Bradley County was created in 1836 from ceded lands of the Cherokee under the Treaty of New Echota.  The county was named from Colonel Edward Bradley, who served in the War of 1812.  Cleveland, the County Seat, is named for Col. Benjamin Cleveland, one of the heroes of King’s Mountain (1780).

Bradley County has been the parent of two:  now-defunct James County and Polk County, which borders Bradley on the east and separates Bradley from its former boundary with North Carolina.

Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Bradley County’s seat is Cleveland.  Charleston, another incorporated city, is historically known as the seat of the federal Cherokee Indian Agency, established in 1819 to serve as a gateway between the USA and the Cherokee Nation.  Return J. Meigs, known as White Eagle to the Indians, was the first Indian Agent to serve at this location.

Charleston is also noteworthy for appointing the first black female mayor in Tennessee.

The county is adjacent to a number of scenic roads and waterways, making tourism a factor.  Little Debbie snacks are produced by McKee Foods, a major employer in the county.  The international Church of God is headquartered in Cleveland.

In 2018, Bradley County Courthouse suffered a fire.  Burned records include early will books, some deeds, and pre-Civil War marriage records.

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