member of the Continental Congress from North Carolina and a U.S. Senator from North Carolina from 1789 to 1795. He signed the Deed of Cession conveying the Southwest Territory, which is now the State of Tennessee, to the federal government.